Counterfeit Apparel & Luxury Facts & Figures

In 2009, the value of apparel and luxury counterfeits was estimated at $26 billion - including handbags, watches, jewelry, clothing, and footwear. The number of counterfeits seized by officials, however, is much less. Nearly $169 million worth of knock-off apparel and luxury products were seized in the United States, and the European Union estimates around 17 million counterfeit items have been obtained, meaning large numbers of counterfeits continue to be purchased by consumers.  

As some counterfeit luxury and apparel goods are purchased with the knowledge that the product is fraudulent, many instances occur to unsuspecting consumers. In fact, the rise in e-commerce websites and imported manufactured goods from the Far East (Europe alone reported that 64 percent of counterfeit clothing seized along their shores in 2009 came from China), dubious apparel and luxury items end up in the hands of shoppers across the globe.

Fake apparel and luxury products are not just sold along Canal Street in New York City or Temple Street in Hong Kong. They can appear as authentic goods in large brick and mortar stores and e-commerce and auction websites. The rise in online spending around the world also means an increased opportunity for knock-off apparel and luxury products to enter the supply chain and to be purchased by consumers who believe they have just landed a deal.

Learn more about OpSec’s integrated brand protection solutions or request more information to speak with an OpSec representative.