The Illusion of Luxury: The Global Crisis of Dupes and Intellectual Property Theft
Image By: New Africa An Epidemic of Fakes in the Digital Age In the current digital-first world where fashion and beauty trends are dictated by viral content and influencer culture, counterfeit goods have become disturbingly mainstream. From consumer-favorite beauty products like Rare Beauty blushes and Rhode lip peptides to luxury handbags, sneakers, and designer apparel from brands like Louis Vuitton , Gucci , Balenciaga , Jacquemus , and Off-White , fakes are flooding online marketplaces in alarming numbers. Sellers boldly advertise knockoffs as "original" or "imported authentic" and disguise their replicas behind well-shot photos and copied descriptions. The growing presence of counterfeit goods is being fueled by third-party resellers, dropshipping schemes, and unregulated storefronts across social media and e-commerce platforms. With minimal vetting and limited liability, these platforms have become a haven for infringers who copy everything from product...
