Canal Street
Posted on | December 10, 2004 |
Fake bags at Canal Street, NYC
Via Gothamist, we came across this NYTimes article: A Booming Black Market, all about the Canal Street fake bag market.
Canal Street has a special place in my heart and I love the shop there. I don’t know if it is the thrill of the deal or the crowds or what, but I have been known to hop on the bus from Boston and travel four hours to NYC for the sole reason of walking the length of Canal Street bag-peeping all day long. Too bad Boston’s Chinatown doesn’t have anything that even compares. I guess I just get bored shopping in department stores or online and Canal Street provides a totally different experience. I even can deal with the frustrations such as fighting my way through the crowds or when the police show up and the vendors have to close down for a good 15min while all us shoppers and tourists stand around waiting for them to reopen.
It can be a bit overwhelming and a number of times I never ended up buying anything because I had such senory overload I just needed to get away from the crowds. About a year and a half ago I purchased a LV tote that I do love, but it is a little too skinny to be my everyday bag. I spent a little time on Canal Street most recently this past Memorial Day weekend but the shopping was cut short by a rather impatient boyfriend who was not enjoying the crowded market as much as I was.
Is it unethical to purchase faux handbags? For me, the answer is no, due to the fact that I would never ever pay $1000 for a real bag. So the designers never loose any money on me, because I am not choosing between a real or fake bag; rather I choose between a fake bag or no bag. And on top of that I am quite certain NYC police have more important thigs to worry about.
Update 1/14/07: Comments for this post are now closed.
Comments
84 Responses to “Canal Street”
March 24th, 2005 @ 9:47 pm
It’s absolutely unethical to buy counterfeit bags. If you can’t afford the fruits of the designer’s labor, you aren’t entitled to pay someone who’s stealing from them to get a copy. My, what elastic ethics we have. I am a copyright and trademark holder. I don’t want my copyrights or trademark violated. Perhaps you don’t create much worth stealing, but think about writing something and having it printed with somebody else’s name on it, and having them make the profit from it. Same thing. Jeez, do I really need to explain this to you? Apparently, yes.
May 25th, 2005 @ 5:35 am
I agree about faux bags, I own a fake LV (a present from a friend who went to Thailand), but I now feel so guilty for owning a fake that I never take it out incase someone asks the dreaded question “wow, is that real??” and I just can’t lie about it!! But I would never buy a real LV, (I’d prefer a Prada or Chanel!) so LVMH isnt losing money on me. But who can really resist a perfect designer fake for 5% of the price?
July 7th, 2005 @ 10:53 am
You say you are not choosing between a real bag and a fake bag but ultimately you are because if the real bag were affordable for you, of course you would get it but since its not you give up buying the real bag for the less expensive non-aunthentic one! I don’t know anyone who can afford to buy an actual LV and would opt to purchasing a knock-off..if it were just a bag to you then why not buy another no-name brand..why a FAKE LV..cuz technically you are still getting the brand and trying to play it off as a real one.
August 23rd, 2005 @ 4:50 pm
I found your story very interesting. A friend and I went to NYC on a trip back in April of this year, bringing with us a request from a friend for a fake LV. At first we didn’t see any of the fakes hanging in the shops. I suggested we ask one of the store owners. We were then escorted into a hidden back room where we saw tons of LV’s, Pradas, Diors, etc. After we left there, we were continually asked on the street whether we were looking for LV’s. We ended up in several interesting back rooms and whatnot. It was exciting. I don’t know whether or not it’s right to purchase fakes. I’m torn on that. I personally just end up feeling cheated myself. While there are some good quality fakes out there, it still just doesn’t feel the same as carrying the real thing for some reason.
September 15th, 2005 @ 3:33 pm
I feel a little guilty every time I pull my fake Coach wallet out of my fake Gucci bag (both purchased in Beijing at the Silk market), but as long as I don’t go into a Coach store/Gucci store I get over it pretty quickly! I got the wallet & purse b/c I liked how they look, not because of the labels (obviously, or I would have gotten the real thing!).
October 13th, 2005 @ 3:38 pm
i was wondering if you could tell me is the location close to Times Square? I am planning to visit NY in Feb. of 2006 and I would like to go to Canal street BADLY!!!! Please give me the info that you think I need…
Thanks…
November 15th, 2005 @ 9:50 pm
I think it’s OK to buy a fake bag if you KNOW it’s fake and would never buy the real one. I was just inspired by this bag blog to buy the Kenneth Cole Lunch Tote…and while I LOVE it, I don’t think I could spend that kind of money on a bag very often…it’s more of a once-a-decade splurge! The way you feel about your bag and how it works with your outfit is far more important than the label, after all!
November 16th, 2005 @ 1:56 am
There are very few things this day in time that are ever birthed from originality. All bags, are in a way, just a recreation of some awesome design long ago. So these people who reproduce the fakes have just jumped on the fashion bandwagon. And as an American, I’ll always be right there choosing what I want to buy and from whom.
November 16th, 2005 @ 7:56 am
I need a Gucci bag really bad , and i was thinking of buying a fake one , cuz a real one is quite expensive , but i also don’t want to tell anyone that it’s a fake ….so is thereanyway that someone who’s experianced with expensive real bags could tell if mine was fake or not ?
November 21st, 2005 @ 1:24 am
if you like the bag, that’s kewl. but you aren’t fooling anyone. i can spot a fake from a mile away. it’s kinda tacky. but, whatever makes you happy i suppose. be warned. even the best fake has telltale signs, and they all fall apart.
