fake Christmas hauls and the Walmart "Birkin"

[@Chuck13s]

NOTE TO EDITOR WILLIAM: Please adjust the volume of the “future Amanda” segments to match the volume of the regular clips of Amanda. It’s hard to listen to the future clips when I have to boost the volume on my side and then hurriedly turn it down after they finish! Keep up the good work!

[@skewerzzz]

Seconded! Excellent work otherwise William, keep it up!

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@CroweCollects]

AGREED. My ears hurt lol.

[@embarrassedalien]

holy....nevermind. but yeah.

[@sasharama5485]

Shot out to william and his channel. I love his book Reviews

[@scrumpyminklemonk]

Birkins bags are like wanting to be invited to an elite party where you hate everyone who's going but you want to go just for the status or ego boost.

[@lukahierl9857]

And the party only has crappy booze.

[@PRM77]

And everyone hates you lol

[@ville-c4u]

I reported you cause I feel unsafe

[@Galactic_rats]

I think if these replicas as so good everyone will just assume every one is a wallmart Berkin and there will be lots of people with real ones who have lost all there status and that’s hilarious to me.

[@joybodelay9679]

Me too! 😆

[@StaciSchuck]

❤❤❤❤

[@RabbitTeacup]

it's hilarious to me bc then birkin/birkin owners are basically admitting the birkin quality is shit lol

[@GM-qq1wi]

Not going to happen the quality between the two is kinda obvious. The stitching quality is screaming fake.

[@yellowmellow7748]

​@@GM-qq1wibut they're most probably made in sweatshops somewhere with substandard quality from what they were so at the end it's not worth the prices

[@DiegoPrs]

"this is bringing down the value of the Birkin" Well, let's hope it's true, billionaire brands taking some hits, even if as small as this, is always great.

[@strayiggytv]

If people hate billionaire brands so much why buy a dupe? I hate them and I don't buy dupes because why would I want to advertise for a company I don't even like?

[@softsounds8453]

@@strayiggytv Because they like the way the bag looks even if they don't like the company or price.

[@morethan1]

​@strayiggytv also a lot of these luxury brands used to genuinely be synonymous with good quality that lasts, so it feels like the price is more justified. These days, the luxury brands are using the same short cuts and cheap materials/labor as the everyday brands but still charging luxury prices. If you're going to get a sub-par product either way you might as well go with the cheaper option

[@strayiggytv]

@softsounds8453 but you can't separate the design from the designer. Just buy a bag you like equally from a company you do like. People who act like they can't compromise on a design or they have to have THAT THING or nothing are like children.

[@softsounds8453]

@@strayiggytv I'm talking about your everyday person?? Sometimes a person just likes a design and wants a bag that looks like that design so they get the dupe. I don't think it has anything to do with "advertising that company" or whatever. It's just getting something you like for cheap.

[@laurel9523]

I remember when I was turning 16 and my parents wanted to buy me a piece of jewelry to celebrate. We went to the jewelry store and they brought out the tray of emeralds. I noticed some of them were noticeably shinier and obviously wanted one of those. The jeweler was like "of course they're shinier! They're lab-grown!" in a tone that made it clear they were less valuable. Well, that was a win in my eyes since it also meant it was cheaper. The value you get is what you place in it. Don't let society make those choices for you. There are some things I spend more money on than I should and others where I am HAPPY to get a dupe.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Triple win, bc rocks/gems industry has some destructive unethical practices, so you prob have a gem that’s not done as much harm, on top of looking great + getting a good price!

[@bellablue5285]

Lot of my jewlery is antique Avon (before whatever weirdness happened in the 00s my grandmother had sold it for decades) - most is lab grown/modified stones, and I have to say that they're still sparkly and deeply colored (or in the case of my opal, very flashy). I have a real opal triplet too, and while they are two very different rings, I still wear both almost equally despite the $$$ difference in price, and get comments on both, and both make me quite happy to wear 🤷

[@Sam_dea]

Similarly, I really loooove the look of so-called “low quality” sapphires with lots of inclusions. They end up absolutely gorgeous when they’re cut but most jewelers don’t bother because they aren’t pristine gems. It’s silly. If I think the sapphire with the red, gold, and purple inclusions is better then it’s better! It’s all subjective!

[@juliatheejawn]

I absolutely love cubic zirconia and its iridescent sparkles. Fake diamond or not sign me up!

[@RabbitTeacup]

lab grown also means you know it likely didn't damage a local ecosystem as much and also probably didn't involve (hopefully) unethical labor

[@MorningStar426]

A quick Google search showed that even a second hand pink mini kelly is well over $20k USD. I honestly don't blame people for wanting dupes because that is a ridiculous amount to pay for a purse, but at least be honest about it.

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@aliciahicks8020]

Yeah they are going for 38 thousand plus

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@bethbethbeth97]

I imagine if I were to own a dupe, and was asked about it, I think I'd "play dumb" in the sense of saying, "Isn't this bag so cute?! I love the look!" Without trying to claim it's a real luxury or brand item. More of a, why does it matter to onlookers if it's real, if I love the item for the sake of the item itself?

[@t_ylr]

I'm kind of shocked that more people don't know about dupes / replicas because when I go on social media I see him all the time. Like I'm a man and I'm not even into bags and I see fake Birkins for sale all the time lol. I'm surprised that people are surprised 😂

[@devinvesta4294]

“She has a sister now, I believe Izzie or Lizzie” as if she’s a sim who I just added someone to her household 😂

[@disgust4941]

Trying to name the second baby when my sim has twins unexpectedly:

[@Trixie0026]

fun fact about the birkin bag: the bag is copyrighted and under patent, which means that a fully detailed pattern is available if you search for it. This has made it really easy to create dupes, to a point where when my friend was learning leathercraft, his teacher thought him how to make one!

