Perhaps I misread, I tend to assume the worst from people on RS.

+1 :)

But they know. Maybe these ppl don't care about what others think. Maybe they do it for themselves cuz clothes are important to them. Or maybe they care about both. Yeah, some ppl do it for status alone, but what can you do?

If there was a copy-cat artist of Alicia Keys and no one could tell apart the real from the fake, would I buy the fake for $1? No. This copy-cat didn't make anything.

Like you said earlier, cost is irrelevant to the sale price. I think you understand good quality deserves high margins. What you ignore is originality, style, creativity, and the ability to create a brand that resonates with the market. Maybe you don't value these things but if everyone was just like you, we'd have THE GAP, beige PCs, Britney Spears :cry: and that's it. It could be clothes, computers, music, etc. Originality that works has value because it's rare. If it was easy, then first thing tmr morning you should be able to create an expensive brand of whatever and find endless buyers for 100x cost, right?

Whoa there! Of course there are going to be diminishing returns, but the high end labels are generally of superior quality to something you'd find at the Gap, Value Village or Winners. People who buy high-end fashion labels do it for the quality, the style, and the fact that they don't want people to think they shop at WalMart for their clothes.

It's the difference between wearing something that is unique and bespoke vs. something that's designed for mass-market consumption. If you want to stand out, buy something unique and dope!

Heh, my consumerism helps the starving models!

Your consumerism justifies my consumerism.

as i'd stated prior, one of the many reasons i choose to shop at thrift stores is originality. what i can find there are true one of a kind items. though i can't blame you for the preconceived notion that they'd look like something from a wal-mart because i'll be honest, most of the clothes there do. a lot of the times, i won't find anything. it takes patience and a keen eye. i've been on both sides of the spectrum and can honestly say that i don't feel i've sacrificed anything at all .in fact, it's more likely that i've achieved a level of creativity that i probably wouldn't have shopping at high end boutiques. ive found what meets all my needs. if you can say the same, then i'm more than happy for you.

actually dude, up until a couple years ago when i discovered winners, all my boxers came from the bay. joe boxers were like 30bucks + tax a pair.
along came winners and you know what, they last just as long, and just as comfortable. but for like 9bucks a pair.

Now, I'm no expert on winners - I've seen some fake stuff there i know that. But i'm not sure how they get them to sell at such low prices, but even if my boxers are deemed 'fake', i really wouldnt care. why? well because they last and feel just like the real ones i got from the bay. unless the bay sells fakes too.

-----
To the original topic:

I would buy fakes. But I also buy authentic. I like my expensive watches, I like my suits, dress shirts, and a few of my ties. I also like my fake(?) socks my fake(?) boxers from winners. Jeans that cost me $10 in richmond because a lady didnt know what the usd-cdn conversion rate was =)

I guess the only reasoning I can think of is the following:
If what I'm buying - real or fake - is something that I will go through and ruin and have to replace time and time again, I will buy a fake or whatever. I don't think anyone here with say D&G boxers can tell me they lasted 29years. As such, I would definitely buy a fake belt, or a fake wallet. Mainly because I don't care about those items.


But the main thing is that just because you spent $2000 on a purse or wallet or pen, does not make you any better than anyone else - least of all the person who bought an identical looking bag for $20! Any notions you hold of superiority or exclusivity based on the origin of manufacture of your accessories or clothes are a direct reflection of just how easily your mind is swayed by the marketing department of those goods.

And this talk about investing in clothes -- i mean c'mon, who're you kidding. unless you're elvis, your clothes will not be worth anything like what you paid for it. just take a look at our classifieds.

I find it funny that there are so many people here talking about fake goods like it's the plague! ""never never" "fake is a fake is a fake" "who you tryin to play?" "they're losers" "they're tricksters" like how fake goods are beneath you.
A close buddy of mine... his father is in the manufacturing business. the factory makes items for a variety of brands. high middle and low end. if you want goods for cheap, all u need to do is go there after hours and you'll see worker morale at its highest ever as they turn out products that will be sold on the streets later. what is the real difference between the ones made at 8am, and the ones made at 3am? oh about 80% of the selling price.
Anyone who says that the differences are easily discernible, is full of crap!! they're made with the same materials, in the same place, by the same workers, using the same blueprints.

