‘Fake’ Christmas Bags, anyone?

“Wow, that’s an LV,” you rave over your officemate’s new bag, but suddenly noticed how close to the edge of the flap the Louis Vuitton logo is. Then you know in your heart, it’s not the original. How do you know if the bag is fake? Poor workmanship. That’s the first telltale sign. China Made products are proliferating that even an iPad has now an iPed. A Blackberry now has a plastic “housing” and more “imitation” or “replica” brands are breeding in malls like 168, Greenhills, “tiangge” and bazaars, particularly during Christmas shopping season. For most girls, wearing one of those coveted brands is eternal sunshine for their soul. Hence, fake stuff is a lure to their senses. Mind you, they ultimately believe as well that by giving fake branded presents will earn them “pogi” points. So they “beg, steal or borrow” to get where the fake brands are. Here comes the Purse Party. There is a growing curiosity in a social hullabaloo called “Purse Party”. But be wary, it is casual much more like an afternoon tea party with upper-middle-class women in attendance. Here, they exchange banter over fake goods. Yes, you hear it right! Fake brands lining up in your face such as Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Cartier, Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Venetta, you name it they have it. In the United States, such a party is now getting some attention, perhaps because of the bad economy. I politely declined a long ago invite in one of these parties because I stand by my “buy-only-the-original” principle. Since I don’t have the “original” money to buy the luxury goods, I buy Filipino brands that can be at par in quality with these infamous names.