[@GM-qq1wi]

There's a wide margin of quality between what a leather worker can make by hand, with real leather, following a detailed patent VS what Walmart is selling for $100. Your friends version will be a better quality bag than the Walmart version.

[@Trixie0026]

@GM-qq1wi oh yeah for sure, but my statement was mainly just about how easy it is to get access to the pattern!

[@SorrySoup]

Its fascinating to me that luxury brands distaste for knockoffs isn't that it takes away from their customer base, but because their customer base doesn't want something perceived as accessible by "peasants".

[@thelonleyUchiha1]

Back in the day when Gianni Versace was still alive he was a big believer of wanting everyone to were his clothes and while they were still really expensive they were a lot more accessible to people who arnt super rich and a lot of other designers hated him for it

[@standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory]

Reminds me of some hubbub back when Abercrombie and fitch was popular w the kids…

[@Jordan-hs3xk]

As a side note my mother sells her luxury items on the real real for when she’s ready to put new things in her personal rotation. She get the items authenticated and sells the items with the authenticity card. And there are people out there that try to swindle her by trying to file a claim with the company. They send photos of a different fake bag and everything. It’s gotten to the point she records herself packing and handing off the box to the mail office. So the claims of people saying they’ve received fake goods aren’t always telling the truth. 👀

[@augustoof13]

So the real real app/website/whatever is legit? My sister likes luxury stuff so maybe I'll have to tell her about it

[@snailart14]

​@@augustoof13very legit! I sold a Tiffany Pearl necklace on there.

[@genevieveleblanc9205]

There is a section in this video where the words "real real" and "mini kelly" just started blending together for me into a fever dream of things that are way too out of my tax bracket for me to know about 😅

[@sadcap]

One thing I've enjoyed is people recording themselves sewing birkins and other luxury bags from online kits. Even with the leather and hardware pre-cut, it can take hundreds of hours to sew. I think it's a good insight into the real labour behind the things we buy and take for granted.

[@lizabethhampton4537]

And you KNOW the people sewing the real deal bags are getting paid something batshit like 20 cents an hour.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

Are they sewing it by hand? Birkin/luxury bags aren't that expensive in materials. There are plenty of leatherworkers and independent bag makers that rip apart the genuine thing to examine and show the viewers the quality, and showing you its only a few hundred dollars of materials and labor; and most of the cost comes purely from the Brand name.

[@boreeen1]

The bags are handmade in France using the company's signature saddle stitching, developed in the 1800s. Each bag is hand-sewn by a single artisan, and is then buffed, painted, and polished, taking up to 18 hours to make. Artisans purportedly train for five years before they are allowed to make their first Birkin bag.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

@@boreeen1 saddle stitching is some of the most basic handstitching independent/beginner use when they don't have the equipment for the machines. Why would a bag need to be treated like a pair of shoes with the buffing and polishing? If it's the highest leather quality available, you wouldn't want to degrade it.

[@GM-qq1wi]

​@lizabethhampton4537 cap. The people sewing the real Burkins are making a living wage, can't say the same for those making the $100 knockoff.

[@DrachenIvy]

i don't really buy designer/luxury stuff so this is basically a glimpse into an alternate reality for me. wdym ppl are this obsessed with looking rich

[@vaderladyl]

low self esteem? Materialism?

[@AuronJ]

The Wirkin thing is funny because Walmart did basically did the same thing with their new Ozark Trail Pocket Knife. It is a $10 knife that is basically a duplicate of the very popular Benchmade Bugout (a $200 knife). The people have nicknamed it the Wugout and they have basically been sold out online and in stores for months now.

[@Nassifeh]

I have to wonder with stuff like this if it will perform anywhere near as well. Or, more pointedly, if you couldn't do better on quality but still stay in like the $20 or $50 range. Like nobody actually cares if the Wirkin is the same quality as the Birkin, because they all want to go buy a new bag in a few months anyway? But I don't think people usually want to be doing that with utility items.

[@dantesdiscoinfernolol]

Gotta get a Wirkin to put my Wugout in...

[@OriginalBadRobotz]

Thanks I just found 6 of the orange version in stock near me! Gonna get 2 and sell one😅

[@Thexaios]

The devil's in the details, and while I'm ambivalent towards Benchmade, the Ozark Trail knife is no Bugout. Supposedly it's got a D2 blade, but Outdoors555 did a test on it that left more questions than answers. Even though he measured the blade as having a hardness of 59 HRC (a perfectly respectable number), it somehow had all the edge retention of silly putty. The edge holding on this thing made 420J2 look like Maxamet.

[@DarknessDust]

What bothered me about these hauls- apart from the amount they got and whether or not things are fake-...is the way they spend like....5-10 seconds on something they claim to LOVE LOVE LOVE and then...throw it to the side for the next one. They got so much stuff there's just no real excitement anymore, you get what I mean?

[@SvDu-bb7rh]

yeah, and then they do a declutter and throw it all away as if it’s a trash.

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@Rebel_Leader7]

Addiction, isn’t it?

[@problemdude390]

@ville-c4u you need help

[@2fortsmostwanted]

They don’t want these things, they want to show them off on a platform where the attention is profitable

[@kianna270]

wtf is this girls Christmas haul anyways 😂 when I was in college, my Christmas gift was a gas gift card and a grocery trip on my parents 😂

[@KieranKnight13]

Same 😭 now that I’m older it’s mainly gift cards I can use for gas or food. Which I still appreciate because living in this country is way too damn expensive. 🥲

[@ariesaraya1822]

Grocery gift cards are the best.

