It is absolutely okay to wear replica shoes. In this day and age, where high-end shoe prices have skyrocketed, the average Joe cannot afford to invest hundreds of dollars into a pair of sneakers, so it is natural that most people tend to go for fake shoes.
There’s a decent amount of stigmatization when it comes to buying replicas or fake goods. I’ve seen it taken as far as judging someone’s character and morals!
I mean, honestly, if a replica is visually indistinguishable from the real thing, does it really matter?
When it comes to quality and durability, of course, it is not going to perform as well as the original but then again, you get what you’re paying for.
Replica shoes have come a long way and can actually be of decent quality, for what they are. They’re generally a result of a sort of reverse-engineering of the original pair.
Add to this the quality of mass production these days, and it only makes sense that these fakes are as good as they are.
In this article, I will be going over a few things that you should keep in mind when purchasing and wearing replicas of different brands (in simple words, “fake” shoes).
Difference between replicas and knock-offs
It’s a common trend to use the terms replica and knock-offs interchangeably, and while they broadly fall under the same umbrella, there are a couple of key differences.
Replicas are counterfeit products that are identical to their original counterparts in terms of colors and proportions. Just by looking at them, it might be hard to differentiate them from the real thing. As a result, replicas tend to be of higher quality and more desirable than a knock-off.
A knock-off, on the other hand, is an affordable product that does not really look identical to the original thing it is based on. A quick glance at them can easily result in you spotting irregularities in proportions and shades. They simply look a bit “off”.
Pros and Cons of replica shoes
While fake shoes may be a great way to get a good-looking pair cheap, there are some cons to them as well. Here are the pros and cons of wearing replicas of designer brands.
Pros
- You’re going to save a lot of money. And that too, for a decent product.
- You can experiment as cheaper prices enable you to buy multiple pairs of shoes and combine them with a number of different outfits.
- You won’t be paranoid about messing them up over time. The feeling of spoiling an authentic product for which you’ve paid big bucks is a lot worse than in the case of a counterfeit or a fake.
Cons
- You’re going to have to get used to some people calling you out for using “fakes”. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal but yeah, something to remember.
- The replica shoes are obviously not going to feel as comfortable and premium as the originals.
- You don’t always have the option of exchanging or getting a refund when it comes to counterfeit shoes. Vigilance is the key here.
Are replica shoes bad for your feet?
Yes, replica shoes can have some negative effects on your feet.
The expression, “you get what you pay for” is certainly true for the counterfeit market.
That being said, even in the replica marketplace, there are different levels of quality. You are better off steering clear of the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel stuff as this is known to cause discomfort to your feet.
Fakes, in general, are made from lower-quality materials, and combining that with their subpar production quality, you may end up with a product that has bumps and hardness in the wrong places.
These irregularities over time can cause injury to your heels, ankles, or toes.
Secondly, there is the issue of grip. Replica shoes generally tend to have a much inferior grip as compared to the originals.
This hardly instills confidence while walking on slippery surfaces and a fall may cause severe injury to your feet and body.
Best places to buy replica shoes
Due to the nature of replica shoes, the pool of websites where you can buy them is kind of limited. Let’s look at some of the options you have to choose from.
1. Hypeunique
Hyperunique is a website that offers luxury items, especially replica shoes, at an affordable rate. The website itself is quite professional and the reviews overall are positive and customers seem to be genuinely satisfied with their service.
2. FashionTIY
They’re a website that is quite popular for selling replicas of shoes and clothes. The products they offer are actually quite good in terms of quality, especially for the price you’re paying. On top of that, Fashion TIY has a dedicated after-sales service which is rare for a website in this space.
3. Crewkicks
This is yet another popular online store that sells good quality fake shoes for a discounted price. Crewkicks claim to have their own factory and that most of their shoes are made from identical materials to the originals. The customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive too.
4. Chanzsneakers
This is a website popular for selling replica sneakers that are really close to their original counterparts. Chanzsneakers is known for their quick service and affordable prices and their customer reviews are quite satisfactory overall.
Some other websites to buy fake shoes from are Aliexpress, Alibaba, and UAFactory. But my personal recommendation would be to stick to the four websites mentioned above, as I have had great experiences shopping from them.
Final remarks
From a financial and practical point of view, it is completely okay to use fake or replica shoes. They are identical to the real thing but are available at a fraction of the cost.
Now, there are certain things you need to consider such as a drop in quality and potential discomfort when it comes to a replica. That being said, you know what you’re paying for and as long as that stays true, fake shoes will remain a viable and affordable option for you.
My name is Alex Higson and I am the founder of Magic Of Clothes. I have worked in the fashion industry for many years, and clothes and style are a huge part of my life.