It might be something you already dread if you’re used to buying secondhand, especially luxury, but as secondhand clothes become popular, so will counterfeits!
Boom of second-hand authentication services
As a result, some platforms are starting to hire fans who have become experts in sneakers, shoes, bags or even clothing to help them authenticate what needs to be authenticated, as reported by specialized media. Fashion business. A not so new profession, until now rather reserved for auction houses and vintage shops.
In the first half of 2021, job vacancies for sneaker authentication increased by 40% and streetwear by 83% according to data from job search site Monster. A sign that the world of luxury is changing and expanding. And that the second hand is catching on in the fashion world. From $9B in 2020, Authentication Services Market Expected to Reach $15B in 2021second Fashion business.
This is a crucial issue for the second-hand market which is constantly growing, especially with a young and hyper-connected public, very interested in the quality and authenticity of the products. Also for this reason, people who have had experience in sales, customer service and after-sales in particular, represent a godsend for second-hand platforms that are fighting to recruit authentication talent.
Counterfeits increasingly difficult to recognize
But if the impact strength of authenticators improves, counterfeiters improve too! According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, approximately 585 billion euros of counterfeit products are sold worldwide every year!
As it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish a counterfeit product from an authentic one, luxury brands are now competing in ingenuity to prevent harm. Like inserting microchips in their handbags, which can only be scanned by them, which would be more reliable than the traditional serial numbers engraved in the leather, which are too easily falsified.
Know that if you think you’ve bought a counterfeit product, going to the store to have it authenticated can be a double-edged sword. Because if it really is a fake, the brand may be required to destroy it (even if you want to keep your nice fake). The possession of counterfeit objects, like the sale, is in fact a crime, as the official website of the Ministry of Economy recalls:
“Sellers and holders of counterfeit goods can be penalized for this. Penal sanctions can reach up to a 300,000 euro fine and three years’ imprisonment. »
It is therefore when considering a second-hand luxury purchase that it may be wise to contact either the authentication service possibly offered by the platform where the object was identified, or independent authentication actors, such as clearly the expert youtuber Mélyssa Métisse Modeuse explains:
Before getting to that point, you can of course ask the seller the question: ask him when and where he bought the product (even if that means calling behind the store to check if the person has a customer card there), if he has proof of purchase and documents of authenticity, or even other photos of the packaging (to identify any inconsistencies). Because, nowadays, there is nothing more credible and trendy than fake…
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
