No to Knockoffs
The train of thought behind the proliferation of knockoffs in modern fashion seems to say there really is nothing new under the sun.
Whereas every decade of the 20th century had its signature looks — flower children and mod in the ’60s, disco and glam rock in the ’70s, neon and Flashdance in the ’80s, grunge and heroin chic in the ’90s — the first decade of the new millennium has proven a bit harder to peg. It doesn’t even have a name that is universally used (the “two-thousands,” we guess?). How is it supposed to have a definitive style?
The ’00s was the era of bling and recession chic, of smoky eyes and smoke-free bars, of Bennifer and Brangelina. It was a bridge between centuries, both in the timeline and in its mish-mash blends of style. And brands knocking each other off — even at the top of the couture food chain — have become de rigeur in the fashion industry.
No big. Or is it?
As fashion’s heaviest hitters duke it out over intellectual property and design copyrights, fast fashion and streamlined manufacturing in Asia have made it easier than ever to translate trends into retail in record time. Sometimes it’s legal, sometimes it’s not. But in any case, is it ethical?
In this issue, we take a look at the reasons counterfeit goods have gone mainstream and when you should just say no to knockoffs.
Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller makes the case that we are biologically hardwired to seek out status symbols — and whether they are authentic is besides the point. With that in mind, we review his well-researched book Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior.
In the same vein, you may wonder — is buying fake every ethically warranted? Madison explores the problems and benefits of buying into trends.
If you’re a dedicated online shopper, you want to make sure you’re not getting ripped off by knockoffs. But how? This handy guide to avoiding fakes will steer you in the right direction.
And as always, check out Seam Ripper for more news and developments on the fakery front.

![[flourish]](http://ethicalstyle.com/wp-content/themes/es/images/topFlourish.png)










![[flourish]](http://ethicalstyle.com/wp-content/themes/es/images/botFlourish.png)