[@ville-c4u]

@@kianna270 I'm hearing voices to hit others

[@ville-c4u]

@@KieranKnight13 I'm hearing voices to hurt others.

[@chibiktsn3]

Am I the only one who is creeped out by how they call the gifts their parents got them for Christmas a "haul"? Also, how tacky is it to fake wealth like that? The shallowness can be measured in microns.

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@TinaMarie12]

I feel like "Christmas hauls" are extremely normal over the last 10 years or so

[@ville-c4u]

@@TinaMarie12 I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@skittymudkip]

I remember years ago at... my cousin's birthday I think? Anyway she was like 10 and after she got her presents she IMMEDIATELY was like "I need to show off my haul!" and took a video of her presents. I was very confused and was like "is this what kids are into these days...? Should I be concerned?"

[@jessicadawson2353]

Yeah, I don’t really have problem with people who want to buy a fake bag if they want a certain style, but flexing it on the internet and trying to convince people it’s real and actually making a living from convincing people you are something you aren’t is ick.

[@elegancebythemile]

I was *this* close to buying a wirkin but kept thinking, if this was just a regular bag without the hype, would I still want it? I don’t even like the look of Birkins. Also, the thought of carrying a fake luxury bag makes me feel embarrassed. Like you said, I would be paranoid that everyone can tell it’s fake. That alone would make me never use it. I ended up deciding to use that money for a bag that I actually like, is useful to me, and stands on its own as a product instead of some other brand

[@jocelynsmyth6604]

I have a Kate spade wallet that has gone through heavy use, and has held up well over 8 years... and some people consider that a 'lesser' brand - I cant be arsed what some random person cares, but I also don't like the idea of buying a specific fake bag - I'd rather buy a treat in my bracket, then buy a fake bag

[@EC-jd9ej]

I'd feel much more embarrassed spending 20k on a real luxury bag than buying a fake one.

[@elegancebythemile]

@@jocelynsmyth6604 exactly how I feel

[@elegancebythemile]

@@EC-jd9ej but if you have the money for that, why not? If I bought it without being able to actually afford it then yes, that would also be embarrassing

[@livelaughForte]

Never be embarrassed to have fake designer items. People with a lot of money also buy dupes. I've seen many interviews that state this. I mean, if you look rich, who's gonna guess? Who will really care? Regina George?

[@yeehawbeehaw]

fake luxury bags are a huge thing right now in rich white southern circles because they've realized they can't instantly tell the difference between real vs fakes anymore so why would anyone else question them

[@rei0]

I will never understand why these girls want that 40 year old divorcee look so bad

[@theupwardspiral1580]

Hahahaha that took me out. I was thinking to myself wow they're like fancy Karens lol hahahaha

[@lannn360]

Take a shot every time Amanda says “boughten” instead of “bought”

[@megamozaik]

Take a shot every time you Google "boughten" and read the Merriam-Webster article about it and see that it's technically legit 😎

[@dsylee88]

My brand of neurospicy made me flinch every time. Still love Amanda so much.

[@faenene]

@@dsylee88 Lol I’ve never heard anyone call it a brand

[@idontmindwell]

I had to google if it was correct even though I know it’s not. Turns out, it is correct in certain dialects

[@1000MilesAway]

Lol I made a comment that today I learned boughten is a word

[@tidecaller584]

my mother has a fake/dupe birkin she bought a while ago, but it is rather well done. she bought it knowing it was a dupe and she really never claims its real and if asked, will tell where she got it from and people most of the time are not fully believing her. she told me once about the time she put her bag on the floor in a store once and she was immediately treated differently because the salesperson thought it was a real birkin and my mother just placed a birkin onto the dirty floor

[@goofygoofymf]

I love my $15-$30 ita bags and nothing will change that. They can hold so much more than a birkin and they're literally designed to be made cute!

[@amberdawn868]

Same thought! I'll buy another ita bag and fill it up with pins before I buy a fake designer bag

[@punkbyproxy]

The bags even sound like top of the line Fisher-Price 🤣

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@KellyAnn2390]

I'm just remembering a big building in Asia somewhere that had multiple factories and it collapsed and there were so many clothes and accessories that were being made for "luxury" brands but it was all sweatshops.

[@Procrastibobs]

If my memory serves me correctly, this was in Bangladesh. Hilariously, the factory produced Burberry goods as well as Primark (and extremely cheap UK brand) clothes. Literally two opposite ends of the spectrum in the same building!

[@yasaminwhy8212]

Rana Plaza, maybe? Those pictures on the news are burned into my soul. Haven't bought fast fashion since. ETA: or any luxury goods made outside of Europe (not that that's a guarantee anymore either)

[@ShanaLawson]

I kind of love the bag BECAUSE it lowers the value of the “real bags”. Breaking down the aura around them.

[@Whatthetrash]

As someone who often struggles to make ends meet (rent, bills, etc.) I find it strangely comforting to watch people so passionate about things so inconsequential.

[@Noirevert]

It’s interesting how much overlap there is with the psychology of fashion and trading cards. Some people make reproductions of expensive cards to be counterfeits, while others use them as placeholders until they can get an authentic copy, or to reduce wear and tear from play, or to have a version with custom art, and tcg communities end up having a lot of the same conversations around these “proxy” cards as what it sounds like people are discussing here.

[@refillpan]

no bag should ever be worth that much money it’s disgusting

[@KatieIbsen]

15:22 surprised surprise, the chain of goods/supplies/materials is so obfuscated in all sectors of fashion (including luxury) that there is most likely slave labor in all fashion products regardless of brand

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hurt others!

[@dorian__folsom]

Agreed. Even the world’s chocolate production can’t eliminate child labor from is supply chain. Yes, every chocolate product contains it. We need to stop shaming the end users who are keeping the economy moving, and start holding accountable the governments and regulation enforcers for not doing their jobs.

