A Response to the NYT Article on the Superfake Handbag Industry

High-quality reproductions often use genuine leather, which gives the bag a luxurious feel and durability. Genuine leather not only looks and feels better but also ages gracefully over time, developing a unique patina that adds to its authenticity. These gimlet-eyed assessments usually reveal the reps as indistinguishable from the authentics. For this cadre of rep obsessives, status isn’t a massive collection of real luxury bags