NBC 6 news ran a story in which officials

Times have changed. And not in a “when I was your age, you could buy an entire house for a nickel” sort of way. Past generations speak of an era where top designers made handbags and clothing without fear of counterfeiters. It was a simpler time. It was a better time. A time when pants just seemed to make sense and a man put on his world one leg at a time.On January 17, authorities intercepted $5.7 million worth of fake apparel from a semi-trailer during a routine traffic stop in Wyoming. -

Earlier this year, Miami’s NBC 6 news ran a story in which officials uncovered $11 million worth of phony Burberry and Louis Vuitton merchandise in a shipment at the Port of Miami. - Also this year, St. Louis station NBC 5 KSDK reported that a federal grand jury had indicted a woman on charges of selling counterfeit goods. According to court documents, 49-year-old Soukeye Fox kept an inventory of nearly 6,000 counterfeit purse labels with which she intended to create fake designer goods. If convicted, Fox’s charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $2 million. I know what you’re thinking, “But I don’t sell knockoff bags and outfits …

I just wear them. No biggie, right?”Cities like New York are introducing new legislation that will make it a misdemeanor to buy knockoffs. Punishment can range from up to $1,000 or even a year in jail. Other cities are sure to follow. Hey jet-setters pay close attention: It is illegal to buy or carry counterfeit goods in places like Italy or France. Walking through the airport with your fake Fendi could land you a stiff fine. My advice? Consider buying designer items an investment. Often, you can resell it for close to what you paid, unlike knockoffs, which have little to no resale value. Future generations will speak of an era where top designers are able to find and destroy every knockoff purse, watch, heel and knit top all from the comfort of their phone. Unfortunately, those times don’t exist … yet. This is a more complicated time.

 A time where things are not always what they seem. But two things are for certain: Pants still make a heck of a lot of sense, and you’re not fooling me with that fake Gucci bag. Unfortunately, those times never existed. Pants make just as much sense as they always have, and popular fashion has always had its fair share of copycats who “borrow” designs and trademarks of luxury houses such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Gucci to peddle imitation purses and clothing. As time has gone on, however, technological advances in the world of knockoffs have made it increasingly difficult for the Average Jane to differentiate Yves Saint from Yves Ain’t – which only creates a bigger market for phony designer clothing. Many modern fakes are so well-made even buyers of genuine goods are transitioning into the world of bootlegged Balenciaga and faux Fendi just to save a little green. If your Gucci bag is about as authentic as your favorite reality TV show, the time has come to flip the script: Across the globe, authorities are stepping up their “OH NO SHE DIDN’T” stance on phony apparel in what many are referring to as an international crackdown on counterfeit goods. Don’t believe us? Take a look at a few recent stories involving the sale of counterfeits: