Retail Worker News

This week, New York City police closed down 32 shops carrying fake goods and confiscated more than $1 million in counterfeit goods including fake Rolex watches and faux designer handbags. With this news, I feel the need to tell the story of my fake Prada bag.

I’ve seen the ads in fashion mags claiming that buying counterfeit goods funds terrorism. I’m thinking and hoping that because the ad is paid by the designer, this is a lie. But despite that I knew it was wrong, when I visited NYC, an overwhelming feeling came over me. I had to have one of these bags. It wasn’t because I wanted to impress everyone with a designer bag. My boyfriend even pointed out that if anyone complimented me on it, I would have to tell them it was fake just so I could tell them the story of how I got it.

So, we walked up the steps from the subway and there were men whispering “Handbag? Rolex?” as we walked down the streets near China Town. Finally we asked a store owner if they carried Prada bags. He told us to go to the back of the store and wait. At this point I’m overjoyed, because I’m about to witness organized crime at its best.

A woman met us at the back of the store, pushed a table aside (it had wheels) and opened a secret hatch door. We then found ourselves in a secret room surrounded by designer handbags: Coach, Gucci, Dior, you name it. The door was shut behind us. Above the door was a small flat screen TV that showed live video of the store front. After we made our purchase, the Asian woman got on a walkie talkie and said “Ee-I, Ee-I!” which prompted the Lookout to make sure the store was empty before letting us out of the secret room. I left there, black trash bag in hand, feeling excited and nervous, as if someone might confiscate my newly acquired Prada bags. Now I have two bags that I don’t use, but they sit in my closet with a memory attached to them.

Is visiting Canal Street and buying fake goods part of the tourist attractions in NYC? I think so. But I also think it sort of dilutes the designer brand. The whole purpose of having expensive designer brands is so that only people with money can purchase them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be called “status symbols.” I drive a Corolla…doesn’t make much sense for me to be carrying a handbag that is worth more than my car.