From October 25th to 31st, the Counterfeit Awareness Week was held, an increasingly widespread issue not only in Italy but also globally. In 2019, counterfeit products accounted for 2.1% of Italian imports. One of the hardest-hit sectors is undoubtedly fashion, including clothing, footwear, leather goods, watches, and jewelry. The majority of counterfeit items originate from Asia, specifically from Hong Kong, Turkey, Singapore, Lebanon, and China.
But let’s get to the point… Are people who buy fakes really aware of it? According to a study by the OECD, 62% of consumers, more than half, are perfectly conscious of purchasing fake items. This is the truly alarming fact. Perhaps, most people consider counterfeiting as a superficial problem, but its repercussions are devastating. Jobs are lost, and there are health and safety risks for consumers since fake products do not adhere to any safety standards