November 22nd, 2005 @ 11:24 am
The thing about fake bags is that anyone who owns a real one will be able to tell immediately that the fake is, well, fake. The design of the labels usually looks “off,” the colors (specifically with the LVs) are inaccurate, the stitching is uneven, and most damningly, the “leather” obviously isn’t leather. So if you’re buying a bag specifically for the impressive label — I’m talking to you, Miss I-need-a-Gucci — it makes no sense to buy the fake. If you’re buying it because you truly adore the style and can’t find a similar, less-blatant knockoff anywhere else, well, more power to you. FYI, you can find, if you look really really hard and you’re very careful, some great deals on real designer bags on eBay, as long as you’re not looking for an iconic style like the Paddington.
December 3rd, 2005 @ 10:40 am
Just buy a good quality bg designed by a upcoming designer or a cheaper brand. They are less likely to fall apart and you at least have a certain level of trustwothyness if there is a defect, (exchange refund). Also if you have the real bag normally you can tell they are carrying a fake quite easily.
January 24th, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Is there anything else to buy in Canal Street apart from bags, watches and sunglasses “I’m a lady” no really i am,i love B W and SG’s and i’m going on Friday but i don’t want to trawl for hours looking at the same things. Is there anything else on offer?
February 3rd, 2006 @ 2:56 am
Hmm… fake or not, who really cares. I don’t. Are we all forgetting the real reason we carry handbags???? I don’t think it is for the name. If you are not rich, which is becoming a hard goal in america, why go broke because of what someone else thinks. I am a proud owner of a fake. I dont feel guilty. Its not like any of these bags are made in America …. so really you are supporting the same manufacturer, but getting scammed at the retail level. Life will end one day and you will have either enjoyed it or worried about what people may say, think or do…while all along you see these people in passing and your existence is like a grain of sand in a bad dream….So, while i’m here i choose to enjoy life with all the fashion knockoff’s my pocketbook will afford me. As my mother always says “Is it clean and does it look nice?”….enough said.
March 13th, 2006 @ 8:43 pm
i love, love , LOVE hand bag. and i see nothing wrong with a fake big name brand. i dont feel cheap or anything like that. i feel more intelegent becuase i have a bag that and average person who knows nothing about hand bags would think is 1. a nice bag and 2. kinda impresive. i have a fake LV wallet and purse (from china) and i love them. I just recently got a fake Chanel bag and well i love the style of it not the brand cuase i generaly dont like chanel but the bag is to die for and so well i got it (its from china).
April 15th, 2006 @ 11:19 pm
i bought a fake prada that was advertised as authentic for $150. not long after, the zipper pull fell off and eventually the fake leather strap broke. if i were to do it again, i would have spent that money on an authentic, quality purse, or saved it to buy the real thing later! also, i live in chicago, so i see tons of real and fake bags every day. i have never owned a really expensive designer purse, but even i can spot a fake.
April 30th, 2006 @ 6:41 pm
I am trying to buy some designer bags.
Is Canal street the right place to go?
Are the bags and things real?
Also, if I want to begin a business for kids clothing such as Ralph Lauren and Gap…Kids..
to sell them online to overseas.
Is Canal street the place to buy them and sell?
Please let me know and thank you!
May 3rd, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
I bargain for clothing. When it comes to handbags,I don’t mind spending some money to get a good quality handbag that’ll last for a longtime(coach,prada etc.)It’s worth every penny =)
oh…any handbags purchased on CANAL street are 99.9% counterfeit. Why do you think the people that work there have a private back room full of fake LV’s,prada,gucci that are hidden from the public eye?
May 10th, 2006 @ 10:44 am
I don’t believe in fake bags, if you want a LV bag, buy the REAL thing from the store, that way you can tell people it is a real one if they ask. Also more importantly the money generated from fake bags can support criminal organisations such as terrroeism, counterfit, trafficking, drugs etc..the list is endless. so buying a fake CHANEL, Gucci or chole is not always as stright forward and innocent as you may think. I don’t have a real designer bag myself, however i also do not have a fake and would never buy one, instead i am saving up for a LV SAC BOSPHORE which i will own someday and feel pround knowing i saaved up for it and more importantly knowing it is the genuine article and that way no one, not LV or myself looses out, no one except criminals and human traffickers that it!!
May 14th, 2006 @ 5:46 pm
I haven’t bought any of the bags from Canal street, but the experience of going through secret doors and hidden alleys is something anyone should do at least once. I wrote about my first experience in my blog: http://www.mackarus.com/2006/05/09/the-real-stores-with-the-fake-bags-at-canal-street/
May 23rd, 2006 @ 3:44 pm
Canal Street has always been quite the experience! I just got back from NY this past weekend - shopping canal was a major priority. Fake bags sold on canal are great only if you know what the real ones look like. I own a few real bags but buy good fake ones when I have the opportunity. This past weekend I met so many vendors with really good bags - some knocked off and some stolen - the stolen ones are the best because they are real. I always make sure to bring along a real store bought bag so I can compare the lining, the hardware, the textures, etc. I guess it’s just important to know your designers and bags so you can get your moneys worth on Canal.
May 27th, 2006 @ 6:06 pm
Hello, I am traveling to NYC in a few weeks, and Canal St is a top to do on my list. I own several real bags, but have also been to “purse parties” and know how close replicas can be. I am curious what I should watch out for. And how do I know if a bag is stolen (or how do I find them)??? Finally approx. how much do the replicas cost???? Any adivce will be greatly appreciated.
May 27th, 2006 @ 9:57 pm
I just came from canal street today… the “good” fake bags are found behind the scenes in stores… look for the people on the sidewalks that hold a little paper with pictures of designer bags and have them take you behind the store… there is where you will get quality fake bags.. (i just compared the ones i bought with the real thing online and only a coach aficionado would be able to tell the difference). i paid $30 for each bag today. the rest of the stuff that is not behind the scenes is basically just a bunch of shit.the rest of the stuff that is not behind the scenes is basically just a bunch of shit.
