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Real Ladies Don't Like Fake: anti-counterfeiting campaign

It was a strong campaign for lovers of counterfeits. The image shows the "Lady Dior," a handbag whose model is one of the most classic items from Christian Dior. It is a product that was someone's idea, that is someone's intellectual property, but that is sold counterfeit in every corner of the world.

How can we discuss counterfeiting so casually without considering the profound impact on the original creators? Every day, numerous social media pages promote counterfeit goods at 'excellent prices ', but what are consumers really purchasing?

These knock-offs not only devalue the original product but also undermine the creativity and intellectual property of the original designers.

All about this motivated some of the most valuable French luxury brands to decide in 2012 to join forces with Douanes & Droits Indirects (directorate-general of customs and indirect taxes of the French Republic) to give birth to the "Real Ladies Don't Like Fake," an ironical campaign using famous phrases from these brands to raise awareness about the issue. The messages were placed in all airports in France and were mainly focused on travelers since these counterfeits are not usually manufactured in Europe, but they are consumed there.

They think, and I included myself, questioning why you want to support a criminal network with your money. Some may decide this way out of ignorance.

If you read my last article about it (I leave it here), you will know that I had a back-and-forth with a Costa Rican TV presenter who maintains that fakes do not harm anyone. I explained to him that, yes, they do. Counterfeiting is a crime that can lead to penalties for buyers, sellers, and producers.

https://www.lependant.com/productosfalsificados/

Although this campaign dates back to 2012, France has kept its guard against this crime within its borders. If you plan to visit the fashion capital and the epicenter of haute couture, buying or transporting a counterfeit product is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 euros. If you bought a luxury item, keep the receipt. If you are considering purchasing a counterfeit item there, it could be more expensive than going to Dior and purchasing the original.

Did you know that Amazon expands its anti-counterfeiting efforts every day? Read more:

https://forbes.es/ultima-hora/356348/amazon-anuncia-nuevas-acciones-contra-las-falsificaciones/

 

The production and sale of counterfeit products

Product counterfeiting is a global criminal activity that moves billions of dollars each year, and organized criminal groups have taken advantage of it precisely because it is so lucrative.

According to data revealed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it is evident that there are deep links between this crime and other serious crimes, such as the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, money laundering, and corruption.

The counterfeit business is estimated to be worth more than $250,000 (two hundred and fifty million dollars) annually, plus hundreds of billions in counterfeit digital goods and domestic sales. Although legitimate brands and designers are directly affected by the counterfeiting of their products and the theft of their intellectual and industrial property, they are perhaps just the tip of the iceberg.

The additional social impact derived from counterfeiting is undeniable. Trading in counterfeit goods increases corruption levels and necessarily requires increased budgets allocated to citizen security. In addition, it violates criminal and administrative law regarding tax, customs, or fraud evasion.

On the other hand, counterfeiting discourages innovation and development in various industries. When brands face unfair competition, they may be less likely to continue investing in research and development of new products. Brands and designers lose revenue due to lost sales and face reputational damage because of their brands, which could be associated with lower-quality products. Purchasing a counterfeit bag may seem harmless, but it is not.

And no, counterfeiting affects big fashion brands and small businesses. These businesses, lacking the economic resources to defend their intellectual property, suffer even more violently from the effects of counterfeiting—the illegal reproduction of their designs.

In 2021, an American design brand whose name will not be mentioned plagiarized and reproduced the designs of María del Pilar González Torres, a Mexican woman who owns the MARIMBA jewelry brand. His designs were sold massively on a platform for over a year, earning millions of dollars from their reproduction and sale. María del Pilar not only had against her the lack of economic resources to defend herself legally but also a geographical and language barrier, leaving her hands tied in the face of injustice.

Of course, consumers are also negatively affected by purchasing counterfeit, replica, triple-A, or 5G products, as they have recently chosen to call them. Counterfeit products are often of inferior quality and can pose health and safety risks, especially for products such as medicines or cosmetics. Consumers usually buy counterfeit products, believing that they are authentic pieces.

