RE: Harwin

lynny0780 · September 2009

i just dont get why you would spend money on a fake when you could just go get a decent bag at macys, or dillars or lots of other stores for the same price, and they look better.

janie2002 · September 2009

OKay jumping into the the child labor law debate, what we see as wrong others see as the only was for survival.In ethics class we discussed this, for example if a child is an orphan and has even younger siblings to take care of, is it wrong for them to work? We are not talking about US children that can go to a home, we are talking about countries where living on a dollar a day is the norm. I don't agree with child labor of course but I also am not supporting children in 3rd world countries.

veronabrit · September 2009

I knew someone would bring Forever 21 up. Here is where the difference lies. My clothes are not a blatant counterfeit RIPOFF of another designer's clothes, complete with logos etc. Yes I realize the clothes aren't made in america, but I have never in ,y life seen any of my clothes that I buy at LV, Burberry, Coach etc. So you see, the issue is not just the child labor, it is the fact that the bags are a counterfeit STOLEN design from a luxury goods company.

veronabrit · September 2009

also when you buy a fake bag, you are trying to give off the image that it is real. when I buy forever 21 clothes, they are forever 21 clothes. They aren't covered in logos that are illegally stolen.

ayersfam20 · September 2009

I think that if you're going to be passionate about something than you shouldn't try to make exceptions. I agreed with you Veronika and was impressed with how passionate you were/are about child labor, etc. But now you're saying that if it's Forever 21 clothing it's okay if it's made by the kids with the broken legs because you're not trying to pass it off as something it's not? Seems a little backwards to me.

PrimoBride · September 2009

Ayers took the words out of my mouth. I realize you were also talking about the design being stolen, but the #1 point you were trying to drive home was the child labor. If you were that passionate, then you wouldn't buy anything that could possibly be made from child labor. But I guess its ok if its the real deal and not a fake being made?

SHUVUU · September 2009

I think that if you're going to be passionate about something than you shouldn't try to make exceptions. I agreed with you Veronika and was impressed with how passionate you were/are about child labor, etc. But now you're saying that if it's Forever 21 clothing it's okay if it's made by the kids with the broken legs because you're not trying to pass it off as something it's not? Seems a little backwards to me. My sentiments exactly. I couldn't have said it better if I tried.

hoopsgirl · September 2009

My sentiments exactly. I couldn't have said it better if I tried.ain't that the truth!and taylor, no need to apologize.

veronabrit · September 2009

I am not saying it is OK at all. I have never seen evidence that all of the clothes from Forever 21 were made by harming children. I am not saying that I won't buy from any brand where children work in 3rd world countries- that would be unrealistic. In many countries, children and parents all have to work to put food on the table and many times factory work is the only option. If I found out that children were being HARMED by making the clothes and there was proof, then i would not shop there. period. Child labor is not going to stop...but there is a difference between children working and children being abused while working. Many children have to work to help support their families, and as sad as it is, without those jobs they would suffer. The sad reality is that these jobs need to exist. I would obviosly have to have hard evidence of spcific factories that make clothes for various brands I buy mistreating children to stop buying. In the case of fake handbags, I do have evidence, and the choice is made easier.

janie2002 · September 2009

Just FYI there is no store listed in San Marcos for Louis Vuitton on louisvuitton.com

veronabrit · September 2009

i just went to san marcos and didnt see an LV there either

FutureMrsCaptObvious · September 2009

" My clothes are not a blatant counterfeit RIPOFF of another designer's clothes, complete with logos etc" Interesting.... Since you are so into "research", you may want to read up on the more than 25 lawsuits against Forever 21 for copyright and trademark infringement, two of which involve Diane von Furstenberg and Harajuku Lovers.

veronabrit · September 2009

I actually have read those, and have not purchased the items you are referring to. The same way some purse stores sell bags that may be inspired by designers, but are not trying to look like an exact replica of that bag. I am aware about the lawsuits against Forever 21, and have not purchased the items that they are being sued because of, and never would. In the case of thise designs, the patterns were blatantly copie (I have seen pics) which obviously I do not agree with. Obviously all lower priced stores are inspired by the current fashions and trends, but to blatantly copy them is wrong, regardless. I have no evidence that the stores i enjoy shopping at use child labor, and if i were to find out, I would be enraged.

veronabrit · September 2009

correction: when i refer to child labor, I am referring to when there is evidence of abuse, not child labor in general, which i defined earlier as a necessary evil.

