the disease of dupe culture

Author’s Note: I originally wrote this post on November 2, 2022 and it’s just been sitting in my blog drafts because I couldn’t figure out a way to make it sound coherent. Like I could not (and still can’t) find a way to transition from paragraph to paragraph to create any sort of narrative, so I just never published it. But then I re-read it and I was literally laughing out loud (I am sooooooo funny) and I was like damn this is still relevant and it seems like something some of y’all might need to hear! Anyway, I edited it a little bit, but mostly I’m just leaning into the disjointedness and pretending like it’s a stylistic choice.

I would ask why 90% of y’all don’t have any personality or sense of individuality, but I assume it’s because those aren’t available to purchase on your fave influencer’s Amazon storefront.

Last week I was made aware of the fact that “Amazon influencers” are a thing. Like there are literally people on social media who make a living peddling Amazon products. I wish so badly I was still ignorant to that reality. To put it simply: that’s embarrassing. And if you’re in your “I can’t feel embarrassed if I don’t claim the embarrassment” era, fear not. I claimed the embarrassment on your behalf. I’m all for the guap-getting but like ???? to what end?

Let’s be honest, the real issue here is not the influencers. It’s you. Not necessarily you but like the proverbial YOU. At least these clowns are getting a bag! You’re literally paying to be a circus act! You need to get your money up. And if the only version of a purse/shirt/pant/shoe that you can afford is of the bootleg Amazon variety, then maybe that purse/shirt/pant/shoe is not for you. Why do we all feel entitled to literally everything? Exclusivity is a thing. “Wait, Mir, you can’t possibly be saying that people shouldn’t wear something just because they can’t afford the original…” That’s actually exactly what I’m saying.

Everything doesn’t have to be for everyone.

And before you load up your Twitter Fingers and start calling me a bourgeois bitch, clutching your plastic pearls…..maybe consider the idea that while I definitely am polarizing, incendiary, rude, loud, and hotter than you, I’m also right!

I’ve been in some weird bags in my time, but I have never been in an Amazon dupe bag, which is the weirdest of them all.

Now, this could absolutely descend into a diatribe about over-consumption and capitalism and supply chain, but we’re going to rise above all of that. Mostly because I don’t know shit about fuck and that’s not even the point I’m making.

I don’t necessarily have an opinion on fake designer. Counterfeits are a staple in our society. Owning a real designer product is 10x more fun because you know that there’s probably people out there with a fake version of it. It’s symbiotic or whatever! At the same time I kinda think it’s giving buffoon. Like just buy a regular purse/shirt/dress…why does it have to be fake designer. Is there nuance to this? Sure! I’m definitely not gonna do any research, but just based on common sense, I know that minorities probably buy fake designer because the illusion of luxury is, like, actually meaningful in those communities? And when they’re interacting with people outside of their communities? I understand that! All that context notwithstanding, that DH Gate “Channel” purse still looks stupid as fuck tho <3 be & stay blessed.

Where I draw the line is seeing behemoth fast fashion companies stealing designs from small business owners. And to some degree I’m like…you already got your comeuppance via that heinous, incredibly visible polyester rash. And I know y’all sit there on Amazon buying your dupe whateverthefucks and think you’re somehow the exception…like you’re not actively contributing to the problem. Let me be the first to say, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM, BOOKIE!!!! Just because you’re aware enough to be self-deprecating and all like “I know, I know, Amazon stole these from a small business owner and then mass-produced them at a significantly lower-quality but like I just have to participate in wearing them because all the other Fashion Girlies (derogatory) on TikTok are and I’m a fucking freak who still thinks claiming FOMO is acceptable” does not mean that you’re absolved. If you have to conjure up a new moral compass in order to rationalize the purchase a $15 knock-off purse…me thinks that’s a sign that you shouldn’t go through with that transaction. You have to be such a fucking weirdo to purchase something on Shein knowing it was originally designed by a small business owner. And spare me the “well what if I didn’t know”/feigned ignorance that you use as a Get Out of Jail Free Card, cuz at this point, Ray Charles could see that those designs are stolen; what’s your excuse?

I understand that literally everything is a copy of everything because like there’s only so many silhouettes and patterns, etc., but there is a classy and respectful way to reference other designers. The difference here is that Shein, Amazon, and their fellow Flops are operating with an extreme lack of integrity. They’re not inspired, they are committing highway robberies…like, this is serving straight-to-DVD-release heist movie. Luxury fashion brands have certain house codes which distinguish their products from the rest, even in the event that they’re creating something super similar to another designer. The only house code at play with dupe culture is “frump”.

Freeing yourself from the shackles of trend culture indicates a certain level of swag. Owning a dupe of an article of clothing/accessory/beauty product (??) from Amazon due to your undying need to be trendy indicates that you’re a loser!

That’s all OG wrote.