June 8th, 2006 @ 3:54 pm
Just so that everyone knows… there is NO EVIDENCE that specifically links the manufacturing/selling of all replica handbags to terrorism. This has been written by the media, but read carefully how the information is written in the articles… it remains unproven. Just an FYI.
June 15th, 2006 @ 2:09 pm
Even if the fake bag industry is not supporting terrorism it is not an honest trade and someone is profiting illegally. I visited Canal Street two weeks ago with my sister and did not know what it was all about. When I found myself climbling a hidden staircase looking at bags hanging on the walls I could not believe I had put myself in such a place. I have no need to carry a bag with some designers name on it, fake or real, and cannot understand why it is so important to some women to own such that they would stoop to crawling in back alleys. After that one back room visit, I spent my time waiting for the others in my group, watching the crowds and the drug deals going on in front of me.
June 19th, 2006 @ 9:59 am
Hi… I just came back from canal street this weekend. Had a blast! I bought this very cute coach tote for like $40. I mean if someone asks you on the street is it real, you can lie and say yes. I mean who is gonna check. Who would open your bag and check for the signs of fakeness? Unless you end up like Samantha on Sex and the city. But or you can say no, it’s not real, and then tell them you got it from new york, tell them they should go too!
because it doesn’t make any sense to spend $1000 on one bag if you can get a good lookalike for $30-50. I was in the LV store at the mall and they had a real cute bag for $1320. Imagine going into a store with $1000 and they tell you oops…you don’t have enough to buy a bag. That’s crazy!
I love my new bag!!and I can’t wait to go back
June 23rd, 2006 @ 10:58 pm
Counterfeit anything is illegal and is illegal for a reason. While the major fashion houses make quite a lot of money by selling their authentic goods, they are entitled to have total exclusivity over their brand and products. Whether or not owning a counterfeit purse is illegal, one should think of it as a moral issue. Do we think it is OK to use counterfeit currency? It really is no different. Even if you do not try to pass off your counterfeit bag as the real thing, just by carrying it you are supporting the idea that counterfeit is OK. If you cannot afford a real bag then buy one from a less expensive brand. They are just as stylish and are made from quality materials. I advise everyone to check out the “Facts on Fakes” from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC). And yes, counterfeit products do support terrorism. Read the evidence. Are you fake?
June 24th, 2006 @ 1:58 am
I do not believe in fakes, personally i love handbags. I have my own little collection of designer handbags which are all “real, of course” they are mostly coach since i can afford it, im not like others who like to lie and show off their fakes. It makes me sick when people say their bag is real which obviously is NOT! I am always proud to tell people that my bags real because i purchased it in the original store and paid the amount for it. If you can not afford the bag, why would you go showing off a fake one in the first place? Fakes are really easy to spot, i can spot it with one glance on the street. I have enough experience with bags to tell wheather the bag is fake or not.
June 25th, 2006 @ 12:10 am
There was an news article online about Canel St. One woman interviewed said she returned her real one and bought a fake, that the flowers were pink instead of red but who cared? Are all these bags plastic (vinyl) or are some of the fakes actually made of leather. And, did i read this right? there are stolen designer bags on sale there? I live in northern Canada and may never get to New York but am I getting an education.. thanks all.
June 25th, 2006 @ 2:26 am
I am looking for the website where you can buy the knock-off handbags like they sell in the backrooms on canal street in New York.
Does anyone know where or how i can get them online?
Thanks to anyone with information
June 29th, 2006 @ 9:04 am
I have had the same experience as all of you. Im am only a teenager and i didnt know the difference between the fake and real until i got to my hotel room. Though a fake is ok and a whole lot cheaper and it still looks like the real deal. Well I was disappointed though oh well its a purse.
July 7th, 2006 @ 11:50 am
Hi,
Last week I went to canal street and I spend 90 dollars getting three faux coach bags. I love them and I don’t regret getting knockoffs. I think the bags are of a very good quality and I am sure I would never pay thousands of dollars for a real bag. i rather use that money to travel or eating at a nice restaurant.
July 18th, 2006 @ 11:24 pm
Hi cutebspoiled, you can buy knock off handbags extremely easy online, all you have to do is type in handbag replicas on google. If you choose not to do that, you can also search it on ebay, they have tons of knock off handbags in very low price. Eventhough i don’t buy replicas, but i know pretty much a lot about them. That’s how you learn to tell the difference between real and fakes. You have to learn to tell the fake one’s first. Within the next month or so, i will be purchasing my first louis vuitton handbag in soho. I don’t think it’s a waste of money because every penny is worth it.
July 22nd, 2006 @ 3:17 pm
OK, I’ve always had a thing for designer clothes, bags, even make-up. When I was little I would only wear what was ‘in’ with the school. Now, I have mostly designer items and have some pride when I have my real Prada or Coach bags when eveyone else is sporting fakes. Just remember, even though you don’t think so, most women who own a ‘real’ bag can spot a fake a mile away. The coloring, label, etc. are such an easy giveaway. Especially with Coach bags. The coloring is so off it disgusts me. If you are going to buy a fake bag, I would go with Prada or Kate Spade, sense you can’t tell they’re fake unless the start falling apart.
July 27th, 2006 @ 5:47 pm
I think its fine to buy these kinds of bags, in fact i want a supplier from canal street, if you read this and you are or know one please contact me. I buy in bulk!!
