Dump the Dupes: Cheap “dupes” add to clothing waste and can steal small designers creativity

It seems like every TikTok influencer has found the ideal “dupe.” Whether it’s Amazon’s Ugg knock-offs, Target’s imitation of an Aritzia bodysuit or Instagram brands claiming to have cloned Tom Ford’s “Lost Cherry” fragrance. Every other day, we have a new obsession thanks to influencers like Alix Earle who promote more accessible options for luxury items. 

However, someone does pay for this great deal — the person making these goods.

Zara and Shein are just two in a network of fast fashion sites that have made a name for themselves by selling dupes. While their products are highly affordable, these companies take advantage of cheap labor from countries like China, Bangladesh and Vietnam.  Most overseas fashion garment workers work long 12+ hour days for little to no pay, work in extremely unsafe environments and are not allowed to unionize, according to cleanclothes.org. So, is that $12 Blackbough swim dupe from Shein really worth it? 

Plus, these brands have few original ideas. The vast majority are stolen from other designers. Don’t get me wrong, fashion houses have always influenced each other’s designs. It’s not a crime to share creativity. But when a small designer innovates a piece of clothing after years of studying fashion and fine-tuning fabrics down to the stitch, only to find cheaply-made travesties on Romwe and Shein the next day, it becomes a problem.

Dupe culture relies on fast fashion corporations making a buck on stealing smaller designers’ creativity. Big brands can’t get in trouble for these actions because these dupes aren’t technically advertised to be the exact same. Not only do they get away with what might as well be counterfeit, but they’re actually celebrated on social media.

The promotion of fast fashion will only hurt us in the long run. Due to a constant influx of trends, and the cheaper options that hit the market right after, young people flood Amazon and Target to buy cheap clothing pieces — which will probably end up in a landfill three months later.

Once these trendy clothes go out of style, there’s no hope of reselling them or keeping them for vintage value unlike higher quality, name brands. So while you might be rocking that knock off Lululemon Scuba Jacket or DHgate Jordans for now, trends will change in a matter of months and those items will be hauled away in a donation trash bag, dumped in a sea of similar “dupes.” 

So think twice about buying into fast fashion just to look trendy. Investing in quality clothing — which doesn’t have to be name brand — that suits your personal style and is built to last is more satisfying and cost effective than buying a whole new wardrobe each season. If you are on a budget like most other teens, buying second hand is both affordable and rewarding. I promise you, it’s much cooler — and more sustainable — to rock a vintage shirt you found thrifting than a dupe you bought at H&M.  

Here are some great thrift stores in the area.