Bootleg Shopping?

[TheEpitome1920]

Bootleg holiday shopping thrives in urban areas
Date: Monday, December 06, 2004
By: TRACIE POWELL, BlackAmericaWeb.com

DALLAS – When times are tough and money in short supply this holiday season, there’s always bootleg versions of popular holiday gifts.

Despite law enforcement efforts to shut down vendors who peddle knockoff versions of Prada purses and Rocawear sweatshirts, the underground economy continues to thrive on street corners, strip malls and hair salons in and around urban centers on Delancey Street in Manhattan, the West End Mall in Atlanta and Big T’s Bazaar in Dallas.

Here in Texas it’s illegal to sell bootleg products, not buy them.

In a scene likely repeated across the country, shoppers in search of affordable presents are plucking through cheap suede Phat Farm jackets, Coach purses, compact discs, DVDs and even vials of sweet smelling Burberry-like perfume and cologne.

Loaded down with brown plastic bags, LaTonya Holly told Black America Web.com she was wrapping up her holiday shopping at what most Dallas residents commonly refer to as Big T’s. She began shopping the day after Thanksgiving when she woke up early to catch sales at Wal-Mart.

Wearing a Louis Vuitton hat and purse slung over her shoulder, Holly purchased a matching wallet Saturday. She also bought several pieces of clothing for her 16-year-old son who was busy pleading for more.

"This is it, I’m done," Holly said with exasperation. "This is his Christmas and birthday.” So she caved and bought the popular throwback jersey he wanted for $45.

Real NFL jerseys usually retail for $200 or more. But in typical fashion, Holly haggled with the vendor to get even better deals, including a sweatshirt thrown in for buying two pairs of jeans and three other shirts.