75% of Women Say They've Purchased a Designer Knockoff: Are You One of 'Em?

There may be nothing like the real thing, baby, but that doesn't mean American women are always willing to part with the cash required to buy authentic designer goods. According to a Reuters report on a new poll, "Three-quarters of women questioned in the poll admitted that they had knowingly purchased a counterfeit designer fashion item, and many said they had as many as five fake dresses, handbags, wallets, jewelry or pairs of shoes. More than half bought knockoffs because they couldn't afford the designer label, while 37 percent wanted to impress their friends or family. But nine percent simply couldn't tell the difference."

The most popular phony designer items were handbags and wallets, with dresses, jewelry, and shoes not far behind.

The negative effects of buying counterfeit goods is well-documented, from the intellectual property theft to the proceeds funding terrorism and human trafficking. They're also poorly made and illegal, but that doesn't seem to stop a whopping 75% of U.S. women from buying them anyway. Where do you ladies weigh in on the knockoff issue? Are you part of the majority who'd rather have the designer look, no matter how you get it, or are you staunchly anti-fake? Discuss.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

More From Fashion Articles