I Spy a Counterfeit Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallet

As I was shopping for a new crossover bag at Sam Moon, the jewelry, purse, and accessory mega store, I came across a counterfeit "Kenneth Cole Reaction Tri Me a River" Wallet in blue and green.

Sam Moon does not carry named brand designer bags. It is simply a fashionable store to find great trendy items for less. So I was SHOCKED when I saw the KC counterfeit wallets neatly HIDDEN in the corner for $5 and $8!!! Now unless you are shopping at the Kenneth Cole discount store in Nowhere, USA (because it does not exist), you will not find them anywhere for less than $34.99 and that includes third party retailers like Silver Hook, Inc. Click the link for the real wallet and see the pictures below for the counterfeit.

$4.99 and $7.99 KC Wallets from recent seasons? "Where they do that at?" Maybe a garage sale.

The wallets with the severely discounted price are counterfeit and therefore illegal because they not only almost identically resemble the real KC Reaction wallet; but they use the KC Reaction symbol on the purse to further pass the wallet off as the real deal. Further, when a fake purse uses the same symbols and label names to decorate the real item, it infringes upon the federal trademark, as done here with the wallet shown above.  Ultimately, a counterfeit is made to pass as the original item.

Fashion Legallaire's Tip: A Knock-off, on the other hand, is an inspired design. It does not try to pass as the original item (by using same labels names as a counterfeit) and therefore is legal in the U.S.

      ** For more information on the difference between a knock off and counterfeit, visit A Preponderance of Fashion, another awesome fashion law blog.

SO HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR WALLET IS REAL?

1. Check out the Price Point. At Sam Moon, even the non named brand wallets cost more than the counterfeit KC wallets. A definite eyebrow raiser and alarm for counterfeit.
2. Meticulously look at the design. All the real KC Reaction Tri Me a River snake skin fade colors start with the same colors from left to right while the counterfeit wallets did not match.
3. Meticulously look at the label names. Is it spelled correctly, same size, and same location?


Definitely do not support counterfeit items. It is flat out stealing and at the end of the day, you paid for a fake version. Yes shopping for designer luxury can be expensive and when you want to ball out on a budget, it is very hard to find great deals but FIGHT THE TEMPTATION. You can always save up for the real deal. :)

By the way, in 2010 Coach sued Sam Moon for selling look a like handbags. Check out the trademark infringement complaint here. More news to come on the standing up this case.