Obviously though, this isnt the same for many items. But it is true of a substantial amount of the so called fake products out there.

Oh, btw...with what a previous poster wrote about the man making the clothes, and the person who said about the person of a certain status being able to afford the real would be the best candidate to pull off wearing a fake: my friends dad does that. super rich. wears a $90hkd knockoff. i asked why, and he said "because i can".

Also, I've got 2 identical watches...one real, one fake. no one has ever been able to tell when i'm wearing which. And if you wonder the reason for the fake, my original plan was to take the original to a pawn shop and see if my slight of hand can switch it. i've since given up hahaha

1) You've sacrificed your time.
2) You can only go so long playing off the "vintage" look
3) Look around at who else shops at thrift stores...how much of your lifestyle overlaps with theirs?

That's because Joe Boxers aren't quality underwear to begin with. There is true "luxury" and then luxury marketing b.s. Many American luxury companies are about marketing B.S. (ie Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, A/X, ANF) because many North Americans aren't sophisticated consumers and just look at brand appeal. Most of these clothing items have the brands prominently displayed on the clothing because they know their target market buys these clothes to show-off to others so they cheap out and make these clothes in third world countries, while pocketing high margins. Look at your closet of supposed luxury clothes and tell me how many are made in Europe or the U.S.? If it isn't made in a first world country, it's as good as a fake. I can tell you that 90% of my wardrobe is not made in 3rd world countries, and I buy my underwear from a small Swiss label (Zimmerli) that still manufactures in Switzerland using Swiss cotton. The quality is far, far superior to anything you can find at The Bay.

The real luxury items don't have the brand plastered anywhere on the outside of the garment, but you can tell by the cut, the quality of the materials used and the country of origin (Europe). From the way you describe yourself, it is apparent that you are putting money into things that are apparent to others, while skimping on the things that are hidden from view (underwear, wallet, socks), so I wouldn't describe you as a true luxury shopper. I like beautiful things and I buy them for its appeal to me. As an ancillary benefit, most people know I have great taste. ;)


It's not just about how long they last, but the comfort, style and luxury these items bring you.

That's like saying just because you went to Harvard doesn't make you smarter than anyone else. It might not be true in every case, but generally it is true. You either opt in to play "the game" of cosumerism or you opt out. If you purchase aspirational luxury items like a nice watch, or a Lacoste top or whatever, you are opting into this game. Yes, that guy that buys the $2000 wallet is better than you (exceptions being people who spend a lot of money on clothes but have no taste i.e. mainland chinese)

My older brother is totally the opposite of me and completely opts out of the game. He's probably worth a couple of million $ but he does not care about luxury items whatsoever. He drives a Jetta Diesel and buys items for function rather than style. Since he has opted out of the game, then no, I cannot say I am better than him.

This is a myth and is not how manufacturing businesses operate. As a contract manufacturer, the factory that makes polo tops for Polo Ralph Lauren charges the same if not less than if I approached the factory to make polo shirts for Marco911.

1. patience is a virtue, marco. with rewards far surpassing any material object. all time is sacrificed
2. i wouldn't say vintage, so to speak. but classics never die
3. that is completely irrelevant to me.
i appreciate that you've chimed into this thread, marco. as i do value your knowledge on the subject

I'm not sure if you're fucking with everyone here because a lot of your other posts don't speak so much of your 'enlightened' persona.

Used clothing is disgusting unless it was worn by wealthy celebrities and purchased at auction. My dead-beat highschool friends buy ugly 'ironic' sweaters and look like absolute ponces.

you might be right, but i would not consider any underwear or socks etc to ever fall into the realm of luxury items. i mean, i take off my shoes and enter a restaurant and i can basically make my own appetizer from the bits n pieces on the bottom of my socks from other diners. They're basically disposable good.
Same for a wallet. I almost never use a wallet and so I could never justify spending even $10 on one.