[@meatofmink]

Christmas hauls just irritate me. I had to come up with 2k by the end of the month to prevent my student loan from being defaulted on so my christmas was pretty minimal. Seeing these flex accounts enrages me

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@nagisa9147]

It's hard right now, but it will get better!

[@bailey1368]

16:38 I have seen countless videos about people going on No Buys for 2025. I have been apart of the lowbuy/no buy community for 3 years now ( or frugal living whatever you wanna call it), and it really has skyrocketed these last few months. Idk if that is video worthy, but seeing the sheer amount of "My No Buy plan for 2025" videos is wild.

[@celarts5752]

Idk about anyone else but if I had the money to splurge on new fashion items I'd just go for getting handmade custom items from small businesses and artists

[@sofg267]

ok

[@dannidannidan]

Same bc you're paying A Person and not a huge company, also you know lots of care went into it, likely handmade and not mass produced by machines (or slave labor, like amanda mentions) so the product itself is better quality, works better and/or lasts longer

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@jkim3689]

Honestly, that’s why I’m surprised when Amanda kept talking about wanting some luxury stuff (like speaking about her buying the fake Cartier bracelet and watch). I didn’t think she’d actually be the type of person to even really think about luxury items. Not that I think she’s a bad person or anything for pining for luxury goods, but just kinda surprised.

[@НатальяФролова-з5х]

Yeah not me. Small businesses always overcharge. Luxury brands obviously also overcharge but at least you buying thr prestige and the service

[@ciangibbons6643]

15:15 If you're buying French or Italian luxury goods at all, you're funding slave labour. The fashion industry is built on modern slavery and every major fashion house has been caught repeatedly for severe breaches of modern slavery legislation (Dior is just the tip of the iceberg). There is no such thing as ethical mainstream fashion in the current era.

[@dorian__folsom]

Agreed. We need to stop shaming the everyday end users who are keeping the economy moving, and start holding accountable the governments and regulation enforcers for not doing their jobs.

[@GM-qq1wi]

L take. It's undeniable that each and ecery fake is likely produced by underpaid workers. Like are you kidding me¿ $100 for a knock off vs $10000+ stitched by hand, you think the $100 version is paying its workers more? Did you huff too much faux leather dye?

[@Graakes]

I just saw Kiki Chanel’s video on this and I was so pumped to see yours. I can’t tell if it’s comforting or unnerving/dystopian, knowing that most influencers are buying fakes of everything.

[@space-based9695]

tbh I hate this about KZbin nowadays cause I feel like so many people are just saying the same thing over and over. I don't need 5 videos about the same topic where they're basically just describing the situation and not adding much to the conversation.. I guess I appreciate that this video added the "Wirkin" situation at least..?

[@sarafrikinbeara]

Just wait till the Walmart merkin makes a debut.

[@FigmentForever]

😂😂😂☠️

[@DarkGob]

Oh good, so I wasn't the only one who couldn't stop thinking about that word every time "Birkin" or "Wirkin" was said.

[@lolaheart5887]

OMG, I'm both laughing and traumatized by the thought of this. 🤣

[@angeljaceherondale]

Safyia?

[@mjewrites]

Safiya Nygaard will be the first to buy

[@faeriesnstardust4306]

Just an fyi- the audio on the clips with headphones are WAY quieter than the other clips. I keep having to adjust audio as i go. Love the video!

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@AbandonedRaven]

19:43 This happens a lot with watches as well. There are a lot of watches you can get virtually the same thing. This is the case with a lot of Rolex, especially the vintage ones. So it’s relatively easy to get something similar to a Rolex Submariner, even with better steel than the actual Sub. However, it’s much harder to replicate something from Patek with the super high quality and complicated movements. Sure looks wise you might be able to, but not internally. I think I’ve personally reached the point where I no longer care. I’ve wasted money on expensive goods, or went super cheap. I only care when someone tries to pass it off as real, and obviously if they try to sell it to someone else. But if it’s purely personal usage, it doesn’t matter.

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@gilbertoflores7397]

It's pretty easy to fake complicated movements. Patek's are only desirable because they're more expensive than Rolex, and most people that get a little bit of money immediately buy a Rolex. Patek and AP got so known because the rich influencers wanted something they could have to look down on new Rolex owners, or pretend to be more knowledgeable by knowing a few other brands. Rolex watches are tool and sports watches, Patek are more dressy, so you'd never wear a Patek in place of a Rolex style-wise.

[@kkuudandere]

I do find it a little silly to see so many people cheering "this is gonna bring down the value of the birkin!!" since 1) there are already plenty of dupes before the wirkin, and 2) if that many people are buying a wirkin that it's completely sold out, that must mean people still place a lot of value on a birkin... just not at its usual price point. I don't think those of us that already didn't care too much about the birkin are clamoring to get the wirkin, you know what I mean? And to be fair to Hermes (if I have to), I imagine the same people who would be in the market for a wirkin (me) usually aren't the same people in the market for a birkin (not me) without some hard work and saving up so... I guess the people who could get a 10k bag will still want to get a 10k bag lol

[@AbandonedRaven]

I love seeing situations like this in fashion when it comes to dupes vs replicas and so on. There is a lawsuit going on between Valentino Garavani (what most people think of when you hear Valentino, with the elliptical V and pink and so on) and Mario Valentino about this exact thing. In this case, Mario Valentino has been accused of misrepresenting their brand as distinct from the “actual” Valentino. It’s just so interesting to listen to me. There’s a video by Bliss Foster that explains it way better than I could.