FutureMrsCaptObvious · September 2009

Final two words: Hypocritical backpedaling.

ayersfam20 · September 2009

Imo if you are buying anything from that company you are supporting their business and therefore supporting how they get items into their stores. Whether or not the shirt you happen to buy was made by a 6 year old in a sweat shop doesn't matter if the shirt hanging right next to it was.Is it easy to do? No. Do I think about it and check where every single thing I buy was made? No. Should we all do that? In an ideal world - yes.But, I also don't get up on my high horse and get all preachy and act holier than thou to others either.

veronabrit · September 2009

backpeddling? please. I stand by what I said. I don't agree with child labor where children's legs are broken so they can make designer bags all day. I hate when people carry fake bags for many reasons, the main one being the proven abuse to child workers and the others being the points I have previously listed. When you go to a store that sells bags on Harwin (including replicas) you have a choice- there are OTHER types of bags that are not replicas of LV, Chanel ans so on. So you can choose to buy a nice bag that is not a knockoff of a Chanel bag. When I go to Forever 21, I don't go there to buy knockoffs of DVF and Harjuku Lovers. I buy the clothes that are not knock-offs of anything. Simple tops, black pencil skirts, dresses etc. Stuff that I do not see in any other stores or on any designer's runways.

SHUVUU · September 2009

Interesting.http://poshglam.com/is-forever-21-the-robin-hood-of-fashion/

FutureMrsCaptObvious · September 2009

So breaking a child's legs is heinous (we can all agree on that), but making them work for 15+ hours in deplorable conditions with no food, water, or bathroom breaks is acceptable. Gotcha.

veronabrit · September 2009

NO it is NOT acceptable. When you can back up where you are getting yoru facts from and provide detailed information about which retailers are having children work in deplorable conditions, I am prepared to discuss this further.

FutureMrsCaptObvious · September 2009

One can assume (with any use of common sense) that the import status of their clothing coupled with their insanely cheap prices points to less than desirable working conditions for the people making the product. It really shouldn't matter if it's children or adults doing the work. And it's not just Forever 21 and other knock-off companies that do this. Luxury designers are guilty of it, too. Just because you purchase something that costs hundreds of dollars doesn't mean it was sewn by a woman sitting in a massage chair getting a pedicure while she's meeting her quota for the day. Higher quality materials call for higher selling prices. Cheap labor is used universaly. Forever 21 can keep it's prices low because not only are they using cheap labor, but because their raw materials are cheap as well. Just because something has a pretty label on it, does not mean it was made in a pretty manner.

veronabrit · September 2009

future- you are very right. It is widespread in the garment and luxury goods industry. The reason I focus on fake handbags is because they are a status symbol, whereas i don't really see clothing to be that, (especially clothes from cheap retailers like F21, old navy, charlotte russe, etc). I think when you buy a purse meant to look like a 5000$ bag (but it is not) then there is something deeper behind that. The motives for me buying a 22$ blouse from Forever 21 to wear to work, IMO are much different than buying a "Chanel" bag that retails for 7,000$, but you buy it for 34$. Perhaps others don't see a difference, and that's fine.

SHUVUU · September 2009

Veronika, I can't keep up with your point of passion. It keeps changing. One minute it's the knock-off makers blatantly passing off their creations as originals and the next it's the poor poor children with their legs broken off and suddenly you have a passion for facts. But if I go back to the article you keep quoting: Then I read the following passage from my book, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. "'I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags,' an investigator told me... 'The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend. [They] did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play.'"I can't help but wonder how neutral the article is seeing as it's coming from Harper's Bazaar a FASHION magazine. It is in their best interest to write an article protecting designers. Now don't get me wrong. I am all for Copyright Laws and Child Labor Laws and all that warm and fuzzy world peace stuff. But the book the article is quoting 'Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster' is not in total defense of the designer. In fact it exposes the very designer you are so vehemently defending. Based on the reviews of the book, many people walk away from it not wanting to buy another LV - original or fake. Let's face it Forever 21 is just as guilty as these knock off manufacturers. And if a mother has to work 16 hrs for partial pay in my opinion, her children have suffered too.

veronabrit · September 2009

SHU- those are some great points, and yes I am passionate about the issue from many different angles. I think it is fair to say we are ALL guilty of purchasing goods that may not have been made in the best conditions. Everyone, myself included has bought items without know the conditions they were made under. That article struck an emotional chord in me, and I felt the need to say something.

KMueller0613 · September 2009

Verona, Thank you for your post. I personally don't like the knock offs because they are cheaply made and you can tell, like Janie stated previously. But now I have an every better reason not to purchase them. I will be sure pass this information along.

SHUVUU · September 2009

*Raises hand* Guilty too lol! I do not own an original or a knock-off Luxury bag but I am pretty sure I couldn't trace where every item I'm wearing today was made. We only do what we can to sleep peacefully at night.Cheers and thank you for the debate.

veronabrit · September 2009

I apologize if this thread personally offended anyone. I just wanted to draw attention to this issue, and I realize it is not only happening with fake designer bags.

bgoings · September 2009

I looked at the list and didn't see a Lv but there is a Gucci so maybe Katie was just confused. There is also a coach some other designer places.

PrimoBride · September 2009

No offense here Verona

RE: Harwin

Re: RE: Harwin

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