Counterfeiting products will never be legal; therefore, their production will also affect employees and workers. The counterfeiting industry undermines jobs in the legitimate economy. Legally established brands that operate legally may have to reduce their workforce or close their factories, workshops, or maquilas due to decreased sales caused by unfair competition. Counterfeiting represents a negative impact on local communities and the economy in general.

Buying counterfeits also affects governments and taxpayers, as their sale often involves tax evasion and money laundering. These activities reduce tax revenue and can increase the tax burden for other taxpayers.

Additionally, governments must allocate resources to combat counterfeiting, which increases administrative and law enforcement costs. When you feel that buying a counterfeit product does not harm anyone, think that its production involves disrespect for labor rights, smuggling of raw materials, low-quality materials, and investment in research and development. Additionally, someone else must approach the marketing investment to create authentic products. They invest and have ideas but are still waiting to receive a return on their invested capital. Why would something that affects so many people do not affect you?

For those of us who love the fashion and design industry and who are committed to its development, it is essential to take a firm stance against the purchase and promotion of counterfeit items, not only because it harms legitimate brands and designers but also violates the principles of authenticity, quality, and creativity that are fundamental in our industry.

By preferring counterfeit products, you compromise the market's integrity and discourage innovation and progress in this field. We must support and promote authenticity and originality in fashion, defend design and intellectual property, and actively reject any form of counterfeiting, leaning towards products that genuinely reflect the talent and dedication of the creators.

If this topic interests you, I will leave you some with data, statistics, and other panoramas.

Counterfeits and illicit trade: a blow for all industries, Forbes Mexico: https://www.forbes.com.mx/ad-falsificaciones-y-comercio-ilicito-un-golpe-para-las-industrias/

 

Counterfeit products: don't support organized crime, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):  https://www.unodc.org/counterfeit/es/index.html

 

Illegal products – problematic, INTERPOL: https://www.interpol.int/es/Delitos/Productos-ilegales/Productos-ilegales-problematica#:~:text=Los%20productos%20il%C3%ADcitos%20no%20solamente,pueden%20ser%20causa%20de%20accidentes.

How To Avoid Fast Fashion:

Definitive Guide To Stop Buying From Shein

 

Monozukuri and the Japanese fashion industry

Japan is one of the most technologically developed nations on the planet, and this advantage is at the service of sustainability to remain in the industry, producing, and continue to be a traditional country, respectful of culture. That's what Monozukuri is all about.

They are open to innovation, change, and globalization but also respect their origins, which is not debatable. From there, the Monozukuri principle is making things. It means manufacturing and production. Monozukuri emphasizes "mono," the thing that is made, and "zukuri", the act of making.

It's common to hear that Japanese production migrates towards the Monozukuri's principle aims to achieve perfection in the object and for it to last over time. It describes technology and processes integrating development, production, and procurement, including intangible qualities such as craftsmanship and dedication to continuous improvement. The art of manufacturing is not only about the object aesthetically or beautifully; it's also about that it has excellent quality and can extend its life as long as possible.

Some say the term has been relevant for hundreds of years but has only taken hold for a few decades. First, it was applied to traditional Japanese crafts, but currently, it's used in many different industries, combining high technology with their philosophy. Achieve that it is manufacturing ethically, aiming to achieve excellence, and, why not, perfection. Considering manufacturing as a whole, the materials with which we will work, the equipment, the personnel, and what is necessary for it are essential.

Monozukuri promotes sustainable and conscious growth while reaffirming Japan's reputation for producing quality production.

In the Japanese textile and clothing industry, another popular term is Mottainai. It makes a more significant reference to waste, the irrational use of materials. At Mottainai, the ambition is to maximize the use of materials to generate as little waste as possible.

Manufacturing must meet responsibility criteria regarding using natural resources to fulfill a society's contribution. Every day, more Japanese brands seek to produce using efficient, ethical methods and systems by this principle; brands that have migrated to cleaner processes, returning to traditional ideas, and using production techniques where technology becomes alloyed to reduce waste, environmental damage, and improve the quality of the product.

As Latin Americans, we have much to learn from Japan and its way of innovating business, acting with coherence and conviction while respecting its culture. Not just produce more but produce in a better way.

