Is buying a knock off handbag ever a good idea?

[lighthousekeeping]

I've never bought one but, I'm in Turkey and went into a "Mulberry" shop today. All real leather and all mad in Istanbul. I couldn't tell the difference. A large chocolate Alexa is £150. Yes or no? They had every model imaginable and were beautifully made.

I will listen to you guys.

[bigpants103]

Get it. My sister has a fake and it's a gorgeous bag. Really soft leather and looks lovely. I'm not bothered by a fake if its a nice bag. It's when it's made of plastic and looks naff I dont like. You'll regret it!!

[PretzelTime]

Why do you want a fake bag so much?

[ggirl]

get it !

[lighthousekeeping]

The mini Alexa is £80 and I would say there'sore work gone into it. I actually do need an everyday bag just for my purse and phone.

[lighthousekeeping]

The mini Alexa is £80 and I would say there'sore work gone into it. I actually do need an everyday bag just for my purse and phone.

[lighthousekeeping]

I've just been back. Just to look. The feel of them is out of this world

[gettingeasier]

Investment pieces ? I think its hilarious when people refer to clothes or bags as "pieces" , the same as second hand clothes now being referred to as vintage !

[greensmoothiegoddess]

I was in Istanbul last Oct and am forever kicking myself now for not buying a fake Mulberry. They were amazing works of art and impossible to distinguish between real and fake.

Apparently, they take apart the real Mulberry and piece it back together then replicate with the fake. The leather is gorgeous. You just can't tell the difference. I spent ages meandering around the bazaar and umming and ahhing and getting the hard sell and walking off. Go for it!

[AmberNectarine]

Some bags can also be assets as they don't really depreciate in value, but I think this only applied at the top top end of the scale I.e. Hermes and some Chanel...

[TheCraicDealer]

It's an investment because you buy one pricey handbag at £500 and use it for maybe 10 years, rather than going and buying a new, cheap(er) every 12 months. Granted, it only saves you money if you're in the habit of spending more than £50 on bags at a time which I am. This is the excuse I give my DP anyway!

[MissPerception]

Vintage takes many many years doesn't it?

Why don't people buy handbags because they like them?

[PretzelTime]

It becomes vintage and then you sell it? IDK either

[MissPerception]

I'm interested in how bags can ever be "investments". What is that all about?

[NettOlympicSuperstar]

I wouldn't, but then tbh even if I had a real one I'd still look common as muck so no one would believe a fake was real on me

[ggirl]

I would buy it but not for £150...try to get it cheaper.

[expatinscotland]

No way. If I wanted a designer bag I'd save up and buy the real thing.

[lighthousekeeping]

I do like the style of it and it's definatley real leather. And, they make them here anyway?

[hermioneweasley]

I got bulgari jewellery in Istanbul direct from goldsmith who does theirs. Paid a tenth of the price. Looks amazing and I always get complements. If you like the style of the bag and would buy it anyway then go for it.

[Itsgottabebags]

I own several designer bags including Mulberry and I think they are an investment piece for me. They help perk up an outfit etc.

I have seen several fake Mulberry bags in real life and it's the small details that give them away with the 'good' copies. With some of them its just obvious. The bags look like they are from a market and sticking a 'Mulberry' plaque on doesn't change that and you can spot them easily enough.

OP Mulberry have factory outlets where you can get the real thing for a little cheaper than the rrp, significantly cheaper in some cases.

[Silibilimili]

I brought a fake miu miu bag about 8 years ago from Istanbul. It was not for the label. I liked the bag. The leather was real. But I did not pay £150. Can you bargain down? I am still using my bag btw. Still looks great.

[lighthousekeeping]

It's real leather alright.

[ComradeJing]

I used to own a lot of fake bags it comes with territory of being young and living in China.

However... you can almost always tell that they are fake as they start to wear in odd ways. The "plastic" (the glue that they use to hold straps together - my real Alexa has the same thing on the braiding of the handle) is poor quality and peels off. The handles are usually filled with rope/cord that always becomes visible quite quickly. The leather - if it is real leather - is treated and cheap and doesn't wear well. The lining is usually not right either.

I own real bags now and don't bother buying fakes. They don't make me feel good, they never look as good and they are expensive for what they are. I wouldn't spend 150 quid on buying one off the back of a van in the UK so why would I here?

[Chopstheduck]

I love nice handbags, but I wouldn't. I'd still KNOW it was a fake and I wouldn't be happy with it. There are fakes I think mostly made in China that are really good quality replicas, but it's still not the same.


I was given a Chloe paddington fake once - way before I got my first proper designer bag. Eventually it fell to bits and all the padding in the straps was odd remants of material! Even though it looked good quality, it still wasn't as good as a designer bag.

[PretzelTime]

I try. Try to buy fairtrade and locally made and pre-used. I wouldn't buy something unneccessary like a bag if I knew it was made by children.