Kate Spade Purse Party

Kate Spade Purse Party: Counterfeit Couture

When former chairwoman of the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition Barbara Kolsun took the position of senior vice president and general counsel to Kate Spade, she made it known that the company would be cracking down on purse parties. The New York Times even went so far as to call her the “pit bull of the fake fashion police.”

Trademarks are protected by law. Anyone who knowingly sells a knockoff with a decently created designer label, even if they tell the buyer it is fake, is committing a crime. Because buying the bags is legal, it keeps the counterfeiters in business.

Even a reporter who went to a purse party got in on the excitement of getting near identical designer purses for hundreds less than retail, saying “We’re deciding whose hair to pull or whose eyes to gouge out, should push come to shove over a hot little Kate Spade.” Would-be customers even post messages online, searching out the counterfeiters to get their hands on the cheap knock-offs.

Consumers often justify purchasing the counterfeit goods by saying that the originals are overpriced in the first place, or that the designers are all ready rich. Copyright infringement is an often fuzzy topic among even the most law abiding citizen. But consumers should learn where their money goes when they purchase illegal handbags.

Fake Purses Found to Fund Terrorism, Hurt Economy

The Joint Terrorism Task Force found evidence that showed sale of counterfeit goods financed the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. While the women hosting purse parties may not realize it, they are often at the bottom of a much larger illegal trafficking chain of counterfeit goods.

Not only does the often cash sale of these purses make it hard for investigators to follow where the trail leads, but can lead to other economical hardships and questionable ethical practices. According to Kate Spade’s website, the following practices often accompany the production and sale of counterfeit purses through a Kate Spade purse party and other dubious “retailers:”

• Avoiding tax payments
• Utilizing child labor
• Paying low wages with little to no benefits
• Fund terrorism with profits
• Funding of other serious crimes with profits

The knockoff bags are often made in China, with the label sewn in New York City to avoid customs officials. Bag sellers often check streets of the Los Angeles garment district or New York City’s Chinatown to find bags to sell at their purse parties.

Knowing a Designer From a Dud

Although the industry and law enforcement is cracking down on illegal purse parties, they continue to thrive in an almost “underground” network. eBay, online discount merchants, and ads on places like craigslist make it hard to know the real deal from a knockoff. True designer purses use quality materials and are made to hold up for years. Counterfeit purses often fall apart quickly or are shabbily stitched together, made of inferior materials.

Signs that a Kate Spade bag is authentic include:

• Country of origin label is sewn in the interior of the bag
• A label is on the outside of the bag
• The bag was purchased from an authorized dealer

While attending or planning a Kate Spade purse party might sound like a fun way to get designer knockoffs at a cheaply discounted price, you should consider the bigger ramifications before choosing to attend. To get a designer bag at a discount price, check the company website for sales and your local retail locations for end-of-season clearances. Outdated styles will get sale priced, to make room for upcoming new designs.