Fake branded shoes not the same quality as originals – footwear firm

The shoe industry is suffering significant loss of revenues due to the rampant selling of fake branded shoes.

 

"The widespread selling of counterfeits has resulted in significant loss of revenues and brand erosion not only of Vans but the whole shoe industry as well," Vans Philippines said in a statement sent to GMA News Online on Thursday.

 

The Bureau of Customs destroyed on Tuesday 150,000 pairs of smuggled fake branded shoes and slippers.

 

The P50-million worth of footwear from China includes well-known brands like Nike, Adidas, Converse, Skechers, The North Face, Leaveland, Merrell, Lacoste, Vans, Havaianas, and Ipanema.

 

"Vans Philippines highly commends the Bureau of Customs in the recent confiscation and destruction of thousands of fake footwear," the statement read.

 

The company noted that infringement threatens legitimate business and undermines consumer confidence.

 

There are customers who bought "high-quality knock offs" who would turn to social media "to blab about their Vans shoes when they let them down, not disclosing that they are not the original."

 

"People tend to buy the so-called 'perfect knock offs' thinking that the quality is the same as the original but on a cheaper price. This is absolutely not true," Vans Philippines said.  — Kathryn Mae Tubadeza/ELR/KG, GMA News