July 28th, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
It’s really interesting to read most of the comments here regarding fake bags. Just like in Canal St., I live in a country where in almost every corner, a replica is being sold. But even though fake bags are rampant here, I only own the real thing and have never bought one. Those that were given to me as a gift are recycled and given to those who don’t really care about signature brands. My only advice is buy the authentic or never own one at all. True, it’s cheap but so is the quality! Being spotted with a fake bag is really embarassing! If you’re addicted to bags just like me, buy only the real thing! It may be expensive but believe me,a real signature bag is the only accessory that will add a lot of spice to anyone’s wardrobe!
July 31st, 2006 @ 3:58 pm
I agree with the women who choose to pay for a real designer handbag. I myself never owned a real designer handbag until recently. I thought I couldn’t afford it but I realized I was wrong. I was wasting more $$$ buying cheap fake purses that would brake in a matter of days. I have a Coach and a D&B handbag and they go with everything. Not only do they last a long time, but they never go out of style and you can use them all the time. If you really want a designer handbag, just save some $$$ and buy one. It’s worth every penny! Ciao*
August 3rd, 2006 @ 10:25 am
I was in NYC this past week and police must be cracking down on the handbags. On Tuesday there was no problem finding the counterfeit Prada ect., but Friday - very, very difficult. Is there something going on?
August 12th, 2006 @ 9:23 am
i love canal street! even though the bags r cheap and stuff i still think its soooooooo much fun to shop there. i went to canal street last week and i got a LV and yesterday it broke but who cares it was onli $20 and when i went i also got 2 Juicy Couture shirts and they a adorable! and they look like the real thing! and when people ask me is ur bag real? of course i say yes unless its ovious that it is fake like my LV i just got on 1 side the LV sign is upside down of corse i didnt c this side until i got home but w/e i cant wait till i go bac to canal street im gonna get a Chanel bag!!! and mayb a dolce and gabanna shirt and more JUICY!<3
August 18th, 2006 @ 11:01 pm
Shopgirl - I bought a fake Coach in midtown today, the only time I ever saw anyone in midtown selling them (although I admit I don’t look for them) - he was acting all nervous like he needed to get out of there in a hurry…he didn’t even unpack the bags, he just sold them to me and 2 other people out of a big black garbage bag, so maybe you’re right about what you said about crackdowns. On another note, I find it odd that they make and include Coach information booklets, care cards and regisration cards with the actual Coach address on them; I was so surprised to find them in the inside pocket.
August 23rd, 2006 @ 11:32 am
Hi I am going to new york in jan and was just wondering which end of canal st sells all the bags etc? cheers.
August 26th, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I do think it’s wrong to purchase a knock off bag, regardless of whether or not you’d purchase a real one. I would certainly think twice about purchasing a real LV bag right now, because they are everywhere (mostly fake). People buy these bags because they’re “status” bags, and the knock off’s devalue that status.
August 27th, 2006 @ 8:30 am
Over the years, I have purchased a few authentic bags. My favorite is the LV Speedy 30. However, after becoming a frequent customer of Canal St, I have completely discontinued my purchases “expensive” authentic bags. The reason why is that no LV bag is “worth” $700.00. Even though my bag has lastest well over four years, it simply isn’t worth it. The replicas that I have purchased from Canal St. have lasted just as long, look just as good, sometimes better, and cost 1/12th of the price. I think is time for all women to wake up and smell the coffee, book a “family” getaway to NY (my family loves NY by the way), and spend the extra cash that one would spend on a authentic Prada on something more valuable (such as family time)!
August 29th, 2006 @ 2:13 pm
Dude fake bags are so dumb. Like if you want the bag just buy it, or in my case, have daddy buy it. Anywayz, I can definitely like spot a knockoff from like 10 million miles away and like you should definitely not buy the fakes… theyre gross! Totally.
August 31st, 2006 @ 11:17 pm
I have to agree with Cindy. I consider myself blessed financially in such a way that has allowed me to splurge (waist money) on a few Vuitton and Prada bags over the years. However, I stopped the madness a couple of years ago and have splurged on more meaningful things (such as giving more to charity). It is sickening that so many women who consider themselves in the higher ranks of society would rather spend more money on a handbag that they would give away to charity for the entire tax year??? The tragic thing about this is that 99% of the women that visit this blog “really” can’t afford to purchase these type of bags however they feel that they are “worth it” to buy?? For instance, the chick a few comments above mentioned these bags as “status” bags ??? What planet did she come from ??? The only thing that defines status is the value of one’s net worth. Again, most who skimp to purchase the authetic bags and visit this site probably have interest only mortages, and would starve to death if they attempted to sock away $1000.00 per month in a savings account. Trust me, if you have to go to work everyday to make ends meet, and couldn’t take two months off if you wanted to, these bags are not for you. Canal St. is where the “non-rich” (everyday working woman) should shop.
September 4th, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
I think buying fakes and claims it as a real one, is just wrong. A person who does that is just a wannabe, unless the person have no problem of admiting that its a fake, i have no problem with ppl buying fakes. But buying fake then telling ppl that its real, is just plain sad… if you cant afford them, then get other bags…
September 5th, 2006 @ 6:31 pm
I would never buy a “fake” bag. The reason being is that these bags are made in “sweat shops”. These people are being paid practically nothing while the “distributors” make all the money. It’s called organzied crime people. Real bags are made by well paid craftsman. LV for example makes it’s goods in France, Spain, and yes, right in the U.S.A.
I save to purchase real bags because I know with care they will last me a lifetime and can be passed on. A classic is a classic and will never go out of style. So save for a good bag, and the bag pays for itself in the long run.
