thecityoliviapalermo

posts about #thecityoliviapalermo more →
The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
How An Unemployed Socialite Became Whitney Port's "Work" Friend

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

ArtfulSlinger
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Yeah Canal Street is much different than how they sell them on 5th Avenue, with the bags all laid out on a blanket and them hollering at you.

Canal Street is interesting because there are two police precincts in the area, so a lot of the DVD, faux handbag, watches and other knockoff sellers will continue to cross the street throughout the day, mainly by Broadway & Canal, so they can avoid being arrested. This way they can get caught by the opposing district. It pisses the cops off, cause it hurts the bigger busts, but no actual bootlegger would ever sell that shit to you on CAMERA.
Reply

ArtfulSlinger was starred ArtfulSlinger was unstarred

angelmusic11
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
This is definitely fake. I was approached by MTV when I was walking through Union Square and they asked me if they could film me walking down the street for B roll stuff for "The City." Then I had to sign this agreement stating they could air it and what not. A real knock-off seller in Canal Street would have NEVER signed that agreement to have their face shown.
Reply

Maritsa promoted this comment angelmusic11 was starred angelmusic11 was unstarred

JinxyMcDeath
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
I was just down on Canal Street with some out-of-town friends and we were practically assaulted by random people hawking their fake wares. "Come here, you want Fendi? Prada?" Every two steps was another person trying to get me to buy some fake designer bags on the street. So, the first part of the transaction looked real, but then the fact that he gave her the purses in the middle of the street did not. I especially like how shady Olivia was acting during it. She is one shady shady girl. Also, I hate her nasty attitute. Olivia, your prettiness will fade, but your reputation for being abrasive and self-absorbed will not.
Reply

JinxyMcDeath was starred JinxyMcDeath was unstarred

Flackette Goes Retro
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Many moons again in DC, I did buy a fake Kate Spade right in the middle of Eastern Market. However, that was before I knew that counterfeit bags fund crime - I don't do that anymore. And I'm wondering if they've since cracked down in DC, since I hear all these stories about counterfeit ring busts in NYC.
Reply

Edited by Flackette Goes Retro at 10/07/09 5:02 PM

dialing_footnoterphone
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
My only experience with knock-offs was in Florence. Near the old bridge. With a guy from the Sudan (I believe) and a pair of "Versace" glasses. I don't think the Versace logo is a crooked sticker that comes off in the heat.... but hey, I needed a pair... even if they didn't fit my head quite right.
Reply

sailor.saturday
10/07/09

@dialing_footnoterphone: There are so many knock-off guys in Florence, and you know when the cops are near because they fold their display into a sack and run down the street looking like Santa Claus.
Reply

willwriteforfood promoted this comment sailor.saturday was starred sailor.saturday was unstarred

willwriteforfood
10/07/09

@sailor.saturday: And they are shameless about hawking their faux wares right there in front of the Duomo, next to the guys with the easels painting. It was kind of fascinating to see how quickly they could fold up and run.
Reply

willwriteforfood was starred willwriteforfood was unstarred

dumblonde
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
My mom had another shady knock-off buying experience in Canal St. She asked for a very specific purse from the guy in the store, the guy proceded to run to the back of the store, make a phone call, and then another man in a limo pulled up, handed the store attendant the purse, and my mother proceeded to pay for it. To say the least, it's obvious this is some sort of mafia and the deal went about like a drug deal. She's never going to buy knockoffs again.
Reply

greengrey promoted this comment Edited by dumblonde at 10/07/09 4:55 PM dumblonde was starred dumblonde was unstarred

dj_chick
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
I confess, I came home from my NYC vacation with not one, but two knock off purses. They were both acquired in the back of a van on Canal Street. I kid you not. Other than him showing her the goods on the street, the whole thing went down a little bit like that. Or at least, it started with a dude muttering something about "Fendi, Chanel, Prada" and ended with me leaving Chinatown with a knock-off.
Reply

Zombie Ms. Skittles promoted this comment dj_chick was starred dj_chick was unstarred

Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/07/09

@dj_chick: You brazen hussy you. ;-)

I've bought "irregulars" but I don't think I've ever bought a straight up knockoff.
Reply

joannabobanna
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
WTF? So, I've only ever gotten a knockoff in Venice (before I did research into how awful the trade is), and we did do the transaction in the middle of bridge. But... there were like 15 men selling crap and when someone whistled, they packed up their shit before I even realized what happened. The only other thing I remember was the insane amount of yelling in a language with which I'm not familiar.
Reply

joannabobanna was starred joannabobanna was unstarred

bibomaco
10/07/09

@joannabobanna: Please excuse my ignorance, but what is so bad with the knock-off trade?
Reply

Zombie Ms. Skittles promoted this comment bibomaco was starred bibomaco was unstarred

Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/07/09

@bibomaco: The groups who make knock-offs often use the money to support human trafficking and arms smuggling and the pieces are usually made by sweatshop labor (at best) and slaves (at worst). The money also goes to fund groups like the Taliban and militia groups in other countries.
Reply

greengrey
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: This. It's disgusting that people will still support the counterfeit goods industry.
Reply

greengrey was starred greengrey was unstarred

dumblonde
10/07/09

@bibomaco: Well. The knock-off trade is intimately related to organized crime. By buying knock-offs you're putting money in the hands of organized crime which they will use for all their activities like prostitution, human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking...
Reply

greengrey promoted this comment Edited by dumblonde at 10/07/09 4:52 PM dumblonde was starred dumblonde was unstarred

bibomaco
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Oh wow. So depressing. I wonder if people who buy such products are aware of the impact of the knock-off trade. I've always known it was illegal, but I thought it was harmlessly so.
Reply

bibomaco was starred bibomaco was unstarred

RiloKilo
10/07/09

@bibomaco: I think a lot of people aren't aware of that. My aunt bought knock-offs in New York once, and I'm positive it would break her heart if she knew what her money was going toward in the long run.
Reply

greengrey promoted this comment RiloKilo was starred RiloKilo was unstarred

stuckingoshen
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: That makes a lot of sense. It's so shady and gross and what's the point, really, of a bag with a name on it?
Reply

greengrey promoted this comment stuckingoshen was starred stuckingoshen was unstarred

stuckingoshen
10/07/09

@stuckingoshen: Oh, and EVERY DAY I see tourist girls getting into BLACKED OUT shitty vans.

They probably really failed their Stranger=danger dontgetintoavanandgetkilled classes as kids. All for a bag!
Reply

greengrey promoted this comment stuckingoshen was starred stuckingoshen was unstarred

greengrey
10/07/09

@bibomaco: There have been ads. I can't find an example that runs in the US, but here's one.
Reply

greengrey was starred greengrey was unstarred

zelda_pinwheel
10/07/09

@bibomaco: I just read a tragic and horrifying article about who actually sews/constructs these knock-offs, and in large part, its kids. Little, sweet, slave children. In the account I read, one child had his legs broken for trying to go outside to play. I've been trying to forget about it for MONTHS but its permanently imbedded in my grey matter.
Reply

greengrey approved this comment zelda_pinwheel was starred zelda_pinwheel was unstarred

greengrey
10/07/09

@zelda_pinwheel: I've read that story too. Sticks with me and I think of it whenever I read about counterfeiting.
Reply

greengrey was starred greengrey was unstarred

yvanehtnioj
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
My experience is always the furtively whispered, "Gucci? Prada? Louis Vuitton?" and if you show any interest being led for like 14 blocks into an underground/behind the shop wall location such as you described. Either way, nothing in the middle of the street. I also like how she's all, "Cross the street with me", dragging him between cars to look at the purses, and looking around like a suspect on Law & Order, while he's oblivious to the danger of the transaction. Completely ridic.
Reply

Edited by yvanehtnioj at 10/07/09 4:31 PM yvanehtnioj was starred yvanehtnioj was unstarred

bananaballs
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Nuh uh. I SWEAR I saw that guy last week. Singing the song and everything.
Reply

bananaballs was starred bananaballs was unstarred

EkaterinaBallerina
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Wow, that sounds a lot more intense than the few times I bought fakes from Canal St. I just remember walking into stores and negotiating prices.

Of course this was before I did my research on the knockoff trade. It's absolutely appalling. I get that people hate that designers mark up their stuff so much. But counterfeiters support the drug trade, child labor and terrorism. I'd much rather live my life without a Louis Vuitton, fake or real, than know I supported any of the above with my dollars.
Reply

EkaterinaBallerina was starred

Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Damn it, Tracie, I now have an overwhelming desire to go buy some fake Coach shit.
Reply

Notes from the underwhelmed
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Oh no, don't do Coach. It's not even that cute when it's real.
Reply

Treeless
10/07/09

@Notes from the underwhelmed: You said it. The first time I ever saw a Coach bag, I said "This is what everyone's choking to have? Seriously?" . . . Though if someone gave me one for free, I suppose I might carry it. Maybe. But then they might think I'd paid for it, and having my priorities assessed as such might be unacceptable.

(Touching their $90 leather gloves is like petting a kitten though.)
Reply

willwriteforfood promoted this comment Treeless was starred Treeless was unstarred

yvanehtnioj
10/07/09

@Notes from the underwhelmed: That's how I feel about Fendi. The opposite of beautiful or even interesting, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many people shell out for those bags!
Reply

yvanehtnioj was starred yvanehtnioj was unstarred

o-line
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Pssst! Meet out back in a half hour. I have the latest designs from Conch.
Reply

tetragami promoted this comment o-line was starred o-line was unstarred

tetragami
10/07/09

@o-line: Do you have anything from Goach?
Reply

tetragami was starred tetragami was unstarred

willwriteforfood
10/07/09

@Treeless: I still like the old school Coach things, the buttery-soft leather purses that last a lifetime...I still have the leather briefcase my parents bought me at Coach when I finished grad school, not realizing I don't carry briefcases. But I won't give it up because it is so beautiful.
Reply

willwriteforfood was starred willwriteforfood was unstarred

Mary McCarthyite
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Another indicator of intense fakery is her exiting the SUBWAY at the beginning. Girlfriend probably takes taxis everywhere.
Reply

Edited by Mary McCarthyite at 10/07/09 4:30 PM Mary McCarthyite was starred Mary McCarthyite was unstarred

Lymed
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
At least professional wrestling is real
Reply

Lymed was starred Lymed was unstarred

Bgirl_Hamster
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Dear Lord, it sounds easier to get heroin than a fake Prada bag.
Reply

Bgirl_Hamster was starred Bgirl_Hamster was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

#thecityoliviapalermo

Jezebel

SUBSCRIBE TO Jezebel

The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake

How An Unemployed Socialite Became Whitney Port's "Work" Friend

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment