Beware the dangers of fake footwear
We’ve all seen the oddly shaped, bright coloured clogs donned by many for comfort and convenience. They are ubiquitous in the hot tropics of Asia. Unfortunately, recent testing shows that 60% of counterfeit Crocs contain highly cancerous substances. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the chemicals in question, increase the risk of developing lung, liver and skin cancer. These chemicals are readily absorbed by the human body through skin contact.
This is one example where counterfeiting in the garment trade can lead to potentially fatal consequences for consumers, and cause extensive damage to the original brand. By removing or substituting a key component, the product as a whole can be compromised.
But this problem isn’t unique to Crocs, nor the garment trade. Imagine it were pharmaceuticals that were being counterfeited and they did you more harm than good. Or imagine your electrical device, say your smartphone, was using compromised components and that it exploded or electrocuted you while plugged in, or that it contained toxic substances that which could poison you. Imagine that your car, your motorcycle or even the airplane you’ve flown in contained counterfeit and potentially defective engine parts. This is the reality of counterfeiting.
Legitimate brands have done the work to ensure their products are safe. However, counterfeiters don’t care. They’re motivated by greed, and will readily substitute safe manufacturing inputs for cheaper alternatives, or will use outdated processes that are cheaper or less capital-intensive. This presents a sizeable risk to brands and their consumers.
Proactive activities are required to root out and shut down counterfeiters. If your product faces these challenges, get in touch to discuss what we can offer.