Fab Flash: New York Police Crack Down on Counterfeiters

February 27, 2008

Yesterday morning, New York City police officers seized more than $1 million in knockoff accessories and fragrances bearing labels like Prada, Fendi, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Calvin Klein, and Coach.

Three buildings were raided on a block in Chinatown formed by Canal, Walker, and Centre Streets, which housed 32 storefronts illegally selling fake goods. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, this is one of the largest raids on trademark copiers in the city's history, following a seizure of $45 million in counterfeit merchandise back in 2005. Crazy!

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66 Comments

gennis22 4 years 46 weeks

whatever, you all must realize the only reason why there are fakes of these brands is because each of these brands use sweatshops to make their products. Good for the people selling these fake items. I am proud to say I own a few fake northface items and spent the money on them instead of giving the money to the corporation who sell it items for ridiculous prices and pays its factory workers 3 dollars a week.

liladdieshudiva 5 years 2 weeks

Ill! I know folks who have conterfeit bags. I purchased two authentic bags. I saved for my bags. I'm not rich, but I felt like I was when I got my bag.

bluebird 5 years 7 weeks

thank you, gruaig_rua and Kiki tee!i'll admit full well that i don't have four hundred dollars to spend on a bag. i certainly have four hundred dollars to spend on a car payment, rent, or investment for my future, but i'm not going to waste my money on a bag for the logos.

bluebird 5 years 7 weeks

thank you, gruaig_rua and Kiki tee! i'll admit full well that i don't have four hundred dollars to spend on a bag. i certainly have four hundred dollars to spend on a car payment, rent, or investment for my future, but i'm not going to waste my money on a bag for the logos.

juicylove 5 years 10 weeks

the ones from that area are generally bad quality anyway, theyll charge you 100$ for a bag that is only worth maybe 5$, when you could easily spend that $100 on a good quality bag, just without the logo. its also funny how girls will claim their chanel or lv bag is real, when you can clearly tell by the ripped seams, fake leather, and glued on/misshaped logos that its a fake. it kind of sucks that most people cant tell though, and those of us with real designer things get accused of having knockoffs.

juicylove 5 years 10 weeks

the ones from that area are generally bad quality anyway, theyll charge you 100$ for a bag that is only worth maybe 5$, when you could easily spend that $100 on a good quality bag, just without the logo.its also funny how girls will claim their chanel or lv bag is real, when you can clearly tell by the ripped seams, fake leather, and glued on/misshaped logos that its a fake. it kind of sucks that most people cant tell though, and those of us with real designer things get accused of having knockoffs.

SweetFirefly 5 years 11 weeks

Good. I wish they would start ticketing or arresting people that PURCHASE fake bags too. It's commonly known that these bags are made in sweatshops often using child labor. I don't understand why people would buy the fakes. To look like you have money? Well, people can tell by the quality of your clothes and shoes you're wearing, the haircut/hair color that you have whether you have money or not. It never just comes down to a handbag. There's nothing sadder than a person dressed in low end clothes toting around a huge Chanel bag. Yeah, right.

SweetFirefly 5 years 11 weeks

Good. I wish they would start ticketing or arresting people that PURCHASE fake bags too.It's commonly known that these bags are made in sweatshops often using child labor. I don't understand why people would buy the fakes. To look like you have money? Well, people can tell by the quality of your clothes and shoes you're wearing, the haircut/hair color that you have whether you have money or not. It never just comes down to a handbag. There's nothing sadder than a person dressed in low end clothes toting around a huge Chanel bag. Yeah, right.

Kiki tee 5 years 11 weeks

... or Gap, or Topshop, or practically any low to mid-range retailer, and a few high-end, I'm sure. All the people making "fake people buy fake bags" comments need to get off their high horses, seriously! When Fab first posted about the US government trying to bring in legislation to prevent high street retailers copying designers, the overwhelming majority of the comments were against such a move, saying things like, oh but how are those us on regular incomes supposed to look fashionable if we can't afford the real thing. A knock off is a knock off, whether it's a fake Chanel bag or a Forever 21 REPLICA of a Gucci dress. You can't pick and choose when it's ok and when it's not...