Our biodiversity should be something that we are not open to sacrifice. Beyond technological resources, each company can improve by selecting ethical, durable materials, improving production processes, and making them efficient so that the product reaches maximum quality.

Yuri Tokushige is the author of the illustrations for Le Pendant in this publication. Instagram: broccoli_t.art and @sparkle_ph06

Guide for you to abandon Ultra Fast-Fashion: https://www.lependant.com/shein/

More information about the Monozukuri principle: https://yougojapan.com/monozukuri-art-principles/

More information about Mottainai: https://www.forbes.com.mx/mottainai-o-la-lucha-contra-la-cultura-del-desperdicio/

The Added Value of Costa Rican Fashion

Around me, I see women dressing other women in Costa Rica and those ready to wrap in Latin America and the world. I talk with them and celebrate their creativity and achievements as designers, entrepreneurs, and businesswomen.

Although carrying out a lucrative activity related to the fashion industry has always been challenging, even less so today, we want to compete ethically and sustainably with giants that manufacture without quality, leaving a vast and painful footprint on the environment and ignoring compliance with the labor rights of those workers. The merit of knowing the risk and still choosing to manufacture differently, ethically, and betting on added value is encouraging.

We must talk about Costa Rican design, about our country that is increasingly present in this industry, and its great need to innovate to be ethical and respond to the needs of society today.

We want to dress and love the fashion industry, but we are also conscious of what we wear and are not willing to put our money in the hands of those who do not value our planet or our rights.

Costa Rican women make fashion, design their fabrics, manufacture, transform, and reuse pieces. Still, the most important thing is that they believe in their ideas and devise more and more ways to reach potential clients.

Every woman designer I know has seen the needs of other women and captured them in her products. The women design with their thoughts and transmit through each piece not only creativity but also their business vision.

As a leading environmental country, it is essential that Costa Rica also sets the standard when it comes to the world of fashion, including design and manufacturing. On the one hand, we are protecting sharks in the oceans, and on the other, we are upcycling and other miracles to make clothing less harmful to those same oceans. upcycling y otros milagros para hacer de la indumentaria algo menos dañino para esos mismos océanos.

I leave you three extraordinary 100% Costa Rican ventures with worldwide shipping.

Austère Swim & Resort Wear is a contemporary luxury and sustainable resort wear brand. These pieces are inspired by tropical paradise and are timeless. The store is in San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica. Visit https://www.austereswimwear.com/ to shop online. Instagram: @austereswim

Rise Street Market: You can find carefully selected preloved and vintage pieces from all over the world. Each piece is curated and restored to be in perfect condition at sale. Visit https://risestreetmarket.com for more. Instagram: @risestreet

Cocles Topless: Adjustable tops made by hand, you can find both tropical and sober designs. Available at physical points such as Woloba Cat in Puerto Viejo de Limón and Aloe in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Santa Teresa, Province of Puntarenas, and Puerto Viejo de Limón. Instagram: @cocles_topless

Ultra-fast fashion is taking over, read more:

Definitive Guide To Stop Buying From Shein

 

 

5 Must-See Fashion in Paris

Historically, Paris has been an essential reference for Fashion and luxury. Going back to the 18th century, we would hear that Paris is home to the most famous ateliers and exquisite taste in Fashion. Quickly, we would begin to listen to names that would soon make history.

After all, Paris is the only city where Haute Couture can be produced.

If you visit this impressive city for just a couple of days and you want to experience it, even briefly, if what is said is true, I share with you five must-see places in Paris for fashion lovers that will make you want to return again and again.

