It felt like the day had been one of those never-ending days; one at the end of which I was too tired to do anything but look at my fake Gucci changing bag in admiration. I had found it at a flea market and, man, I could not believe my luck! It was everything I had dreamed about. Everything about it screamed quality; from the firm, sturdy straps, to the logo, definitely much better than the original one, I thought. The bag felt like a little piece of home, the way it fit in my small hands, the way it composed itself under my gaze.
In the days following my purchase, I carried it with me almost everywhere I went; it quickly became my go-to companion. During the cold winter months, it made me feel warm and attended to, like I was walking with a friend. As the sun set, its fabric took on a golden hue reminding me of sunsets in my small hometown. It was like I was wearing a part of my childhood and never wanting to take it off.
As I shared it with my friends, I noticed one thing; they were all impressed but most of them did not believe it was the real deal. We spent hours discussing whether it was a good idea buying something like this and if it was even worth it. I listened to their opinions and even agreed with some of their points but I still held my ground and stood up for my purchase. It had, after all, cost me little time and energy.
Discussions went on and even intensified when the news of some fake Gucci changing bags flooding the internet came up. No one was sure whether or not they were real. Some even said that they might be convincing enough to pass as an original, something that made me very worried about the safety of my purchase. It was almost like I was constantly living in a state of fear and anxiety. My thoughts ran wild, did I get something counterfeit?
I wanted answers and decided to take matters into my own hands. After hours of research and Sydney revisiting the website, I got my answer: Yes, mine was a replica! It wasn’t the real deal but that didn’t stop it from being special to me. The fact that it was an imitation didn’t change the way I felt about it; not one bit. I still loved it, and felt proud for owning something that looked so much like the real one.
I had grown quite attached to it despite its origin and had no plan of getting rid of it anytime soon. I loved the way it made me look and feel, sort of glamorous and a little bit dangerous. I felt like I was carrying a piece of history with me, and that made it even more special.
The fact that it was an imitation didn’t bother me too much; after all, I have only paid a few bucks for it. I have made a few changes to it and added a few accessories to make it unique. Plus the design and logo were still intact which made it look like a million bucks.
Now, when I look at it I think: if it looks like a Gucci changing bag, feels like a Gucci changing bag, and costs only a few bucks, like a Gucci changing bag, then it must be a Gucci changing bag!
I had grown quite fond of my bag and even named it; ‘the imple-Gucci’ I call it– with a hint of irony of course. Every time I take it out, it gets accompanied by loads of remarks, which is an added bonus.
After all, I have proved that it is still possible – and convenient – to make a fashionable statement without spending too much money. And that was worth it in the end.