[@MegidolErin]

I'm not a purse kind of girl, the most expensive one I've ever gotten was like $100, and most of them are super cheap around $30, but... I kinda want that Wirkin. Not because I want to have a Birkin, but because it's genuinely just a really cute purse. If they weren't sold out I'd consider it

[@themagicknightress7132]

I’ve been getting a lot of ads for DIY sewing kits for purses that are “based on” designer bags for like $45-90/kit

[@ShibblyWibbly]

If someone walked up to me and told me that my purse was a fake, I'd be completely bewildered because I simply bought a purse that I liked with no concept of it's origination.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

Look up the percentage of LV bags that are fake, odds are whenever you see someone random with them they're likely fake, because there are just so much fakes out there.

[@owentheslug]

During the late 90s-early 00s there was a downshift in the quality of some bags, they didn't get totally bad or anything but they did get a half step closer to fast fashion. So if your bag was from that era it might be why it was authenticated but you feel a bit off about it. (Again I'm not trying to dis any company, it was just little things because cheaper look was in fashion & they were playing around with seeing if they could also save costs too since a lot of houses were going under/being bought out.)

[@shironerisilk]

You are onto something here. I'm always so surprised when I see pictures of celebrities in the early 2000s, everything they wear looks SO CHEAP, bargain bin kind of cheap, that kind of bad quality clothing that it's already falling apart before you buy it. And just a few years earlier, in the 90s, you got cool but still good looking outfits worn by young celebrities like Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie and Drew Barrymore. Always thought that was super weird and wanted to know why!

[@owentheslug]

@shironerisilk yeah if you look up all the brands changing hands or going out of business. then look at the massive drop in extreme lux from celebs (slip dresses over jeans to award shows with dad caps 😳 ); there were of course still plenty who still dressed well but even then unfinished hems & tousled was still the look.

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@Velereonics]

I know Coach and Versace have a dedicated service who often just from photos can tell you if your bag or whatever you have from them is real. They are super nice too. My bf has had things validated with them before. Point being maybe Prada does as well?

[@alygetreal]

My problem with this overall is chasing status. Why? When it ultimately comes down to excluding people from having something decent in their lives. Symbolism is empty rhetoric when you don’t fully tackle the ultimate issues at stake. I don’t care if you have something real or fake or a dupe… it’s all just maniacal nonsense to me. I buy what I want when I want because I like it. Brands don’t matter. Symbolism doesn’t matter. You can’t take these items with you to the afterlife anyway, so just do you.

[@MissKit091]

I've spent a lot of time searching around for bags & therefore, have spent a lot of time looking at bags secondhand lol The cost of bags on secondhand is highly dependent on what is trending & the brand (which in itself is influenced by what brands are trending). Microbags were HUGE for a while, so microbags and small bags were actually selling for double/triple value than if you had bought from directly from the designer. The larger bags weren't selling because they were out of trend, so they were going for sometimes up to half off of how much they would be brand new in a boutique. Pink has always been a popular color, but made even more popular because a) Valentino had that huge hot pink collection, and b) Barbie 😅As it pertains to pink specifically, I think A LOT about that scene in the Devil Wears Prada when Miranda was breaking down how the regulars end up wearing colors that were influenced by designers whether they realized it or not. The cost also depends on the brand itself: Fendi doesn't have as good a resale as Gucci despite similar price points in boutique. Again, Fendi, arguably, is not as trendy as Gucci or LV. The market is fickle. lol Birkins and Kelley's brand new in a boutique are still very very expensive, but the secondhand market is where you will find the 10s of thousands cost because frankly...the demand is there & Hermes basically makes you "court" them by spending $$$$ before they offer the opportunity to purchase. The rabbit hole is deep and dark and I definitely fell down it lmao

[@bararobberbaron859]

Not paying Hermes 10k and instead getting the 80 bucks one that looks pretty similar? Yeah that seems morally right to me.

[@Velereonics]

I hate the entire concept of posting a christmas haul. I hate it with a comprehensive intensity. I dislike materialism in general, but I ESPECIALLY have disdain, and a sort of disgusted pity, for people who not only need stuff, but need validation for the stuff that they get, or who use the stuff they get to promote jealousy (and to profit from this jealousy). It is completely backward to the point of giving gifts and the holidays. It screams self esteem issues combined with a fragile passive-aggressive superiority complex. Im not rich or anything but I'm well off. And I can guarantee you that more stuff has never and will never equal more happy. Rich people are not by and large miserable or anything but the ones seeking validation on social media, or who have no ability to make money any other way than making you jealous of them and watching their content, are some of the most empty people I know.

[@wynngwynn]

oh sweet summer child, acting like designer brands don't use slave labor is a hilarious concept.

[@melanieschwarz2181]

16:32 I just paid off my credit card debt! My goal this year is to keep it that way haha

[@reoxia]

congrats!

[@Hundelsa]

My personal take is that Hermes is promoting over consumption to make more money because the ones that have the money to spend on there bags will buy bags and things in colors and styles they don’t like for the ultimate goal of eventually getting offered one they prefer.

[@oliviasmith9033]

this is how I know I'm poor bc I've never heard of anyone having a goal watch before 😭

[@vaderladyl]

it is all gold plated or filled, very thin layer, not solid gold. You are not missing much.

