Something I've Never Understood: Knock-offs

I know we've all seen the 50-leven girls walking around with their very own version of the Louis Vuitton Damier bag, or the Gucci bag, or the coach bag complete with the monogrammed "G's" all over it. I've always wondered if they knew their merchandise was fake and actually thought they were fooling someone, or if they actually just thought they got a good deal from the nice man selling them from his stand at the corner (hey, you never know).

I understand that everyone can't afford designer bags, shoes, etc. My goal here is not to attack anyones place in life or make fun of what people can and cannot afford. My number one issue with knock-offs is that its usually of very poor quality. And number two, who said that in order to be fashionable/in-style/cool etc, that you had to be a walking billboard for the most expensive designer? Why not just buy nice things that YOU can afford? Instead of paying $50-$80 for a faux Louis Vuitton that's made of cheap plastic that will rip and tear at that handles with hardware that will tarnish, why not just go to Macy's or another store that carries quality leather bags and buy one for around the same price? It may not be by a hot designer but it's quality.

When people dish out big bucks for designer items, they're usually paying for luxurious quality. Super soft leather, durable handles, hardware that won' t break or tarnish and other indicators of high quality. When you buy a knock-off bag, you get none of that, the only thing you get is a stamp of someones designer label on a bag that they got from...who knows where. Which brings me to ask a question: Is only benefit of buying a knock-off bag, the appearance of having designer wear to other people? I mean...since you're obviously not getting any of the benefits of the quality of the product (or what the product is supposed to be) it just makes me think that the ONLY reason why people buy knock-offs so they can stunt for people who don't even care about their little stupid knock-off bag. Most people know they're fake and actually pay more attention to the fact that you're wearing a knock-off, than they would if you had on a nice bag sans the designer label.

Is having a designer label really all THAT important? We all know that most people can't really afford them anyway. I know I can't. I mean of course if I put an entire paycheck towards an authentic Louis Vuitton, I would definitely have enough money...but then again...why would you do that? To stunt? Oh ok. I just can't imagine walking around in a pair of Louboutins while I still live with my parents...That could be a mortgage payment somewhere...that's dumb...to me anyways.  *Shrugs* I guess it's just crazy to really sit back and think about all that we do as a society to impress other people who could care less. Walking around in shoes and bags that you can't afford, or sacrificing quality for a knock-off label just so you appear to be rocking designer wear...like...why?

Enlighten Me.