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| (image courtesy of mobground.net) |
Since my teenage years I have been a fan of Vivienne Westwood. Probably because of the manga "NANA" by Ai Yazawa. The manga itself is very touching, a must read, in my opinion. However, I don't think it would have had the same impact on the viewer if the main characters had milder fashion sense. That kind of punk-cool look became the backbone for my sense of style even now. Something about it was so powerful without even trying to be. I knew then, that it was the look for me.
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| (a little warped from shipping. nothing some breathing room won't fix) |
The true heart-break came to me, when I realized that I could never afford that which I desired. The harsh fact of the matter is that quality is expensive, and doubly so when backed by a big brand name. I can say with a fair bit of certainty that most people aren't willing to pay a months rent for one pair of shoes. That's how designer brands retain exclusivity. They elevate their brands so that only a privileged few can afford, and that the "common-folk" may only look upon them and dream.
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| (obvious knock-offs of Vivienne Westwood for Melissa ankle boots) |
Some people really get flared up by knock-offs. Who can forget the legal action Louboutin took against YSL for the ownership of the red-sole. Not to mention the severe punishments for selling and manufacturing fake handbags and leather goods. I feel that its kind of silly to believe that these things contribute to a loss of revenue for the designer companies. As the lovers of the brand would gladly pay for the prestige of the authentic article. Not to mention those who cannot afford such, would either buy a replica or have none at all.
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| (I still think you're lovely) Personally I'm divided on the matter. I recognize that certain products are intellectual property of their respective companies. That being said, it wont deter those who want said objects from find more accessible ways of getting them. For example companies that sell red-sole stickers, or a man selling handbags on the street. For me its more about finding balance. There are many cheap replicas in this world that are awful and tacky. All the things I own I purchase for their long term durability and timelessness. If don't want to break the bank, then so what? What do you think? Tell me in the comments below. |
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| (I'm a c*nt) |