Kiki tee 5 years 11 weeks

... or Gap, or Topshop, or practically any low to mid-range retailer, and a few high-end, I'm sure.All the people making "fake people buy fake bags" comments need to get off their high horses, seriously! When Fab first posted about the US government trying to bring in legislation to prevent high street retailers copying designers, the overwhelming majority of the comments were against such a move, saying things like, oh but how are those us on regular incomes supposed to look fashionable if we can't afford the real thing. A knock off is a knock off, whether it's a fake Chanel bag or a Forever 21 REPLICA of a Gucci dress. You can't pick and choose when it's ok and when it's not...

gruaig_rua 5 years 11 weeks

Well I've had a few fakes in the past and I have absolutely no problem with admitting to people that they are fake. They are extremely good copies and I love the fact that they cost me next to nothing! Oh and for those that say it promotes sweatshops I hope you don't shop at Walmart, Nike or Disney........

gruaig_rua 5 years 11 weeks

Well I've had a few fakes in the past and I have absolutely no problem with admitting to people that they are fake. They are extremely good copies and I love the fact that they cost me next to nothing!Oh and for those that say it promotes sweatshops I hope you don't shop at Walmart, Nike or Disney........

snarkypants 5 years 11 weeks

i agree. fake people buy fake bags. does anybody actually like those fake coach bags that have misshaped c's? no, they're hideous, and the only people who buy them are idiots. they are trying to look like they have money when it's even more obvious they don't. it's fine if you don't have the money, but go to target or somewhere and get a bag that isn't a knockoff. there are a ton of cute, cheap bags!i also agree with atrambo. i'm over logos. they're tacky and show-offy.sorry about the rant, i live in the midwest and i see a ton of fakes everyday. huge pet peeve of mine.

snarkypants 5 years 11 weeks

i agree. fake people buy fake bags. does anybody actually like those fake coach bags that have misshaped c's? no, they're hideous, and the only people who buy them are idiots. they are trying to look like they have money when it's even more obvious they don't. it's fine if you don't have the money, but go to target or somewhere and get a bag that isn't a knockoff. there are a ton of cute, cheap bags! i also agree with atrambo. i'm over logos. they're tacky and show-offy. sorry about the rant, i live in the midwest and i see a ton of fakes everyday. huge pet peeve of mine.

Kiki tee 5 years 11 weeks

Oh and incidentally, DreaAST, you're probably right to assume that people think your bag is fake. I can't help but think that about every designer bag I see... particularly LV and Chanel.

Kiki tee 5 years 11 weeks

I accidentally bought a fake Chloe Silverado a few years back... it was so hot off the presses that I hadn't even seen the Chloe one. I came across this one and it had no Chloe branding, inside or out, so I just thought it was a beautiful, soft, slouchy bag in gorgeous leather, and I loved it! A week later I'm flicking through Elle and I see Kirsten Dunst clutching my bag and Elle pronouncing it the it next season's it bag!! It was very depressing... I continued to use it because I loved it so much, but anytime anyone complimented me on it I just felt like a huge fraud because I knew what they were actually saying was "Oh, I love your CHOLE bag" and I knew that wasn't what it was!

Kiki tee 5 years 11 weeks

sulisaquae 5 years 11 weeks

It's illegal to sell counterfeits... Is it death to capitalism?

syako 5 years 11 weeks

well, mcollazo, you can rest assure that there has never EVER been a fake in my closet and never will be. People need to be more aware of how companies treat their workers and how products are made.

jc 5 years 11 weeks

Good! I hate knock offs!

jc 5 years 11 weeks

Good! I hate knock offs!

mcollazo 5 years 11 weeks

What kills me is that most of the comments are saying that it is bad but I gurantee most if not half of you folks have purchased a fake bag. I have seen this place during the holidays, it is crazy crowded with people wanting to buy their "counterfeit" items.

atrambo 5 years 11 weeks

FINALLY!!!! I hate these bags, could you be anymore un-original?? You can't possibly be truly into fashion if you crave these... I'll take a genuine bag by Nine West over those cheesy things anyday. Come to think of it, I'm sooo over the real ones too... if I'm gonna splurge a little, it's going to be on an Elliot Lucca... HOLD THE LOGOS!

cnyc1a 5 years 11 weeks

Good I can't stand it when people wear fake bags. It's an insult. There's nothing fashionable in wearing Fakes.

sugajen 5 years 11 weeks

Also, Nike, a large name brand company, has been caught for using sweat shop production as well. If you think it's only the cheap companies that do it you're wrong. Every company is just in it for the money.

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