Demand for fake fashion continues to grow at an alarming rate according to a new report from just-style, with captured shipments indicating that around 20% of all athletic merchandise is fake. Despite heightened anti-counterfeiting measures, Canadian and US authorities expect counterfeiting to remain high for the next six years.
Between 2005 and 2007, counterfeiting grew at 6.6%, according to a new report from just-style – which is more than double the pace of total apparel market growth.
The 'Global market review of counterfeit apparel – forecasts to 2014,' says athletic apparel was the most affected, with captured shipments indicating that around 20% of all merchandise in this sector, which is typically sold in North America, is fake.
Industry analysts expect the proportion of counterfeiting in certain sectors to roughly double in the 2005-2014 period.
Counterfeit sales are staggering
According to the International Chamber of Commerce in Geneva (CICG) the total cost of goods counterfeiting worldwide is approximately $650 billion a year, a figure that is steadily increasing.
The Department of Homeland Security seized $155m worth of counterfeit merchandise in 2006, an 83% rise on previous years.
The goods included: 77 containers of Nike Air Jordan shoes; counterfeit designer products that resembled Prada and Reebok merchandise; a container of Abercrombie & Fitch clothing; and 42,900 articles of sporting goods and apparel.
China remains hotbed of activity
However, of the number of cases customs seized in 2006 and 2007, India, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt were also prominent.
Of the total value of counterfeit merchandise seized around the world, 63% related to the textile sector, with over 10% of counterfeit items detained.
