We have, over the years, been made aware of this activity going on all over the world. We remind you of the fake Balmain Store, told by INDIA-JEWEL JACKSON back in 2009 reproduced below.
"How does the saying go? “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is…”
I should have listened.
A couple of weeks ago, I made the 13-hour journey to the United Arab Emirates, a.k.a. shopper’s paradise. Virtually everyone has set up shop in the golden city of Dubai; YSL, Manolo Blahnik, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel—the entire fashion set is present and accounted for. And with the current state of the economy, it wasn’t uncommon to see storefronts peppered with signs that read “Sale!” “25% off!” “Buy One, Get One Half Price!”
Imagine my surprise when I ran across a standalone Balmain boutique at the base of my hotel. All kinds of thoughts of fashionable grandeur ran through my mind… Rihanna, Kate Moss, exaggerated shoulders, Beyonce, Cassie, crystal studded sandals, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, marching band ‘drum major’ vests… It was all too much to process. Balmain? In my size? On sale for 75% off?
I should have know something was fishy—who advertises a sale on neon poster-board?
Against my better judgment—lured by the thought of buying Balmain at Bebe prices—I bought two pairs of jeans and scurried upstairs to try them on with the YSL shoes I’d bought earlier that day. Since I’ve been on Weight Watchers, I’d actually unknowingly dropped a pant size, so my new fancy jeans were a bit too big. I scurried downstairs to make a quick exchange when I was told, “No. All Sales are Final.”
Slightly angry, but more confused, I decided to do a bit of investigative research. (A bit late, I might add.) First, I Goggled. No information on a Balmain store in Dubai. Then, I searched for legitimate store locations. No Balmain boutique south of Turkey. Finally, I called the flagship Balmain boutique in Paris. Definitely no Balmain store in Dubai.
I’d been duped.
Selling knockoff purses out of a warehouse in Chinatown is one thing, because if you’re shopping in Chinatown, you’re obviously looking for fakes. But setting up an entire store under the guise of a haute couture brand is another. They’d blatantly ripped off the current runway collection, the shopping bags, the price tags, even the logo was perfect. (How do these people sleep at night?)
Needless to say, I’ve returned to NYC with two pairs of fake denim that I can’t be bothered to wear, but can’t bear to get rid of. I guess I just think of them a reminder of why I hate fakes.
At the end of the day, I was the posterchild for ‘American greed.’ Ah, well. You live and you learn!" quote~India-Jewel Jackson.
This is just one of the countless stories we have had confirmed over the years, this poses a new threat for brand protection as the audacious grow bolder.
2 comments:
Why didn't you report to Balmain in paris so that they could take some action,maybe closing the stores or even fine the dealer. Plus are you sure that they are carrying fakes since for example, i live here in Germany where i can only find original Balmain in Munich or Berlin, they are carrying original balmain pieces but just like Bergdorf or Net a porter, which carries multiple brand at the same time. Is this just a stand alone Balmain store without other brands?
Thank you for your comment Adam. Delortae Agency endeavour to work closely with all the major brands copyright, trademark & infringement specialities. It is important to note this was not an official Balmain store but a fraudulent fake store, set up to achieve nothing more than to cheat the public out of their money at the expense of the brand.
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