Also, some designer bags go on sale like Coach, Fendi, Kate Spade etc. Check out department stores. Unless you’re the type to need the “bag of the moment” which I don’t understand. That contritubes nothing to your self-worth. Purchase what is functional, practical and classic and you won’t regret it. Also look at the wide range that each designer offers. There are many great styles in different price ranges. And check out the designers outlet and factory outlet shops. Some flaws are impossible to spot and you save big $$$$. Also, many higher end bags go up in price as time goes by. So keep them in good shape.
September 7th, 2006 @ 9:33 pm
My friend went to canal street and bought me a chanel purse, wallet and sunglasses and I absolutely LOVE them. i’ve never cared about designers and b/c I rescue animals I would never spend such obscene $ for them. I was more than happy to buy pleather too! I hate the idea the real chanel is made of baby lambs. All my friends at the vet clinic thought it was real and I told them all afterward that it was fake. I just love the functionality of the bag and the way the glasses fit my face. I love it so much I am going for a day trip (I live in Miami)in amonth or so just to go shopping. I told everyone I would bring them back whatever they want. If anyone has any one place they think is better than others let me know. I like what a lot of you are saying like, I owuld never buy from the real designer so they aren’t losing any money from me. Also, those who can spot a fake; I have a beautiful spanish friend who was in a spanish soap opera and she thought my Chanel was real. I told her it wasn’t. B/c honestly I don’t care. It is all about whay YOU think and what YOU like.
>^..^<
September 12th, 2006 @ 11:01 am
Why not just spend what you want to spend on quality and not worry about the name?
September 13th, 2006 @ 4:44 pm
WOW! Really down to earth in here! I love it. I check out PurseBlog.com regularly as I love handbags. I read a similar thread there. Someone asked something like, have you ever owned a fake handbag and/or would you? Everyone claimed to only purchase authentics. I really found that hard to believe. Whenever I get down to Canal Street, I see tons of women buying these replicas. One person admitted to owning fakes and got e-jumped! You wouldn’t believe how these “ladies” got on her case. Hey, not everybody believes in paying $2000 and up for a friggin’ handbag. I sure don’t. As a matter of fact, I’m thinkin’ of gettin’ a “Fendi” zucca and brown leather Spy for my birthday next month! And you can bet I’ll get just as much joy from it as I get from my “Chanel” Multipocket and my “Chloe” Betty. Payin’ all that money just so you can say “it’s real”… Gimme a break! I have no problem tellin’ people my bag’s not real. It’s just a handbag for cryin’ out loud! If these designers really wanted to deter consumers from buying knock-offs, they’d cater to everyone. Not just rich folks and folks with too much pride to carry something that looks just like the real thing and serves the same function.
HAPPY SHOPPING EVERYONE!
September 19th, 2006 @ 1:07 pm
I am going to NYC in December. I heard they really cracked down on knock off’s. Has anyone been to Canal Street within the last month? Just curious. I hope they are still there!
September 20th, 2006 @ 4:52 pm
yes, they are still there, and will remain there forever. the police could patrol the streets 24 hours a day, and they would still be selling. there is no way to stop something that massive
September 21st, 2006 @ 10:50 pm
was there yesterday for the Feast of San Gennaro and yes they are most definitely still there. We got approached numerous times to come in and look. In some places the bags looked cheezier in quality than others, so it would help to know the bags inside & out b-4 you go. I finally found a really nice Coach patchwork that looked real for $40.
September 23rd, 2006 @ 10:50 pm
Yes they are still there..on Canal and Mulberry and Mott all over–just ask the ladies with the black garbage bags where they got them. Or look for the Asian ladies on the corners carrying a Coach or Louis Vuitton wristlet and they will take you. Most are in back rooms, some are up 3 flights of stairs. Some are great in quality and some are cheezier looking. Knowing what the real one looks like b/4 you go would help you get the best knock-off possible.
September 28th, 2006 @ 5:42 pm
Come on, people. Who cares. If you want a fake bag, buy one. If you want to spend thousands of dollars on the same thing, thats rediculous. Its a purse. I bought a fake chanel bc i love the black pink and white and i love the way it looks. Who cares? If i had 1000 bukcs to throw away id give it to someone who really needed it.
October 10th, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
I buy fake bags because I like the look of these designers styles, but can in no way justify spending that much on a handbag on my current income. When I have a fake and somebody asks if its fake, I tell them “HECK YEAH! Doesn’t it look real??” I am a serious bargain shopper and am always proud of the great cheapie finds I snag. When I have the money to afford the real thing, the fact that I have bought a fake will not keep me from buying a real one. Just as downloading music will not keep me from buying an artist’s CD if I end up liking the music.
October 14th, 2006 @ 6:29 pm
so they will be there in December? we are going on the 19th through 23rd and plan to do the bulk of my Christmas shopping on canal!!
October 18th, 2006 @ 10:00 pm
Does anyone have any good websites for knock-off bags? I’m about to graduate from college and I want a nice bag that’s professional looking.
October 21st, 2006 @ 12:00 am
I’m gonna get flamed for this but I have to put my two cents in. First off, EVERYONE will know your faux bag is just that, a faux. If people say they think it’s real, they’re just being polite. My husband can spot a fake a mile away.
See, when you’re in Target, dressed in your Winnie the Pooh sweats and sneakers, with your “Chanel” on your arm, I KNOW it’s fake, If you can actually pay good money for a bag, the rest of your look will reflect that. Fake bags are more or less, rather white trash.
Why would you spend $100 on a fake when you can get a classic, real Coach bag for $150? Seriously, save yourself some embarrassment and just say no to faux.
October 28th, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
I have to agree with the poster above me… I went to the Coach outlet store recently and bought a nice size classic bag for $139. It was selling in the retail stores earlier this year for $328. Certain bags can be affordable if you just save for it. When I was younger I used to buy fake bags and they so were not worth it. One fell apart. I even spent $80 one time on a fake LV. To think I could have saved that $80 and added some more to it and get something real. You live and you learn though…and yes a fake can be spotted by those who know real bags a mile away!!!! I’d rather save for the real thing now that I know better!!
