Knockoff News 42
A weekly (or thereabouts) collection of news about counterfeits, fakes, knockoffs, replicas, imitations, and the culture of copying in general around the globe:
- Don't squeeze the Juice: UK company wins rights to Diana's designer's name
- Movin' on: New counterfeit havens replace closed Xiangyang market
- Itsa fake: Is a seller's Italian accent a sign of fake goods?
- Hammer & nail 'em: The anti-counterfeiting toolkit
- Ireland Customs reports on fake trade
- Shop owner gets probation for selling knockoff Nikes
- Police report:
- Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Johannesburg
- Greece (scroll down)
- Land ho! Louis Vuitton v. Terranova et al.
- Lying low: Louis Vuitton v. LY USA
And in the midst of a rather quiet week on the fake front appeared these observations on "authenticity" as the newest harbinger of retail success:
But for something to be perceived as authentic, that value has to be communicated cleanly through every detail — from the quality of the wash, if it’s a T-shirt, to the integrity of the physical environment.
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“Every high-profile Gap executive has walked through my store,” Ms. Garduno said.
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She continued: “Well, go look at the Gap. They claim to not want to rip you off, but the fact is they do. And it’s not working for them — not even lifting my ideas, and with all of their money and art direction. They still don’t have faith. They don’t have faith in themselves, and it comes out instinctually in the product. I think people know the difference.”
A Gap spokeswoman said, “This is the first we’ve heard of it” and declined further comment.
If the ongoing slide in Gap, Inc.'s sales and investment ratings is any indication, a bit of self-authentication might be in order.