[@IsSarahPi]

I can't hear anyone mention Birkin bags without thinking about the episode of Gilmore Girls where Emily Gilmore has a tantrum because Rory gets a Birkin bag

[@Salt.of.the.hearth]

And Rory has no idea what it is lol

[@AshleyTerrell]

22:54 I relate so much after graduating college and relying on myself for income and money. Everything I’ve tried to buy a lululemon dupe or free people dupe on Amazon, I end up just buying the actual one and still feel like I wasted money on a dupe that doesn’t even fit as well as the actual thing. I try to buy secondhand or save up for items now and keep a list of things I want to work towards

[@Cryinginthecloudssss]

It just seems like so much effort too fake having the high quality items when most of the time these “high quality” items are not even made out of high quality materials anymore. And like REAL leather bags in reality shouldn’t be that much but we have such shitty quality of meat and skin from the animals we eat we can’t even use the entire animal anymore. an animal is either turned into food or born to be worn now a days :/ i definitely see the appeal of a leather bag or leather items in general cause they will last longer but the industry makes me sad. Sad for the animals, sad for the people who make these bags. Sad for the slave labor they use to make these fake bags. it’s just sad all around

[@strayiggytv]

The reason we separated out the breeds by utility was to raise the quality of the product your producing. Duel purpose animals don't produce both products at the same quality of a single producer. The industry sucks but humans didn't develop specialized livestock just to be cheap or something

[@Cryinginthecloudssss]

@@strayiggytv​​⁠​⁠ well that doesn’t really matter anymore when we treat animals like shit which DOES effect the meat, fur, and bones of the animals. human interactions very much does effect how these animals taste and how well their body can be used. I am a Native American who grew up treating animals with respect and trust me you can tell the difference between beef from a cow who’s has the ability to roam free in a field vs the ones forced feed and slaughtered one after another 🤷‍♀️ and like have you seen what we’ve done to chickens in the past 100 years? We humans have definitely made specialized species to slaughter and eat too produce more meat or more milk or anything we consume. The farming industry is not pretty but it could DEFINITELY be better

[@strayiggytv]

@Cryinginthecloudssss I mean yeah it affects it but you can look at protein and calorie content of a duel purpose animals verses one bred just for meat and it's night and day. Look I'm not trying to defend the meat industry I'm just saying we moved away from duel purpose animals for a reason and it was so you could feed more people or produce better hides at a faster more efficient rate. No moral judgement just fact man.

[@ville-c4u]

I'm hearing voices to hit others!

[@strayiggytv]

@@ville-c4u u good?

[@DINKY77142]

"Boughten" is not a word, lol.

[@naurrr]

it's funny bc these days it's easy to get fakes with boxes, a certificate of authenticity, a fake receipt, even a branded dust bag. it's hilarious they they'd try this and thought they'd get away with it

[@williamehlers5158]

Honestly, the best way to have high end pieces that are typically ethical and one of a kind are to support indie designers. I buy from this brand Yitai and their quality is amazing. Everything is made in very low quantities so not many people have it. It’s more expensive than fast fashion. But way cheaper than Gucci, etc. and so, so much nicer and unique.

[@eifenhc]

i work in an accessories shop which sells bags for ~£200-£300, and i've had people wear fakes into the shop! if i had a fake anything, the *one* place i'd never take it is to the official brand's store!!

[@flan6449]

Some of them are tilt replicas though but yeah if it’s not good enough to be that then don’t

[@literallyanythingelseother]

Poor people constantly trying to buy their way to being rich is like the core of this channel i feel like....

[@SymphonyOfNaked]

I don't have a Wirkin but I have a bag I bought secondhand on vacation in Argentina that's in the Birken style. The shop owner told me that Hermes actually stole the design from Argentineans lol. Don't know if that's true, but it's been my favorite purse for 5+ years. I feel like this is like what liking the Birken without caring about the luxe looks like.

[@steffymuze]

Yep. My favorite bag is leather crossbody sling I bought from a vendor in Mexico on vacay many years ago, hand crafted and so well made I wish I'd bought a 2nd one! I couldn't care less about brand names. Give me quality any day.

[@nicd5190]

I want to see a “what swell bought on the real real” haul video lol. I’m curious to see which items you’ve bought! Lol

[@andwithtthat]

I have a theory that the sales associates are allotted quota bags based on their sales, then they alone have free rein to offer the bags to whichever clients they choose to. Because their sales dictate which bags they’re allotted (which dictates how much commission they can make), they typically opt to make first offers to clients who have a long purchase history with *them*, since that person has been consistently contributing to their paycheck. It makes more sense to offer the bag to someone who has bought more from you and is more likely to continue to buy things from you. I also believe that they have a set amount of quota bags they can carry at a single time. Which would explain why people get lucky and get offered bags on their first trip or shortly into their “journey”. Because their sales associate’s other clients weren’t interested in the bag, so the SA offered the bag to someone new to not only get rid of it, but to also entice this new client into building a relationship with them. I think annoying people, like that one lady, get passed up regardless of what they spend and that SAs intentionally stiff them with the hopes that they will move on to someone else.

[@EE-in7su]

Thank you for always making things I have never once heard of interesting. I love learning new things, and appreciate your perspective on them.

[@tash8697]

15:40 In the discussion of supporting slave labor, even real luxury goods partake in that. Most goods that are “made in Italy” are actually made elsewhere, but the manufacturer has an “office” in Italy. Mostly those goods are still produced in countries like Indonesia, India, Vietnam etc etc.

[@el4244]

I wanted to add that as well. If you really want to make sure that it is not made by slave labour you have to go to a craft person that makes a bag for you

[@julil3021]

The real real can come in the original bags if provided by the previous owner. That brings up the bidding typically

[@avalithgow541]

I used one of your affiliate codes, for a certain watch and Jewelry brand. I trusted you since you’re usually transparent about the types of brands you work with, and I usually agree with your reasons to not work with them. However, this brand was a total ripoff. The brand resells cheap watches manufactured in China for an insane markup, and lies about the whole “family business” thing for advertising. Cost me so much money and even more for the return. Thoughts?

[@timogul]

"How could 'just don't buy ridiculous handbags' be a realistic position?" I don't know. Maybe just try it?