October 28th, 2006 @ 8:03 pm
I totally agree with Laura. With some people, it is so obvious that their fakes are fake. So many people look so ridiculous carrying a huge, so obviously fake bag. I almost have to laugh at them. I’m going to NYC in a couple weeks and I’m not sure if I’m going to buy a knock-off. Not because I feel like I’m cheating Mr. Vuitton, but because I think that carrying it, I will feel less confident knowing my bag is fake. I own about 10 Coach, LV, Dooney & Bourke, and Kate Spade bags, and I love wearing them and knowing that they are real. I can spot a fake anything from a mile away and if I do buy a purse, it had better look real! And I will definitely make a point not to buy the biggest bag there, since those cost like $2000 and I don’t want people to think I look ridiculous because a 17 year old would never have one that expensive… So I’ll limit myself to a smaller style that looks like something I could actually afford. I present myself nice enough so hopefully I’ll be able to sneak a knock-off into my designer collection without anyone noticing the difference
October 31st, 2006 @ 3:38 pm
hey i was wondering how much a real chanel purse would be because i am interested in buying one…i’m sure the price is up there but i won’t mind i have two real LV purses from the LV store..
November 2nd, 2006 @ 6:18 am
What cracks me up to no avail is the rich, over-paid trophy wives, and their clattering on about how people who buy fakes are taking away from their status. You don’t deserve the status if you feel that way. At all. That, and you pretty much make me want to barf all over my $9.97 walmart pumps, which, by the by, look just as good as any Manolos. A poster above typed the phrase ‘waisting’ money. WASTING, you moron. If you can’t spell, you should be spending your $2000 on an education, so that when people like me see people like you on the street, with your bag, which looks just as fake-real as the real fakes, I can chuckle to myself and say I’m working for my money, and while I’m not moronic enough to drop two weeks pay on a crap-brown bag with crappy letting, I do have a beautiful hand-carved bed from India to hand down to my daughter. I hope they go to school together. I hope my daughter looks at your dingy purse and says ‘My bed is a one-of-a-kind, and I get a heck of a lot more use out of that’.
Seriously. If someone wants to buy a fake, then who cares. They aspire to have something that makes them feel good. Why a purse alone should make or break how you feel is beyond me, but hey. If I’m going to buy designer, I’m going to buy something that will last — like a well-made coat, or a sweater that’s been hand-knit.
What if you spill wine on it while youre slobbering away at some dinner-party (where they charged you 93.99 for the lobster, just because you were stupid enough to pay that much — and it came from the tank at walmart, so you know)? What if someone steals it? Are you going to take out an insurance policy on it? At least with furniture you can get renters insurance. Can you get a$$hole insurance on a purse?
Don’t be stupid. If you like the way it looks, but it. Take care of your things, so even your fake looks good. Buy a good fake and rock it. If someone says ‘Is that real?’, Say ‘I was wondering the same thing about your chest.’ It’s nobody’s business. Also: for those of you who claim to know the fakes, you’re full of horse-hockey, and what you don’t get is that people are saying the same thing about your bag. The nice part is, the person who paid $20 doesn’t have to give a load.
Lastly, if you are a wealthy, educated woman, and you feel like you like the purse enough that you just have to have it, you should give the same amount to a worthy charity. Seriously, if you can afford to carry $2000 on your arm, you can spend $2000 on cancer research, esp. since when you’re at the point in life where that bag is getting handed down to the next generation — you’re probably going to need it.
November 6th, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
“Posted by: Shauna at November 2, 2006 06:18 AM ”
Amen Shuana … atleast there are still hope for real people in this world
November 6th, 2006 @ 6:29 pm
I just came back from a trip to Canal St. on Saturday. It was my first time there and I had a blast. I didn’t seek anyone out but when someone came up to me asking if I wanted a handbag….I though why not give it a try. I followed for a few blocks until we were told that the store we were going to was just hit by the cops and two retailers were arrested.
He asked if I wanted to try another store, so we did. After another 5 block walk we ended up in a store front and took some elevators up into what looked like an office building. Lots of other women crowded in the elevator with me.
When we got past the front desk and into the backroom, there were four walls full of purses. I went straight for Coach. I was really looking at getting a patchwork tote, but you could really tell they were fake….brown leather handles with a black leather bottom.
I finally decided on two classic style totes with blue leather trim tan canvas and brown “C’s”
After I got back to the hotel, I discovered that inside the bags were Coach literature, registraion cards and a dust bag. I’ve been all over the web trying to see if my bag is a replica (that’s what I was expecting), but I really can’t tell the difference. If they are fake, they are some of the best one’s I’ve ever seen.
November 9th, 2006 @ 2:37 am
So, I wonder, people or store owners who actually sell these famous bags, get any time in jail or any punishment if they get caught?. I surf the internet a lot and find many web-stores selling all these bags, glasses very cheap. I have e-mail them asking them if they are real, and they do say no, is a replica. Maybe that is why they do not get in trouble?. Just wondering, it just seems like there are so many out there.
November 10th, 2006 @ 9:59 pm
What hotels are close by Canel Street in China Town? If we fly to New York in January for a few days where is the best hotels near that area?