I disagree. You make it sound like any singular purchase of an item that so much as borders luxury - whether by material, origin of manufacture, or brand (lacoste) - would necessitate similar purchases in every domain; and failure to do so results a lowering of score on some arbitrary scoreboard. Buying a montblanc starwalker simply because of i think the floating star is pretty cool does not mean that I will go out and buy silk or kevlar overalls for when i crawl under my car.
Spending money on nice bath towels because i'll be wrapping it around me does not mean I will buy the same quality of towels to do dishes with - one will last me at least a year, the other will last me maybe a 2weeks!

So I completely disagree that purchasing one luxury or near-luxury artifact demands that I maintain that line of purchasing.

And this whole ''someone else being better than you, you being better than your brother'' i think it's a crock! "James is better than me because he has a wallet, but Ernie's watch and shoes combined are worth more than Jame's car, but Helen's purse costs more than all of our houses combined." I mean, is your value and worth, everything that is you, summed up in the msrp and brand and place of manufacture of your swiss underwear + your wardrobe? Some guy in the states probably paid more for his freshman year of university than my entire undergrad here in canada. does that make him smarter than me too? even if we studied the same major? Is he better than me because he paid more?


I'm sorry. I dont think i was clear about it in my last post. What I meant was that the workers don't approach my friends dad and ask if they can make their own clothes with their names on em. They go in after hours. There is no contract. There is no price. It's basically stealing electricity, and materials and increasing wear and use of machinery. None of which they pay for.

something that is unique in richmond/vancouver, i can safely say, will NOT be LV, Gucci, Coach, Burberry bags.

sheesh for pete's sake every female from ages 16 to 92 carries one around.
and every in every 3 guys one guy uses a LV/Gucci/Coach/Diesel/Prada/whatever-crap wallet.

Unless your friend's father is an absolute idiot there is no reason why he should be getting ripped off. Factories have electricity locks, guards, alarms, and DOORS which stop employees from gallivanting in the night. And 'being in China' is no excuse!

I'm going to have to agree with that. Real luxury items is about the the quality and craftsmanship. Take this ugly Prada lacey purse that I just saw for up to $2000USD, it's tiny, it looks like my Great Great Grandmother's tea doily. Apparently swiss, handmade (all 500+ stitches) and takes 1 person 2 days to make. Okay so it's a bit over the top but the reasons are there and if people want to spend that much money on an ugly bag than kudos for them. But my point was that Real luxury items aren't suppose to be flaunted, they're suppose to be worn. All the actual socialites that I know aren't decked out in purses with huge LV monograms, they're wearing smart clothes fit for their cut and probably costs more than your car.

Are you kidding me? Okay maybe because you're a guy, so I'll let that pass. As a woman, I thrive in finding quality undergarmets. This might not apply to every woman, but I mean I need support for my babies and it's more so feeling comfortable in them. And most of the time the perfect bras for me are usually "luxury" brands in the bra world and I've easily forked out $1500+HKD for a bra.

As for socks and underwear, good quality is the way to go. Socks, you're on your feet everyday and the only barrier between your shoes and your feet. I recently went shoe shopping with a friend and the store lent him shitty socks that made his feet hurt. Luckily he still bought the shoes because when he got home, the shoes felt amazing on his feet...still I think. And underwear is the closest thing to your privates, it holds your balls in place, it acts as the drip pan to your bodily excretions/discharges. Don't you think they should at least be breathable, comfortable and won't chafe your ass?

It's because Vancouver doesn't have a fashion scene at all. People will follow the leader when it comes to styles. Want to see Vancouver fashion trends? Go to Aritzia and Boyzco. You try on styles in Europe and/or Asia here and they'll call you eccentric. Fuck, it doesn't even have to be a luxury brand, it could be a $200pound boots I'm wearing from Top Shop and people will still scrutinize. The only luxury brands Vancouverites have heard of are the usual Gucci, Coach, LV, Burberry. If I ever mention Bottegga Veneta, Sergio Rossi, Balenciaga, Diane von Fürstenberg, YSL, or even Celine, people will look at me funny.