  1. Start the tour by visiting the Yves Saint Laurent museum at Five Avenue Marceau 75116, Paris, France. You can choose to visit the workshop (prices of approximately 50 euros). You will learn about the brand and the creative process behind the brand and the museum. You can also visit the seasonal exhibition (free) or even conferences.
  2. Take a stroll through the streets of Rue Saint-Honoré, which is famous for its designer shops, old ateliers, the history of iconic figures such as Coco Chanel and Louis Vuitton, the liberation of women from the corset, among many others. Moments of which Paris was the scene.
  3. Le Bon Marché. Especially if you don't have time to go to every luxury store, you will find almost all of them here. Dior, Fendi, Gucci, and Prada, among others, are the options this space offers. The luxurious complex is located at 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris, France. They also have a city fashion, design, and art activities calendar.
  4. Crush On is a second-hand store at Carrousel du Louvre, 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris. You will find hundreds of unique pieces, luxury brands, French designs, bags, and more at much lower prices. In addition, its location makes it even more special; it is quite an experience.
  5. Visit the Hermès Paris Sèvres store, at 18 Rue de Sèvres, 75007. In addition to delighting in each piece on display, seeing their fabrics, feeling them, and analyzing the details that make Hermès the most valued brand in the world, they have a café whose library has no waste.

As a bonus, I recommend traveling for Fashion Week if it's within your means. Even if you don't have tickets to enter the shows, the streets, and the people, it's everything about Fashion, art, and authenticity. It is an experience that will make you feel part of the most beautiful industry in the world.

You can find further information in these links.

https://museeyslparis.com/en/practical-information

https://www.lebonmarche.com

https://crushonapp.com/2022/10/05/pre-loved-la-maison-circulaire-au-carrousel-du-louvre/

Definitive Guide To Stop Buying From Shein

I don't know how often people have said, "If I had money, I would buy local fashion, but for the moment, I will continue using Shein." I've heard it from friends, influencers, and strangers on a night of drinks. That is like an employer saying, "If I had a lot of money, I would pay decent wages, but since I don't, I won't." It simply does not make sense, mainly because those who usually make these comments are people whose resources would often allow them to take a different path, and, furthermore, they are the same people who denounce that certain local companies exploit workers.

I consider myself coherent and care as much about employers in my country respecting labor laws as employers in other countries.

So, when someone tells me that, I want to believe that they are only interested in dressing and that clothes will not mean something special in their life. Still, I don't tolerate it in someone who has a relationship with clothes, is dedicated to the fashion industry, is a model, is a designer, or enjoys dressing.

When clothes are essential to you, as they are to me, that an outfit can completely re-signify my day, the origin of those clothes is critical.

I don't want to be proud of my appearance if it means poor wages, exploitation and abuse, abuse of other people and the environment, by the way.

My main problem with Sheinwhich is not fast fashion but what follows it, is everything I have read and the amount of information regarding its need for respect for labor rights. I don't care how much it costs; I'm not going to use it if there are so many signs of labor exploitation involved. It may cost 10 dollars for you, but it could cost as much life for someone else.

I hope you had the opportunity to see "Untold: Inside The Shein Machine," the documentary that reveals the inhumane working conditions at Shein, but if you have not seen it, here is a brief summary:

Iman Amrani, a journalist for Channel 4, a broadcast television channel from the UK, infiltrated the Shein factories posing as a worker and (at this point, we act surprised) found that the employees worked 120-hour days a week, even though Chinese labor law establishes a maximum of 8 hours a day.

Despite this, the salaries are ungrateful; we are talking about 4,000 yuan a month for producing a minimum of 500 garments daily, with barely one day off a month. The reported salary is less than the cost of a studio apartment in remote city areas, which is around 4,400 yuan. Let's not talk about how much it costs to rent a family home.

According to the documentary, its workers are exploited, fundamental rights do not exist in the work environment, they carry out their work on exhausting days, and lack minimum rest. Shein proclaim being attached to legislation and international treaties.

I'm not surprised that some still defend Shein because of the cost of their product, but I like to think that knowledge about what exists behind that low cost could change their minds. Have they thought at whose expense? At the expense of the health of its workers, of their quality of life, at the expense of necessity.

Based on the above, I share my exhaustive list to leave ultra-fast fashion gradually. You must carefully follow the order for it to make sense.

