Real... A designer handbag is a luxury item, from a luxury store, with a price tag to match. Purchased in mildly intimidating shops, such bags require determined saving. Prices start at about Dh2,500 and can go up to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dirhams — not a sum one should shell out on an impulse buy. Yet, for many women, designer handbags have become almost exactly that. So why do they spend so much money? Perhaps because they believe that a well-made, quality item will last for years, and potentially become a family heirloom. A designer handbag is to be worn with pride, a symbol of a woman’s disposable income and social status.
As for the expense, such a bag comes with the promise of a unique design, expertly constructed from the highest quality materials. The leather is prized for its suppleness, and the zips and buckles are top notch, adding to the piece’s value. When purchased, each bag will come with a dust case (for storage when not in use). The ritual of carrying home this bag within a dust bag, inside a box, in a heavy carrier bag, is as much of the shopping experience as procuring the item.
Ironically, despite the price, these bags are quite fragile, but almost every high-end brand offers aftercare services, some at a cost. Which means your prized bag will be treated by experts. Correct care is vital and means your handbag will retain much of its original value and priceless charm.
Fake... People who buy fake handbags are keen to be part of a fashion trend that they either can’t afford or are reluctant to pay for. They want the feeling of elation that comes from carrying the latest must-have, and don’t think too hard about the reality of where it comes from. A trip to Karama will snag anyone a Dh200 lookalike, but what does it actually cost? Made on the cheap, fakes have a tendency to fall apart. Seams are often glued, rather than stitched, while cheap zips snag and break. Nylon linings split and handles come apart. So after only a few months, that brand-new purchase is fit only for the dustbin.
It’s also easy to think of counterfeiting as a victimless crime, but it is a huge global industry. Estimated to generate 7 per cent of global trade, annually, the industry is worth about US$600 billion (Dh2.2 trillion). With so much money up for grabs, unscrupulous manufacturers cut every corner. Inferior materials and misspelt names may seem like small details, but there are links between counterfeiting and gang warfare, trafficking, money laundering and child labour. The impact is monumental. The brands whose bags are being copied invest heavily in designers, ateliers, stores, supply chains, copyright and advertising. Then there are the companies who supply the materials, the delivery drivers and countless others who rely on the legitimate bag industry for their livelihood. Doesn’t seem like such a bargain now, does it?
smaisey@thenational.ae