Why the Superrich Are Ditching Designer Bags for Luxe Dupes

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In 2022, an article on The Cut about how superrich New York women love buying fake Birkin bags ignited the Internet: it was no longer considered tacky, or in bad taste, to indulge in purchasing dupes of high-end designers and ultra-luxe labels. Instead, it could be lauded and admired. Even envied. Because, if the ten percent are doing it, why shouldn’t you?

“I’m very surprised to see that dupes have become such an important part of the fashion narrative,” says Julie Lafrance, a Canadian digital creator and a lover of luxury clothing and accessories. “In my mind, a dupe should include some elements of a coveted item or brand, but never be a complete and utter copy. It’s a shame because people don’t understand the difference between the genuine item and the counterfeit. And it mainly has to do with quality.” 

According to her, it’s craftsmanship, attention to detail, and the service provided in a shop like Hermès or Louis Vuitton that really set a luxury handbag apart. A concept that becomes completely non-existent when you’re purchasing a dupe from an anonymous vendor on shady websites. “I think that these luxury ‘maisons’ are right in trying to put an end to the counterfeit phenomenon because in the mind of the average consumer it becomes confusing setting the authentic from the fake apart. The quality you enjoy when you purchase an authentic Dior scarf or accessory isn’t present in the replicas you find online. The image and the craftsmanship of these prestige brands before, during, and after you purchase the good is just not there. And that’s what luxury is about.” 

However, there is another consideration. 

Now that luxury brands are churning out items at a dizzying cadence to keep social media buzzing with brand recognition in line with the cores of the moment and what’s on trend, these purses, shoes, belts and jackets are sometimes devoid of the brand’s DNA that was so important to their original storyline. And that’s exactly where lies the appeal of a dupe. Because, in a way, the high-priced labels themselves have removed part of their brand’s heritage by commodifying them. 

“I think there are two types of consumers who buy luxe dupes, informs Julie. And the reasons are much more nuanced than being strapped for cash. It has more to do with the value you’re attaching to what you’re buying. There are people who love fashion and trends but aren’t willing to spend the money to get the latest Dior handbag, for example, but they still want to flaunt that look. For others, it’s because they feel insecure and want to look the part; pretending they’re high net worth.” 

And because it takes an average of two years to secure an authentic Hermès Birkin or Kelly bag (the most popular models from the storied label) after establishing a relationship with a sales associate demonstrating that the buyer’s personality is in line with the brand’s image, some potential clients get discouraged and prefer shelling out their money elsewhere to buy extremely good copies. Yes, they exist. 

Hermès’s preselection and somewhat opaque process for purchasing their highly coveted bags have been a topic of much discussion and controversy. Recently, this process has faced legal challenges in French courts. Critics argue that the system is discriminatory and lacks transparency, potentially violating consumer rights.

So maybe the proliferation of dupes is easy to understand, after all. 

How to Achieve the Look of Luxury with Affordable Designer Dupes

Stéphan W, an ultra-stylish hairstylist from Montreal and avid buyer of dupes, including collectible sneakers, says he is completely OK disclosing some of his favourite bags are fake. “I love having something that looks like the real thing, but at a fraction of the price. I like the fashion aspect of the bags, the design, but I don’t want to pay those over-inflated prices. Take my Birkin 70, for instance. The authentic one costs $55,000 but I got mine for $300. Prices have gotten ridiculous for the real items. Nothing justifies paying tens of thousands of dollars for a purse. It’s a bag where you store your belongings when you go out. That’s it.” 

It is a fact. Since 2019, the major players in the luxury handbag market have increased their prices at an average of 10 to 20% per year. The steepest price gouging was seen at Chanel, with the Classic Flap Bag going from $5,800 in 2019 to $10,800 in 2024, marking an 86% increase. At Dior, the Lady Dior Bag has increased by approximately 18-25% in the last year. At Hermès, we’re seeing prices go up from 15 % to 22%. 

This increase in pricing has more to do with the idea of owning something that people think is more exclusive and special than strictly inflation. “Basically, it’s just smart marketing. Psychologically, putting something out of reach makes it even more desirable. I’ve seen in detail real Hermès, Valentino, The Row purses, and, frankly, I can’t really see the difference in terms of craftsmanship when I compare them to the dupes. The quality of the leathers is the same if you purchase replicas from vendors with great reviews. But you have to dig around,” he says. 

In the last year, Dior has come under fire when an investigation revealed that the luxury brand was paying a supplier $57 to produce handbags that retailed for about $2,780, violating labour rules and using illegal workers being exploited. The costs did not include raw materials such as leather. Prosecutors said these companies exploited workers to pump out bags for a very small fraction of their store price. So much for the highfalutin idea of luxury… 

Pushing the envelope on the concept of luxury even further, Canadian creator Xylk from Grocery Bags told Style Snobiety in a feature article that “we’ve been taught that ‘luxury’ means a specific lifestyle but it’s now an emotion. Luxury isn’t tangible anymore. We, the people, we’re luxury. Without us, Luxury doesn’t exist.” As for his shopping bags, which are essentially Filipino grocery totes available in an incredibly tongue-in-cheek assortment of certain high-priced luxury brands that are less pastiche than parody, they are essentially a new form of street art. And you can even use them with your authentic, original luxury handbags to assert your cynical taste for fashion even further. 

Top Online Stores to Find High-Quality Fashion Dupes

Knowing a friend of a friend who has a seemingly endless collection of stunning designer bags is always a good place to start. However, not everyone is eager to share their secret sources.

If you’re looking for the best places to buy high-quality fashion dupes, here are some of the online platforms to consider that are publicly available:

DHgate: A trove of amazing replicas, including high-priced luxury items at a fraction of the cost of authentic items, including dupes for handbags, shoes, clothes, and accessories. Vendors are direct manufacturers mainly based in China. However, finding the best replica requires a lot of digging around and carefully reading reviews. Comparing items from the original manufacturers also helps when looking at the items you’re considering. Ask questions and to see photos in detail. Also, don’t expect to pay less than $200 – $300 for a great quality replica. 

Aliexpress: Another huge Chinese online marketplace that’s a hotspot for big name replicas and inspired designs. Tip: don’t include the brand or the model you’re looking for in the search engines, because they’re not in the database. Try to find your dream items with fashion euphemisms and keywords like ‘initial’. You’re welcome. 

Amazon: If you know where to look, you can find a surprising selection of luxury label lookalikes on the world’s biggest online store. The retail giant makes designer dupe shopping easy and risk-free when you find the gems. Reviews are generally authentic. However, be advised that replicas get flagged quickly and can disappear without a trace from one day to the next. 

eBay: If you’re looking for second-hand luxury bags and accessories, this is the largest marketplace on the planet where you can bid on collectible items. Impressive repository of authenticated French luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior merchandise from Japanese vendors, who are discerning collectors. Reviews are trustworthy. Watch out for sometimes prohibitive shipping charges and compare listings. 

In terms of styling the dupe handbags and the other replica designer items available online, it’s always about the overall look of the person wearing them. “Right now, because of social media, everyone wants to be different but everyone ends up looking the same. So you need to add a touch of your personal style to make the items stand out,” recommends Stéphan.  

At the end of the day — dupe or not — remember it’s your choice, your money, your style. No judgment. 

Credits
Featured Image: Collage by Yasmin Grothé