Dupes: What’s the Deal?

Brenna Belasco, Staff Writer

What are dupes? The term “dupe” is a slang term typically used to describe duplicates. Duplicates are a lower-priced version of an expensive product, one that is typically very high end. Gen-Z is big on dupes, and preach about them endlessly. On TikTok especially, a few Millennials have criticized our obsession with dupes, claiming that when they were younger, they were called “knockoffs,” and they were made fun of for having them. But the big question is, why do people like dupes so much? Is it because of their price, their quality, or how easy they are to get? Either way, they’re taking the world by storm, and I want to know why.

There’s a fine line between dupes and counterfeits, and some designers are opening up about how these replicates make them feel. In Bec Oakes’ article, “Inside TikTok’s Controversial Dupe Culture,” she quoted the founder of MaisonCléo, designer Marie Dewet. Dewet says, “As a designer, you put all your heart into your brand, so it really affects and hurts you…When it first happened to us, I was very angry, stressed and sad but it’s happened so many times that I don’t even have time to complain to each brand.” She claims that items being sold by other retailers are exact copies of her work, and they buy trending items for the purpose of replication from other brands as well. Well known websites such as Taobao and AliExpress have been known to copy designs from other companies and market them as less-expensive dupes.

Articles published regarding the difference between dupes and counterfeits also exist, such as the one written by Jessica (no last name provided) on her self-titled blog, Jeans&aTeacup. In “Dupes Vs. Counterfeits- Do You Know The Difference,” she provides some examples of the offending products. One of the things she highlights is a fake Gucci belt.

She claims that Amazon was selling them (circa 2019) and that many people buy them, thinking they’re getting a well-priced dupe. She says that this item is an illegal counterfeit (because of the trademarked Gucci logo on the belt) and many people don’t know that. As of 2020, Amazon has created a new program that can help brands eliminate counterfeit items, without having to go through Amazon itself.

While counterfeits are easily confused with dupes, actual dupes don’t cause as big a problem. They provide a cheaper alternative to popular products, and they make things like beauty more accessible and affordable. Dupes are actually a good option for people who want to try out a new product, and they may be more affordable than a sample of the original product. According to the article “TikTok teens are obsessed with fake luxury products” byMegan Graham, “...Generation Z, which comprises a huge part of the TikTok audience, sits at a point where they grew up around the great recession and saw their parents and the generation before them struggle financially. That makes them tend to be careful with money” (Cnbc.com). This could explain why dupes are so popular with our generation. We’re drawn to them because the promise of saving money attracts us and our interest.

Dupes have both good and bad sides, and many people have succumbed to their influence. They take to their various social media platforms, preaching about how affordable and easy to obtain they are. They show off how much they look like the original, and sometimes, they compare them. Counterfeits get added to this mix as well. The next time you consider buying a dupe, make sure you’re not buying a counterfeit because that could end up hurting both you and the designer.

Written by Madison DeSantis, Staff Writer Edited by Ava Sheils, Staff Editor