Who are the Rep-Ladies, the rich women of New York on the hunt for fake Birkins When buying a fake bag becomes an obsession

It is no mistery that the cost of a luxury product is the main reason for detachment on the part of the average consumer, and that, at the same time, it constitutes its appeal in the eyes of those who cannot afford it. On the other hand, exclusion is the concept on which the entire functioning of fashion is based. Balancing self-determination and the desire  for acceptance, some have decided that wearing designer clothes to in order for their  clothing to be appreciated (and personally appreciate) is not necessary and there are those  who, like a group of wealthy New York Millennials on Reddit, couldn't resist the temptation to buy a counterfeit garment or accessory. They are called Rep-Ladies and their case tells us that things have changed to such an extent that, discovering the dynamics that bind them, one gets the impression that fake bags on the Upper East Side are more desired than real  ones.  

If one wanted to locate a dealer, sanction him or even in order to know the conditions in which the fakes are produced, it would not be easy. What is certain is that the industrial model on which the functioning of the chinese factories is based on, tends to be based on  the exploitation of the labor both on the economic and human side, as many readers of The Cut remind in the comments. Assuming that some customers manage to inform themselves  and establish direct communication with workers and sellers, counterfeiting is still illegal, in  the US as well as in Europe. Whether you can't afford a Birkin by Hermès or, like the Rep Ladies, just want to experience the thrill of the bargain, is buying counterfeit products right when we can't tell with absolute certainity that workers are being paid enough when it is highly unlikely that their rights are being respected?