Stocks continue to plummet, and producers are feeling the hurt as their products are anything but flying off the shelves. Consumers are nearing the last notch on their belts and are unable to spend the same way that they did only a few months ago. People are focusing on the necessities, which means that luxury goods become even more of an indulgence. These high-priced items, although novel, take a serious toll on people’s bank accounts.

While the sales in most of the large department stores have made luxury goods more affordable, these sales have caused several problems. In an “Saks Upends Luxury Market With Strategy to Slash Prices” (Wall Street Journal), authors Vanessa O’Connell and Rachel Dodes explain that, “The changes are bankrupting some firms, toppling longstanding agreements on pricing and distribution, and destroying the very air of exclusivity that designers are trying to sell.”

Even websites and blogs like Bagsnob.com have scaled back on their constant plug for expensive designer bags. Although the “Snobs,” as they call themselves, are still promoting and buying the expensive bags, they are also blogging about great places to find bags on sale and about the importance of finding less expensive alternatives. While it may not be the greatest resource for inexpensive bag information, Bagsnob.com has advice about handbag shopping that extends to other consumers rather than just appealing to those that are able to afford the ultra-expensive designer labels.

Desperate, some consumers have decided to look to the world of replica bags. When walking through Chinatown in New York City, a shopper is bombarded with fake bags at low prices. People want to get the designer look but are unable to afford it. In the US, the sale of replica bags is illegal. The problem occurs when makers of the replica bags attempt to copy the logo or insignia of the actual designer.

The main argument against the sale of these bags is that their manufacturing is illegal through every step of the process. In a report by Bankrate.com, Alex Barbieri spoke with Timothy Trainer, president of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition Inc., who said “many of the people involved in the sale of counterfeit merchandise have also been linked to other illegal activities, including cocaine trafficking, prostitution and violation of child labor laws.”

Barbieri continues to explain that in our “fake”-obsessed world, the trillion-dollar industry is hard to battle. He highlights the way that these bags have hit close to home by inspiring at-home “Purse Parties”: a host brings in counterfeit bags, and women are invited to buy the fakes in the comfort of a friend’s home. If caught, these women would be in serious trouble with the law. Barbieri shows that what these people do not understand is that they are supporting an industry that is detrimental to the United States economy and that they are funding foreign underground economies and criminals.

The fact is that they are not achieving the same look but are buying an article of lesser quality that will later end up looking fake because of fading and break-down of the bag. For example, where the designer bag may have a metal zipper, the replica will have a plastic one. Or, where the luxury version may be lined in leather, the imitation will be lined in cloth. These may seem like minor changes, but they do detract from the integrity of the product.

In the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar with Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover, one promotional advertisement highlights that “Fakes are Never in Fashion”. The full page ad then explains that the “campaign is dedicated to exposing the criminal activities connected to the sale of counterfeit luxury goods – child labor, drug trafficking, and even terrorism.” The fashion world is working diligently to fight the replica bag industry through magazine ads and public service messages but they are still an ever-present aspect of consumer culture and of the economy. Visit Fakesareneverinfashion.com for more information about Bazaar’s crusade against the replica bag industry.

To join the rest of the fashion world in the fight against the replica bag industry, find stores and designers that compare to the chic look of the designer bags, while sporting a price tag that doesn’t make you take a second look.

Seek sales that are popping up in stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. While the holiday sales have come and gone, there are still great items that have still not caught on. Also, luxury online boutique, Net-a-porter.com has been known to have great sales on their designer pieces. Bluefly.com is another option for designer duds at a reduced rate and eBay is always a great option too.

If these prices are still a little high, thrift stores are filled with designer and luxury goods that people are trying to sell in order to offset costs. These stores are great for finding treasures and great deals, as people get desperate to make some extra cash. Wherever you decide to look for these treasures, make sure that it is a reputable store and love what you are buying as most of these stores have an “all sales final” policy.

Another great resource that is very kind to the pocketbook is the website Bagborroworsteal.com. This site, deemed the “Net Flix for bags” by the New York Times, was created so that women could have a database full of jewelry, handbags and sunglasses at their disposal for rental. The way it works is that people can visit the website find an item that they would like to borrow and then decide how long they would like to have it for. It really is that simple.

Depending on the item, borrowing can get expensive, like $450 for a month with a vintage Chanel quilted 2.55 bag. Compared to its retail price, about $2300, the former does not sound so bad. The site gives discounts to members, and if you decide that you never want to part with the borrowed bag, they have purchasing options as well.

These suggestions allow people to find the designers that they know and love. However, you can find the same look for much less. If you can’t give up your designer obsession, maybe you should think about why the label is so important in the first place. Alternatives are out there; you just have to find them.

First, look at stores where consumers can find their every-day basics. Banana Republic, Nine West, and Target all offer looks that compare to and are often inspired by the designer labels. In its various partnerships with different designers, Target sells bags and clothing that sell for less but are endowed with the designer’s aesthetic. According to TheFashionSpot.com, the next Target collaboration will be a Felix Rey for Target handbag collection that will be available in Target stores nationwide from March 29th-June 14th.

Whatever consumers decide to do about their desire for designer bags, even during these tough economic times, make sure you do not become so desperate that you resort to an industry that causes more harm than good.