The legality of replica designer items is based on the laws in that jurisdiction and the facts of the product. Still, in many countries so are replicas or counterfeit items that mimic designed logos, brands, or trademarks. For instance, federal law in the U.S. provides that selling goods with a bogus trademark stamp — like a knockoff Louis Vuitton logo — is an infraction of the Lanham Act and probably will result in civil fines or even incarceration. According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) this year, counterfeit goods were estimated to make up 3.3% of world trade, a substantial proportion of which is fashion counterfeits.
A significant difference between legal replicas and illegal is the application of copyrighted logos or designs. Sometimes that is not illegal; so-called inspired-by clothing which gets the look or style of a designer brand without actually copying its logos or particular patterns. For example, creating a coat that looks like a Balenciaga product without the need to use its name or logo is OK in certain jurisdictions because it does not transgress anything protected by trademark law.
In some countries like China, Forgery of clothing designer replicas has become the standard for selling and manufacturing apparel because it is a cheap country to produce fake goods. Nevertheless, any attempts to import such things into copyright-respecting, border-conscious countries like the US or EU alone might lead to your items being seized and charges for you. Fashion is a major target for CBP raids, and in the enforcement side of things, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) seized $3.3 billion worth of counterfeit goods this year.source: fashionista
An inquiry that many consumers have in mind is, “Are replicas illegal to buy for personal use?”. Although the answer would vary from country to country, in some places, it is perfectly legal to buy counterfeit goods for personal use while selling them gets you into trouble. However, when caught customs agencies do have the power to seize knockoffs at the border and repeat offences can lead to fines or legal trouble.
Tom Ford“I believe the most important thing in fashion is, to be authentic. Designer fakes may seem like an enticingful way to look luxurious on a budget, but the truth is they come with both legal and moral grey areas. Plus, buying counterfeit goods can be detrimental to the fashion industry because doing so robs designers and brands of the revenue they should collect on their original work.
In the case of copy designer clothing, the word to notice is replicas, a result that does not simply mention its illegal brothers. A great number of (albeit slightly less law-breaking) fashionistas, meanwhile, go for inspired-by clothing, which delivers comparable looks without the trademark infringement. To browse around for accountability-friendly versions that play in the legal but not style-threatening arena, stop by replica clothing designer listings to cop a product that puts workmanship and originality first without any copyright infringement involved.