[@mirsch594]

This might be a hot take but I'm sick to death about everyone complaining that everything is too expensive when they A) insist of buying everything new and/or name brand and B) refuse to put in the effort and patience to find a good sale. At this point I think people do not at all value the labor that goes into making items and just expect to be handed things for free.

[@Zenphiaaa123]

Exactly! Everyone is going broke trying to impress strangers online. It even sucks because of that one store where everything is like 20 bucks each. 🙄 like why on earth would you buy 20 dollar ice cubes when you can get a bag for two dollars at 7 eleven?

[@yurionice1131]

I agree especially for the ice cube one like sir/ma'am.... Are you mentally ill like these people are ACTUALLY buying 20 dollar ice when there are molds in the exact shape and size as that expensive ass ice you just add water and wait a few hours then BAM! you saved and depended how much you use the ice mold you practically didn't spend anything (I had my ice tray for OVER 8 years and the only reason I don't have it anymore is because I lost it while moving) ​@@Zenphiaaa123

[@curio27]

I mean I think everything’s too expensive because I haven’t been able to afford to go to the doctor since high school, or like 3 regular meals a day, but go off I guess

[@mirsch594]

@curio27 if you're not doing A and B, I'm not talking about you. I genuinely wish you easier times in the future

[@EC-jd9ej]

There is no amount of labor that justifies charging 30k for a Birkin Bag.

[@if_dots]

i'm interested only inasmuch as i am also extremely nosy LOL. IMO the thing to do fashion-wise is just find pieces you like and build around those, and just make sure those pieces are within your price range. ... spending label prices for just the label seems pointless

[@GiveMeTheLook]

As for slave labor, DIOR has people working 24 seven and paying $50 and charging $4000 for a bag. That’s like sleeve labor, as well as Sheen and I’m sure pretty little things and all these other places that have super cheap clothes temu, Old Navy can charge those prices and not have slave labor. So I don’t really think that should be an issue if you’re buying any of those things because inevitably if it’s cheap, it can’t be a fair wage. That’s why some people buy luxury and are willing to pay for luxury because the energy that that’s transferred into the item is a different energy than these cheaper items that are processed overseas. They’re made by artisans that have respect and honor for their craft, and therefore that energy transfers to the person who buys it, but that’s a whole other subject

[@TheBmweed]

I'm one of those people who love a good dupe. If I like a designer thing, I ALWAYS look for a dupe. I'm paycheck to paycheck and I get the same satisfaction from a fake as I would from the real deal - MORESO because I saved money and get the same look as someone who bought a bag instead of a car. A £10k bag?! I could wipe out my ENTIRE debt with £10k. I do love to see how the other half live though, and a haul is fun to see, fakes or not.

[@plodiN3]

good on you for not buying overpriced items but don't get fooled into thinking that you "save money" by buying something else. Someone still got your money.

[@TheBmweed]

@@plodiN3 Oh 100% - but if I think its nice and I want to buy it, shouldn't I be able to? Someone always gets the money. Someone got the money for the food I buy, the bills I pay. At least when buying a dupe I get the style I want and don't have to spend as much, which was my point.

[@tabi9394]

i saw the whole walmart birkin thing on tiktok and i thought to myself "i wonder what swell ent. would think about this" so i feel like i manifested this video somehow

[@nbctheoffice]

Happy Swnewll Year!

[@skewerzzz]

Rolls off the tongue!

[@1015SaturdayNight]

Jesus Christ, why is this what people care about

[@winterburden]

Thanks for this swell video Swell!

[@arctic_jake]

I buy most of my jewelry from a jeweler in St Martin, and for comparison, the iced-out full-pave Love bracelet is about 51k/66k. Where I get my stuff from is higher quality and about 18k vs. cartier's' abhorrently overpriced "pay for the name" BS.

[@NicAyBear]

You're stronger than me because I couldn't make a video where I say "Someone got a grappling hook for Christmas" and not immediately cut to the TikTok of it.

[@kat1284]

I was also sick for New Years, still recovering, hope you are doing better and great video as usual!!!!

[@brittany16950]

YES A PRODUCT REVIEW!! Why is it that I love those from you, I don’t know why.

[@gracel2mart]

Oooo 1min ago, I’ll have to return later to review what discussions happen under here

[@Tanfana830]

I definitely want to get my hands on a Welly (Walmart Kelly) if I can find one in the perfect shade of red. Not because I want to pass it off as a real Kelly, just because I really like that shape of that bag & don't wanna spend five figures on one.

[@tylerepperson6269]

I have fake gold and silver love bracelets and I adore them… will I admit to them being fake.. depends who asks. But I just LOVE the style. And they are my “one day” goals

[@vaderladyl]

those would be investment pieces. Silver is not that expensive right now so it could be attainable.

[@jannagrosse8057]

Me too ❤

[@Skaði]

As someone not from USA, it is so weird to see how insane christmas hauls are there, specially when they get the same product but just a different brand. I feel like it is a very USA thing.

[@kianna270]

It is a realization I’ve had, my family is immigrants from Germany and our gifts are usually more thoughtful things, handmade things, practical things like a good olive oil, etc. I don’t ever get name brand or crazy stuff from my parents.

[@Hihigh2thehooch]

It's a very small percentage of people who do them. Anyone you see associated with "rush" is not the average citizen

[@joz-]

I'm American and I think it's just a rich person thing/influencer thing. I don't know anyone IRL who does these $1,000+ gifts, and if you do get a pricey gift, it's a huge deal and usually something multiple people collaborated on. Like Swell says, it's also a big influencer thing to look more expensive than you are and brag about wealth in this way.

