For a long time, I had been dreaming of visiting the tourist destination of Marrakech. When my friends and I decided to go for a weekend escape there, I knew that shopping was going to be one of the highlights of our trip. The markets in Marrakech are renowned for their beautiful and unique goods- from spices and pottery to designer clothes and bags. Little did we know that Marrakech is also infamous for the abundance of fake designer bags available there.
We stroll around, taking in all the sights of Marrakech and admiring the hustle and bustle of the markets. Then we came to a big square filled with vendors selling all sorts of bags of not only local designs, but also recognizable brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. I couldn’t believe my eyes! All of the bags were of impeccable craftsmanship and superior quality…at least to the untrained eye.
It became quite clear to us that while there were some ‘real’ designer bags available, the majority that were on sale were fake designer bags. All around us we were being hugged by sales staff, trying to convince us that their bags were real and used the cutest English language to sweeten us up. But we were savvy enough to spot the differences between the real and the fake designer bags.
We all bought genuine bags! However, it was a bit of an eye-opener to know that the counterfeit designer bags business was booming in Marrakech. It’s easy to get duped into buying fake designer bags just because of their craftsmanship and quality that looks almost the same as the real deal.
I think it’s quite outrageous how much money is being made off of the counterfeit industry. It’s quite likely that it’s providing a source of income for many people, but at the same time it’s seriously damaging the integrity of the legitimate designer labels. At the same time, it’s also taking money away from the hardworking and talented individuals that are producing genuine, luxury products.
On the other hand, counterfeit designer bags can also be seen as catering to a wider variety of people who can’t afford the original items. I mean, the prices of the real designer bags are usually ridiculous, and who can blame someone who wants to get at least some of that designer style without investing so much money?
In my opinion, the best solution to this problem is to put a stop to the trafficking and sale of counterfeit products. This will benefit everyone involved—the designers, the consumers, and the economy—but it will take a lot of effort and enforcement to make it happen.