Forever 21 opens new store in NY...here come the knockoffs??

It has been confirmed (but no definite date given yet) that there will be a new, Forever 21, store opening in New York City’s, Time Square. The store is reportedly going to be a whopping 100,000 square feet of clothing, outerwear, accessories, shoes and lingerie. The store reportedly had sales of 1.3 billion dollars in 2007 and is expected to make almost 1.8 billion dollars in sales this year.
This is all very exciting for the young and poor like myself who want trendy and cheap clothes; but at the same time will this extreme store opening only promote people to purchase knock-offs and cheap seconds simply because they can’t afford it? There have been numerous lawsuits in the past few years made by well known designers like Gwen Stefani, Anna Sui, and Diane von Furstenberg against the clothing company because the designers claim that the store is knocking off multiple designs. There were even a few lawsuits brought against Forever 21 by fabric companies and producers in 2007 as well.
Obviously knockoff’s have always been a huge enemy of the fashion world even thought they sometimes inspire designers to come up with elaborate and sometimes crazy fashion concoctions that cannot or will not be knocked-off. And on the legal side of the knockoffs, it’s relatively hard to pass laws on infringement because so many people can interpret the original designs into their own fashion philosophies. So what do we do about it?
Of course, we all know that this devalues the designers whose hard work is knocked-off from a $600 dollar bag or dress to a $30 replica made of cheap plastic and bursting at the seams. So even thought we all know what a danger cheap knockoff’s can be to the fashion world, why do so called “fashion people” continue to support this trade?
I have personally seen girls in my design classes that are carrying fake Chanel and Fendi bags and I think, “Really? How does that work?”. We are all sitting here struggling to become working and recognizable designers and THEY are the ones who are buying these fakes in the back allies?! It kind of stumps me for answers. I mean I get it, everyone wants to have fine things and of course designer brands are all about status; but shouldn’t WE know better?
Maybe those “fashionistas” will think about it after they read this, but most likely not. And sure, we are all guilty from sometime or another about thinking about purchasing that wanna-be Louie Viouton messenger bag, but for heaven’s sake, have a little pride in your work and DON”T DO IT!!!