I recently arrived in Marrakech and all set to begin my sightseeing tour of the city. To be honest, I was expecting some odd things, but wasn’t prepared for what I came across. All along the streets of the city, you can spot numerous fake bag selling shops! I thought to myself ‘what the heck is going on!?’ They have almost anything fake you can imagine; starting from copycat Hermes to Michael Kors bags.
I was really perturbed to witness this. It’s sad as these fakes bags are being sold to naive tourists not knowing they’d been duped. I have a grand-aunt who has a collection of Louis Vuitton bags so I know their worth. It makes me so angry to think that such beautiful bags which represent quality and craftsmanship are shamelessly being copied with an intentions of deceiving people.
I then shared my observations with a local I befriended. She said the majority of the fake bags come from China and are sold to merchants in the local market. These merchants then hawk them for a fraction of the cost of the original. It makes sense how people would fall for it especially if they have no prior knowledge of genuine bags.
I’ve started questioning the authenticity of everything in this vibrant city since then. After all, who can you trust in a city filled with deceit? The fake bags are a huge industry here in Marrakech, and I’m concerned that it’s spoiling the reputation of the city.
On the other hand, I did find some shops selling genuine bags as well. They can be quite pricey, but at least you are sure of their originality and authenticity. They aren’t cheap, but they are worth every penny. I am now extra cautious when it comes to shopping and won’t take any chances with purchasing. Overall, it’s best to research and double check before buying anything.
I have also decided to report the fake bag issue to the local tourist police station. That way there’s a chance that the fraudulent vendors may be caught and prevented from selling fakes. I am hoping to initiate a campaign for anti-counterfeiting. Let’s see if it will help in preventing such situations.
What I find most challenging about this situation is people’s disregard to morality. It is understandable if someone is driven by the need of making money, but it shouldn’t be done in such a unethical way. It certainly doesn’t sit well with me, and I hope soon something is done to stop this.
Next, I am heading to explore the Medina of Marrakech. It’s still unknown to me if I’ll find something genuine there too. I am not sure what kind of mission awaits me. All I know is that it’s going to keep me on my toes! Stay tuned for more adventures from Marrakech so that I can share with you what I learn.