  1. Find your own style. You are not a photocopy; you have ideas and creativity. Your body is unique, and what you would like to project to others is personal and unique. Express your authenticity in your clothes, and then you will stop the need to buy everything these companies offer you to buy what has to do with you.
  2. Bet on used clothes. Some ways to call these stores are Thrift Stores (USA), Tianguis (Mexico), and Americanas (Costa Rica). There are stores where you can buy good quality clothes and shoes, even brand names, for cheap prices. There is usually so much clothing that there will always be pieces that match your style; it is a matter of having time to search.
  3. If you have more resources, look for vintage stores in your city. It usually costs a little more, but it will be very stylish, curated, high-quality clothing that employs people who are sustainably dedicated to this industry.
  4. Use Facebook Marketplace to find clothes someone else sells or trades near you. You can thus get rid of the pieces you no longer need, obtaining others that are now more connected to your style without moving great distances. You can use this in practically all cities in the world.
  5. Local design. In your city, there must be several designers who do artisanal work in the production of their products. Indeed, several of them have something like you, represent your style, and whose pieces you can adapt to the rest of your closet to create beautiful outfits.
  6. Last but not least, you are a human being with intelligence and reason. Do not promote a market you would not like to be part of or a company you would not want to work for or have your family do.

Sources of information:

China. Labor rights and work situation, 2020. Download link: https://cedla.org/publicaciones/ieye/china-derechos-laborales-y-situacion-del-trabajo/

SHEIN: TOXICITY AT FULL RAGE, 2020. https://es.greenpeace.org/es/noticias/shein-toxicidad-a-todo-trapo/#:~:text=Estaindustriahoyesresponsable,personasdurantetodounao.

Dejarse la piel por Shein, Public Eye, 2021. https://www.business-humanrights.org/pt/latest-news/china-report-finds-workers-supplying-shein-working-long-hours-under-piece-rate-system-and-poor-health-safety/

China: Report finds workers supplying Shein working long hours under piece-rate system and poor health & safety, 2021. https://www.business-humanrights.org/pt/latest-news/china-report-finds-workers-supplying-shein-working-long-hours-under-piece-rate-system-and-poor-health-safety/

Untold: Inside The Shein Machine, 2022. https://www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-the-shein-machine-untold

Authenticity in fashion

You don't need to be in New York, Paris, London, or Milan to be able to dress as it pleases you. Part of your freedom and autonomy is to choose whatever you want to wear, to show your personality with the clothes that accent you, and to have no fear of what people will think when they see you. 

When you go out in the streets, in no corner, no town, no city, no one whose opinion is heavier than your own opinion about yourself exists. No opinion matters more than yours. No one has the decision to shop, the decision to wear, or the decision to be you for yourself. On the other hand, the audacity to dress for your satisfaction will give you the freedom and power which inevitably will improve your life.

How we see ourselves is what we reflect towards others, and luckily, fashion has no age or size; it does have an unlimited power to make us feel young or experienced, to make us feel classic, elegant, simple, fresh, or high, voluptuous, powerful. To dress as we please, no matter what. It is an opportunity to hug our bodies with empathy and respect and start living a life in which we are not spectators.

It is not a resource for those who achieve specific heights or weights or one more point for those who make part of a beauty standard but a tool with what each person counts to demonstrate that adversity borns the inspiration. The clothes are available daily for our benefit: to look in the mirror and feel stunning, walk confidently, communicate comfortably and recurrently, and feel identified and special.

If your style is extravagant, striking, romantic, bohemian, or just not ordinary or usual, do not hide it. Do not deny buying the shoes that someone told you were ridiculous, and do not refuse to use the bow on your hair, the dots with stripes, the prints, the textures. Embrace it!! Those aims are your restlessness to allow your creativity to come out of you, build your unique path, and empower your message.

Each minute you are in front of another person, talking about your project or selling, you also communicate with your looks. If you feel comfortable, surely you will be able to face the situation with higher confidence and naturality. This article is not a guide to tell you how to get your style or how to dress, but this is a friendly reminder that wherever you are, you can dress as you please.

As a Latin American woman, I see and experience closely fashion and style being more present each day; we count on renamed designers and new spectacular brands that keep coming out and satisfy all tastes and styles. They are not only in the shop windows but in the streets, the offices, the restaurants, the trains, the buses, the magazines, and the runways as it must be.

