Fashion loves to call itself an industry of inspiration, until the inspiration costs $2,000 less. In the early 2000s, owning the “real thing” was often the point. Luxury labels represented status, exclusivity and authenticity, while calling something a “knock-off” was hardly a compliment. Today, that attitude has shifted. A new generation of consumers is increasingly embracing products that closely imitate the look of high-end fashion without carrying the high-end price tag. The rise of fast fashion and social media has enhanced this shift. A product can go viral overnight, be replicated within weeks and appear on thousands of consumers’ feeds … Continue reading A Dupe Isn’t a Crime: Why Fashion Copycats Aren’t Always Theft