Counterfeiters' reach extends to cheaper styles
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LOS ANGELES — Mirabelle Vargas , 29, winds her way through the bare-air stalls in this city's bustling Santee Alley downtown, hunting for Victoria's Cryptic underwear.
Or at least undies with a tag that says Victoria's Secret.
An authentic put together from the lingerie maker can cost $7.50 and up. But Vargas, a retail sales clerk, managed to find a eatables brimming with pink-and-white unmentionables. Price: two bucks a pop.
“Of course they're not essential, not at this price,” said Vargas, decked out in a chocolate-brown Victoria's Covert tracksuit, also counterfeit. “But the quality isn't bad, and buying fakes saves a few bucks. You can find make believe everything here.”
Not that long ago, counterfeiters focused almost exclusively on upscale brands such as Prada and Gucci. But five years of a frail economy has knockoff artists churning out goods for people with more self-effacing tastes and budgets.
At Santee Alley and other locations, you can find fake versions of shirts, pants and footwear by brands such as Gap, Dickies and Vans.
Source: San Antonio Express