Freedom helps us let go of prejudices, and being free of them allows us to enjoy and speak out to make our image a blank canvas, creative, sensitive, and limitless.

I also want to talk to the little girls and young women who are adventuring in the search to protect their singularity, about having and expressing their style and sharing their preferences through their clothing. Many don't hesitate to try it when their family firmly judges them. And I experienced that. They are being criticized for being different. I grew up listening to that I was pretending to be someone I was not, but who was I, according to them? Who knows me more than myself? Nobody can know you more than you know yourself. Others don't listen to your thoughts or your ideas.

The freedom of being and expressing yourself through your dress should not be a privilege you earn.

The possible criticism of your style should not be significant. Your spectators may be used to something other than the unknown, different, or odd. Dress differently! 

One day, I met autonomy and independence, which inspired me to share with others how fashion has "healing power" and outstanding efficiency to make you feel complete, like the tremendously powerful person you've always been. It's something that only if you free yourself of preconceived ideas and put them into action will you understand. 

If you are about to visit Paris, don't miss this link: 

5 Must-See Fashion in Paris

There are many beautiful faces in the world

Women's Body Types aren't supposed to be a Trend, but they are. It is 2023, and understandably, beauty standards are the rule in Social Media. It is understandable because always been this way (we just changed magazines to digital media, naturally).

The difference between the past and today is that many of us have worked to accept who we are. We have loved our bodies and enjoyed the unique characteristics that we have.

Some people are frustrated to see backs turn on the aesthetic and, understandably, feel it is more inclusive than the previously held standard of thinness. Bodies here have perfection and absolute control. So, there are many other ways of being beautiful and many beautiful faces worldwide.

There is something to beauty beyond evident charm. For years, we have made the conversation about expanding beauty standards. Still, ironically, it made me wonder if they are so narrow that they focus almost exclusively on bodies, precisely a certain kind of plus-size or nonwhite. However, the size plus models still need slim necks and faces, and nonwhite people still need perfect luminous skin and thinness. Have this sense?

I can't believe one body type has to go out of fashion for another to come in. Slimmer women are placed on a pedestal in different ways again and again. The bodies aren't supposed to be contorted and change based on societal whims, and this practice is unnatural and unhealthy.

Have you ever felt that, when you open your social media, all the faces staring back at you are gorgeous? It's now easier than ever to edit our pictures and make a fake reality about us in many ways. It looks like an eternal invitation to comparison and self-sabotage. Today you can rework your look with a single click.

Natural beauty exists; some people have hegemonic faces and bodies, it's true, but filters, cosmetic surgery, and beauty tweaks are also live. And don't get me wrong, I don't have any problem with plastic surgery, but with the imposition, I do. Is it possible that beauty standards have only gotten more standardized after all this time? What do we need to be considered beauty?

I remember going to my plastic surgeon years ago, searching for liposuction on my legs; I was clear with what I wanted and told her what I needed, but he found some "defects" in me. He said I needed liposuction on my abdomen, and he convinced me. My body was a constant source of insecurity, especially when I thought I had a flat belly and a doctor told me no.

Now I am an adult and know that the problem is vast. A fat woman with acne and short stature will never win Miss Universe, and beauty will always be the same. Perhaps, the solution is to stop admiring that. It is not just about the industry and her beauty concept; it is about the rest of us giving glory to standards.

The hypocrisy amazes me. We have been convinced that all bodies are welcome in the industry, yet they continue to pick only a few, only the ones that meet the beauty cannon.

Every day we receive a bomber of beauty, and it's so hard. I don't know if we need a protest or just a little nudge in thinking about otherness and opening our minds to other possibilities, bodies, and priorities. We may have to look for a stranger's kind of beauty.

The truth is the fashion industry can help, working to reflect a new perspective on appearance and beauty, which includes sizes for all bodies, where all of them are ideal. The first step is the promotion of change as a necessary thing.

This message must reach spaces and minds that still think that fashion or health is exclusive for a few people, where the "ideal body" still exists, and where the meaning of "model" talk more of measuring 6'0" than a reflection of work and talent. To get there, we have much work to do.




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