<breathe>
/rant

i think he means they go make an extra batch since they have access to the manufacturing line.. these end up in the street sold for a slight profit but way below MSRP in the west.

it's like McD workers making a couple extra burgers at the end of the night and selling them to their friends for 1/3 price. Quirks of the job.

It's not just name brand clothes in China, it can be golf clubs.. whatever.

This is such a myth perpetuate by those who subscribe to the fairy tale that "fake" goods can be the same as the original except they are snuck out the factory's back door.

Working on a garment or factory assembly line is not the same thing as working at McDonalds. For one thing, to perpetuate a fraud against the owners of the factory, there has to be some level of organization that gets all the workers from the material handlers, warehouse, security to the line workers to agree to defraud the company. Next, material has to actually disappear without raising any concerns with the accountants. Then the product has to be sold and some way of distributing the proceeds to the workers. It just cannot be done without formal organization.

The only legitimate alternative distribution method for real luxury goods is in the secondary market. These are either from excess inventory after the season ends, or batches that have been rejected for quality reasons. These are usually sold in places like TJ MAXX, or factory outlets.

You either like fashion or you don't. It is absolutely fine to shop at Value Village or a thrift store for your clothes if you don't really care about what you wear. But those of us who do, can pretty much eye up what someone is wearing and the origins/price-points of those clothes and accessories.

Formal organization still doesn't sound like too much of a roadblock if you're familiar with the Chinese mentality when dealing with piracy and fraud. :D

But my sources are second-hand, albeit from the ground, so I'll leave it to you or those with direct inside info to figure out the legitimacy of those layers of controls in the Chinese manufacturing biz.

That is absolutely not true. Anything that is worn close to the skin can benefit from luxury. Feel the difference in a soft cashmere vs. crappy heavy knit wools that itch. http://www.customshirt1.com/ is a whole site dedicated to quality underwear and socks. I swear by the Zimmerli Royal Classic line. Once you wear it, you can't go back to regular underwear!

As for having a great wallet, it's one of the few accessories that men can legitimately carry and you can almost get a high from the fine leather scent just like you would smelling a the scent of leather in a new Ferrari or Porsche!

All purchase decisions are a result of economic tradeoffs. The mere fact of being able to afford luxuries in every domain of one's lifestyle suggests that you have more money than you know what to do with which requires a certain level of wealth/income. Consuming is good for the economy; saving money is good for the economy. Therefore, since wealthy people contribute more to the economy, they should be afforded some leeway in their assholish behavior and possibly even looked up to.

That's what mechanics at service centers are for.

Well nobody gets to enjoy my underwear except me, so I'd say I do it for myself and not for others.

If he went to an Ivy League, yes, he is regarded as having a better education than you. Just because you didn't pay as much doesn't mean that society didn't pay to put your ass through school in Canada. So get out there, make a lot of money, do with it what you may - save or spend, it doesn't matter, and contribute to society!

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been obssessed by Mademoiselle Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. Her wit, lifestyle, elegance, sophistication and classiness biography always amazes me.

I never had any of her stuffs until I could finally afford it. I refused to buy any fake stuffs of Chanel coz what's the purpose of having it if i cannot afford it.

And while I think the price for Chanels are ridiculous, I would never even buy a fake item from it. Someone told me, "Why should you buy the real ones if the fake ones look identical?"

I said...No they do not!

I guess you can say, I dont mind spending my money on Chanel's stuffs because I am paying her name with respect. It is more like obsession than anything else.

Besides, Chanel is an investment not like other designer stuffs like Gucci, Coach, Prada, etcetera. And, I am also planning to pass my Chanel collection to my daughters.

Right now, I am trying to save money for her 2009 sunglasses collection.

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous"

"THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE AND THE 2ND BEST ARE EXPENSIVE!"

---> 2 quotes from Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel is totally fascinating.

I love this quote -- "I invented my life by taking for granted that everything I did not like would have an opposite, which I would like.”

no no no no no

It is illegal. Plus, it promotes child labor, cheap labor, sweat shops, etc. etc.