From Santee Alley in the heart of the fashion district in Los Angeles, California to the ladies' alleyway in Hong Kong, China, to the back streets of Rome, Italy, fake Gucci, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, and Coach accessories adorn the fenced-in street boutiques. The glamor of these bags has been stripped, but made tantalizingly accessible to anyone.

But oh, the possibilities are so beautiful. And nobody would know you're wearing a fake. For a measly $30, you could buy your way up the social ladder, buy your esteem, buy your pride. Jewels, handbags, sunglasses... you could assemble an entire wardrobe for less than the cost of one of the real handbags. So why would anyone want to purchase anything so ridiculously expensive?

This is the part where I would go into the craftsmanship and skillful design and detail of couture handbags, and why they are so expensive... but if you're reading this, I'll assume you already know and appreciate all those things- the hand stitched leather, the carefully woven fabrics, and the delightfully clear baubles.

I could say, "don't buy fakes because it discredits those who have the original masterpieces," but I won't. I could say, "you look silly because a lot of people nowadays, with the booming interest in celebrities, their handbags, and widespread information over the internet, can spot a fake." But I think, fashion, like art, is completely subjective and free- that's the beauty of it. Wear what you want, and make a statement. Be creative. Who cares if your Louis Vuitton print is the wrong tint of gold? You're trying to go for a "look." And this "look," is a representation of yourself. But...

The truth is, when you walk into Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Christian Dior, or any store boasting mainstream couture handbags, your hard earned cash goes to their respective creators. It's your nod of thanks and appreciation for their work. When you hand your $30 over to the man on the street, your money goes... where?

The money, surprisingly, ends up funding drug cartels, child labor, and terrorism. About 500 billion dollars a year are spent on these fake goodies. That's 500 billion dollars of selfish pride.

Your look is a representation of you. I wouldn't say buying a fake handbag makes you a terrorist, and I'm not a social activist by any means. But this is where the money goes. This is where your money goes. Forget the sticky politics for a moment if you like, this is still a representation of you. And how could you knowingly do that to yourself now?

Learn more about this author, Joyce Su.
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