I just want to take a moment to vent a little bit. A moment to discuss an issue that I've been having with boutiques and "clothing designers". Before it was the distressed/bleached denim. Then came the bandage dresses with more cut-outs than actual fabric, which might I add are still in high demand for reasons I don't have the answers to. And now, we have the Chanel logo being ironed on to every item you can imagine.
When I first saw the Chanel logo sweatsuits floating around my Instagram timeline my first though was "is this real? this is hilarious." And then as I began to witness more and more of this crime being committed by repeat offenders, the humor I found in it disappeared. I found that this trend was every once of serious. Seeing as though I'm from New York one would think that I cam across people selling fake things all the time simply because there are men selling Gucci bags and LV shoes on almost every corner. But this is getting out of hand.
Someone out there is probably thinking, "whats the big deal?" But I assure you, there's a reason to my madness.
Chanel is highly well-known luxury brand. Blood, sweat, tears, and a shit load of risk were produced in order for Chanel to be the highly respected brand it is today. As someone who constantly self educates herself on fashion history and the history of brands and fashion icons before they became what they are, It's safe to say that I've done my homework and I know my shit. I don't know it all but I know enough to know what it takes to build a brand. I understand what it takes to have your ideas constantly shut down. I am aware of what a lot of designers had to go through before they were taken seriously. My point is, these designers have worked hard, and are still working hard to maintain their reputation, and produce the best of the best for their customers and admirers. Yet, we have people cheapening their brand by creating rhinestone iron-on patches and throwing them on sweat pants while calling it Chanel.
For a quick second I considered giving these creators of the faux Chanel trend the benefit of the doubt. In trying to remain non-judgmental and reasonable, I came up with the thought that maybe they are creating these items for the people who cant afford real Chanel. Maybe they are trying to give everyone a chance to sport a well-known luxury brand. Give everyone a chance to feel like money. Lets give these people the american dream! Everyone knows and loves Chanel right!?. Sure why not!
But then I thought about all the people who are spending their money on the fakes to be like the cool kids who own the real deal. The owners of these boutiques cant possibly believe that this is okay. They're making a fool out of people and themselves. Its gone to far and its getting out of hand. I don't knock anyone's hustle or business decision. I support everyone. But what I don't support is fraud. I don't support taking the logo of brand where its creators have worked hard to achieve and build it into what it is today.
We can all preach to choir about how labels and name brands don't matter and how we shouldn't worry about what society says is in and not. But isn't that what these boutiques are doing. They're saying "Chanel is in and although you don't have the funds to afford the real thing. We've created the next best thing! Duplicates!" I'll be the first to admit that I am a slave to fashion and I am a label whore. I admire nice things and I don't see anything wrong with desiring them and wanting them. Labels matter to me in the sense that I will never wear anything less than the original and if I cant afford it then that is very much okay. I would rather have nothing at all than to own a fake.
I'm sure Karl Lagerfeld can care less because he knows that there will always be one Chanel. However, in the words Mr.West,"I ask, cause I'm not sure....Do anybody make real shit anymore?"