November 16th, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
I don’t think there is anything wrong with buying a fake designer purse. If anyone asked me or chastised me because it was fake, I’d simply say, “I can’t afford the real thing and unless you are willing to BUY IT FOR ME, then I’d suggest you keep your shallow, catty comments to yourself. The few fake bags I have have held up surprisingly well and you know what? After I get tired of using them, I’d even more glad that I didn’t spend oodles of money on them. So there :p
November 16th, 2006 @ 1:18 pm
I can’t believe all of the shallow people who claim it “digusts” them when they see a fake handbag on a female walking in the street. If that is the biggest of your problems, I pity you. The black market is and always will be a part of everyday life whether we accept it….like it….agree with it.. or not! Most people will always buy with their wallets anyway…meaning fakes will be bought no matter how many people think it’s “embarassing”….. Grow a broader mind people!
November 20th, 2006 @ 6:38 pm
Canal street was more amazing this weekend than it ever was. The quality of the fakes are absolutely UNBELIVEABLE. the nicer ones are now locked behind glass cases!!
i got the hottest chloe bag and it looks 100% real.
December 4th, 2006 @ 11:01 pm
ummm… you definitely don’t want to stay in a hotel near canal street. Just take the train from your hotel, it’s fast.
December 5th, 2006 @ 4:03 pm
I have had this coach bag for about a year, i use it often but i dont use it that much because my life doesnt revovle around it. My neighbor just went to canal street and she bought one and she brings it all over my high school, mine is real and now i want to tell her SOOOOOOO bad how hers is fake but im not sure, she doesnt let me hold it for more than a second.
December 5th, 2006 @ 6:58 pm
Had to laugh at this too “A poster above typed the phrase ‘waisting’ money. WASTING, you moron. If you can’t spell, you should be spending your $2000 on an education, so that when people like me see people like you on the street, with your bag, which looks just as fake-real as the real fakes, I can chuckle to myself and say I’m working for my money, and while I’m not moronic enough to drop two weeks pay on a crap-brown bag with crappy letting,”
But then again Shauna I laughed at you. you mention that, that poster should spend her 2K on an eduction. hmmm maybe you should as well.
Because i don’t know what a crap brown bag with crappy *letting* is. But as for a crappy brown LV bag with crappy Lettering, now thats HOT!
there is a reason that you pay good $$ for a desginer bag, its well made and will last a life time. Its illegal to make/photo copy money and we dont do that, so what are you so willing to spend 30$ on a bag that is going to fall apart in no time. It’s illegal to make because its a COPY of the real deal. Why not spend that 30$ towards a nice leather roots bag, it will last and look alot nicer in the long run.
If you have to lie when people ask you if your bag is real then you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself “who are you trying to impress”?
If you cant afford to buy the real deal and enjoy carrying it, dont be a wanna be and buy fake. Instead buy a nice leather bag, you’ll look much better carrying that.
December 9th, 2006 @ 6:18 pm
I’m dissapointed to see some of the arrogant as well as ignorant comments that have been made on this subject. The persons who were concerned about the welfare of others and spending your money wisely are applaudible. As for the people who think that it is so easy to spot fakes , how shallow can you be? First of all who cares? It’s nobody’s business. It’s your purse. Does it make you a better person because you spent a ridiculous amount of money on a purse? If that’s what you want to do fine, that’s freedom of choice. Secondly, if you think that you can tell how much money a person has by the fact that they are wearing ’sweats’ or shopping at Target that is ridiculous. Do you actually think that people who can afford to buy expensive purses don’t wear ’sweats’ when they carry their purses or never shop at Target? I can tell you from personal experience that they do! Surely you don’t think that you can tell how much money a person has by the way they are dressed. If so a lot of well dressed people have you fooled. As a matter of fact they are the ones buying the replicas and sometimes don’t even buy expensive cars because they appreciate the value of a dollar and prefer to spend their money on things that gain value and do not depreciate in value. So the next time you laugh at someone because you “think” they are carrying a fake purse, laugh at yourself; the joke is on you. Oh yeh and just for the record there is really no such thing as a fake purse but there is such a thing as a fake person.
December 13th, 2006 @ 1:39 am
I just came back from NY on Saturday. I visited Canal Street thinking I was going to buy a real LV handbag somewhere there. I bought one, allright, a fake one, and it was until today that I realized I made a big mistake. Don’t do it. You will regret it.
December 15th, 2006 @ 8:44 pm
Hi, I am one of the well-off people who can afford the real Louis vuitton and the chanel, but choose not too. I went out on day with daddys plastic, and spent 1000 dollars on a white chanle tote (which i love), and really thought nothing about it. My Best friend comes from the working class, and one christmas she got me a fake Lv bag and I got her the real thing. I never realized it but they look the same. I went to a “back room” at a store and bought 3 fake LV bags, ( around 200 dollars each) and then i went out to the LV store and bought the same 3 bags, and spend a weekend looking at each. I took it up town shopping and no one knew it was fake. The only way you can tell is by looking on the inside. I now buy fake bags 75% of the time. My point is that if you cant afford the real thing then who cares. Make your self happy and thats all that matters. Who cares what anyone things.
December 19th, 2006 @ 8:55 pm
First of all, I liked to know what is NOT made in sweat shop these days? aren’t all the goods sold in walmart, the gap, nike…etc, all came from sweat shop? aren’t all those brand name shoes all made in china ? Just in case if people don’t know this, LV is even thinking about moving their factory to china, hey, for cheaper labors and more profit. Do you spend every part of your money in fair trade good and food ???
I think people that donate their money to chrity has more statues than those who spend thousands on designer bags. I personally know a girl who would starve herself for two month and spend her salary on an authentic lv bag.. yeah, talking about statues, .. SILLY !!!
If you want to buy a fake bags, that’s fine,and if you want to buy an authentic, that’s fine too. Just be a smart about how you spend your money, don’t envy or look down to others just because some bags.