[@aksez2u]

It is a USA thing to appreciate this kind of thing, maybe? It's not a normal lifestyle for most people living here, and for many of us, it turns our stomach 🤮

[@zevscozyplace]

14:50 grappling hook my beloved

[@JennasChewToy]

6:44 “boughten” is crazy

[@lyssann6828]

Absolute cringe

[@fourthievesgone]

i'd stopped watching swell for a long time and i feel like this is why

[@megamozaik]

It's a word actually, unless you wanna tell Merriam-Webster that they're wrong

[@HowAboutAHug]

​​@@megamozaikneither of the Merriam-Webster definitions for the word fit the way it was used here though, she was trying to say "purchased" and fumbled

[@fourthievesgone]

@@megamozaik something can be a word and still be extremely unpleasant to my ears and brain lmao

[@lolaheart5887]

I love the look of the Birkin bags but I would never own an authentic one because I could never justify spending that amount of money on a bag. If I were gifted one, I would probably wind up selling it and donating the money to those in need (likely I would split the money between food pantries and organizations that help elderly people who can't afford to heat their homes). I would absolutely pick up a Wirkin.

[@SerahBay]

9:41 okayyyy miss red bull sweater! DU DU DUDU MAX VERSTAPPEEEEN (pls tell me where you bought that i want one)

[@youreinacultcallyourdad395]

It’s so interesting because I’ve heard from people that own and can afford the real bags and stuff actually prefer to get the fake ones sometimes because they’re so good nowadays.

[@meowdee]

I’d probably use the fake more (fearing i’d damage the expensive one 🫣)

[@maryellen9503]

Re the important thing about distinctions is even replicas or things not sold as the original can be illegal if they use trademarked (or copyrighted - i think it's trademark though) characteristics.

[@carriagereturn2602]

What I still don't get after watching four or five videos on this, who gets excited about a kitten heel, unless you're Audrey Hepburn or Alexis Neiers?

[@liubavamag7835]

Don’t understand people who want to pretend to be someone they're not,buy branded things for their last money,living in poverty but wearing branded things for their last money 🤯. In my opinion, things should be clean, comfortable,look nice and tidy, it doesn't matter what brand. My value-is life, housing and travel more,and it doesn't matter what slippers or bag I wear when I walk around Paris or on the other side of the world!🌎 Appreciate life and spend money not on clothes but to see the world, every corner of the earth is so diverse,beautiful and very interesting!

[@Oonagh72]

You can buy a kit and make your own Birkin. That would be a cool video for you to make. The kits have been around since before the Wirkin. I have owned and a Birkin dupe I got as a free gift with purchase from some store 20 years ago. This isn’t new

[@TobsterWobbles]

I just can't imagine the people doing these haul videos being fulfilled. Idk if that's crazy but it just seems like such a hollow vapid recreation of what life should look like. Their lives feel more like paid advertisement than actual humans that leave the house and interact with other people.

[@CourageousGoldfish]

At the end of the day, the only people that are going to be salty about any of this is the ‘real’ buyers that are only buying real for the status. They like what they have because it says they’re better than everyone else around them, not because they actually have a vested interest in fashion or personal style. Why would you care so much about what other people are buying if not for feeling defensive about yourself?

[@GM-qq1wi]

Or it could be that Birkin pays their artisans a living wage for bags that take longer than a few months each to make where as Walmart is likely outsourcing the labour to factories paying their workers less than minimum wage. I feel like that's unfair, regardless of if I own a Birkin or not.

[@tayhonorable7421]

I suppose I’m a man DEEP in women’s business, but hey, I love fashion. I’ve worked for TheRealReal (Chicago, LA) and have friends still there. I’ve worked for Chanel on Chicago’s Oak Street and my brother is at Louis Vuitton on Michigan. I’d be happy to take any questions on shoes and watches especially, but I’m well versed on the major bags (Lady Dior, Book Tote, Double Flap, Kelly, Constance, Birkin, LouLou, Neverfull etc.) too.

[@tayhonorable7421]

9:50 there is NO guarantee of authenticity if you’re not buying direct from manufacturer in fashion anymore. Not ReBag, not Vestiare, Not Fashionphile, not StockX, not GOAT not Grailed. I promise you this. Depends on the individual, their level of training, and the day. At my TRR for instance I was the only one who knew fuckall about streetwear. If I wasn’t there? Well, then, forget about it. Like, fashion “experts” who couldn’t tell you if a colorway of Jordan 1s had ever actually existed (which is due to their disdain for the non-aspirational way we look at sneakers/streetwear, especially in a post-Virgil world, but that’s a whole different argument).

[@2854neil]

Love the videos and vibes keep it up Amanda!

[@kale2]

Everytime I watch you I really enjoy the content and discussions, so glad KZbin brings me back to reality in the midst of influencer insainty

[@DarknessDust]

okay...but what is rushing?! 😭😭🤣🤣

[@MizTY_art]

I think it's when you try out for a sorority in college and you have to go through the rushing process to join

[@chibiktsn3]

Pledging to be in a sorority or fraternity. Check out the Bama Rush documentary if you're interested in some weirdness.

[@DarknessDust]

@@MizTY_art what is the rushing process if I may ask? 🤔 is it like....do challenges or something?

[@DarknessDust]

@@chibiktsn3 will do thank you!

[@sigbel5220]

@DarknessDust Rushing is like pitching yourself to the sorority/fraternity you want to join, throughout multiple days. Different ones typically require different things. There is this expectation that you will dress nicely, and since some of these groups are expensive to join, people will wear luxury goods for every single day of the rush. I don't remember if its the girl in this video, but I have seen a video of someone estimating the costs of the outfits per day of a bama rush girl. Every outfit was over a thousand dollars.