January 1st, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Hello? The designers are ripping us off. I don’t care how cute the bags are or how well made they are….They aren’t worth $1000 plus unless you’re a movie star and money doesn’t matter.
Buy a fake and spend the rest on a cute outfit if you’re a realistic person who knows the value of a dollar. and..quit acting like your stuff don’t stink if you only buy real.
It’s only worth a $1000 + if you’re willing to pay it. Otherwise, it’s a $100 dollar purse at a department store.
January 3rd, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Champagne taste with beer money — if you can’t afford a REAL status bag, don’t go buying a cheap knock-off. It’s embaressing — I can’t begin to understand how someone could step foot outside with a cheesie, china-made faux LV bag. Don’t you feel ridiculous walking around with a fake LV/Chloe/Gucci/Prada/Fendi bag? You’re a real dope if you think people can’t tell the real thing from the fakes. If you can’t afford it, don’t pretend you can. It’s a STATUS bag. I can’t stand it when I see people walking around with what is OBVIOUSLY a fake bag (stitching bursting, a pink patina, plasticy handles, off centered monogram). Not only does it make you appear cheap, and pennyless, but you’re supporting a good that funds drug trafficking, terrorism, etc. Wise up, inherit some money, or better yet get a better job.
January 3rd, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Wait a minute..I forgot. Half of the posters here are probably pre-teens.
January 10th, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
In today’s market there are various grades of fake bags which makes all the difference. I come from a well to do family and have a great job and most of my bags are fake! Trust me though if you saw me on the street you would never know. I only buy high grade knock off LVs that have perfect patterns, markings, interiors, date codes and even leather handles that darken to patina. I do my research and know what I’m buying. Sometimes I’m absolutely amazed at just how close the knock offs are coming to the real thing now. I splurged and bought an authentic LV white multicolore pochette and I have WAY more people ask me if that bag is real than I ever had about my other bags! Its like damned if you do, damned if you don’t! haha. Anyways, I believe that most of the bags on ebay etc. being sold as “real” are probably not. I know I could certainly sell my fakes on ebay if I wanted and not be found out. As technology advances, the “obvious” fakes are fading more into the background. Yeah there still are those horrendous plastic-y looking Louies out there and the awful Kate Spade Sams with ridiculous tacky patterns but there are better quality fakes out there that can enable us designer bag loving creatures to endulge our every desire for 90% less than the designers charge. Do your research- look at the bags on eluxury and know where the patterns should hit and how many stiches a speedy should have on the patch connecitng the handles to the bag (it’s 5 on each side not six) and when you do go to Canal Street you can be educated and tell the sellers you only want to see the real high grade stuff. Once they know you know what you are talking about they will show you the real goods
Don’t settle for less ladies! They really do make 99.9% mirror image knock offs out there!
Yes, a Speedy is iconic and will never go out of style but the denim or perforated lines? Come on…. so trendy! I feel great rocking my denim baggy PM for two seasons when I only paid $125 (versus $1,000+) and then pushing it to the back of my closet when it eventually goes out of style. Knock offs ain’t a bad thing as long as you know what you’re buying and you don’t try to sell them as authentic to other people. But if someone asks you if it’s real… I always reply “OF COURSE!” hahaha. Come on, 90% of the people out there can’t tell anyways so if you love your fake Louie then who cares!
January 10th, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
I’m 21 thanks, and don’t assume just because the people posting here don’t think a purse is worth 2 grand that they are pre-teens.
And you have got to be kidding me??
“Wise up, inherit some money, or better yet get a better job.”
Who the heck do you think you are?! If people really can’t afford a bag who are you to look down on them? Quite frankly you should be looking up to people who won’t pay 2 grand for a handbag for wisdom. Because there is plain and simple no sense in paying that much. And by the way just because I won’t waste a ton of money on a bag doesn’t mean I’m poor or unemployed. My family is rich enough to buy me anything I want. You put your pants on one leg at a time too, sweetheart. You’re no better than anyone else. The rest of us just have some sense.
I have real ones that were reasonably priced, and I have fake ones that look just as good. And guess what? Neither makes me a better or worse person. I don’t feel ridiculous carrying a fake because I have a lot more going for me than what I carry on my arm. And you should take a long look at yourself if you define your status as a person by your handbag.
And before you look down on the rest of us lowly peasants for our $20 bag that looks like the identical twin of your $2000 bag…learn how to spell the word embarrassing.
All of us crazy “pre-teens” learned how. It’s your turn. Okay? Alright then.
January 10th, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Gosh, I just had to come back to ask you Dessie. Are you really an adult? I just refuse to believe someone over 18 would ever truly believe that crap. Please tell me you’re 14 so I can excuse your ignorance.
Champagne taste with beer money? Please.
Do something with your life.
Okay. Sorry. Back to my pre-teen existence….with my fake handbags…and my self-esteem that is totally independent of my purse brand.
January 13th, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Dessie, Im a 13 year old, and I agree with you fully. I can’t stand fakes. Last month there was an article in Harper’s Bazaar about fakes. They are made illegaly by children who are overworked. Not only do they look bad, but they’re illegal! Insult to injury, much? I would rather wear a no name bag, than a fake. You aren’t fooling any one with your fake Juicy/Coaches/Louis/Balenciagas people! If you can’t afford one, don’t pretend like you can. Plain and simple. Save yourself the embarrasment. If someone asks you ‘Is that real?’ It probably isn’t an innocent question. They probably know it’s fake. They just want to see what you say.I can easily spot a fake. It’s just something you know, unless you’re completely oblivious as to how a real one looks.
And anyways, people shouldn’t be buying bags only because of the name. It should be quality. And if you ARE buying bags because of the name, then it should be REAL. Fakes are just tacky. They were never in fashion and they never will be.