Sunday, 3 January 2010

The Belated Christmas Gift



It is now the 3rd January and the Christmas spirit is definately wearing thin. Its the day when the decorations have to start being dismantled and apparently, the day when most people give up on their new years resolutions.






As I was helping put the last branches of the synthetic tree back into its box and ready for next year, my eye caught on a small wrapped parcel right in the middle. It had no tag, and was an odd malleable texture with a solid shape in the middle. My Mum told me to open it with a smile on her face, apologising that it hadn't come in time for Christmas.






I pulled open the paper to reveal a grey velvet pouch with a drawstring top. My heart leapt as I recognised the gold writing emblazoned across the front and the familiar Vivienne Westwood orb logo underneath. I gently pulled open the drawstrings and allowed the crystal necklace to fall into the palm of my hand. It was the Westwood orb, covered with crystals and hung on a long silver chain. Out of habit, my eye searched the chain for the Westwood tag, the stamp of approval that would confirm what I already knew.






My hear sank when I realized it wasn't there. There was no designer tag, no stamp of approval. I couldnt understand it. It was seamless. The pouch was faultless and undoubtedly real, the orb itself was stamped on the back with the Vivienne Westwood signature, but something wasn't quite right about it.






I was about to tell Mum when I caught a glimpse of the look on her face. I could tell that she had no idea that the necklace was anything other than a real Vivienne Westwood. She had obviously done as I had done and checked for the signature stamp on the reverse of the orb and assumed that her money had been well spent. I decided that I couldn't tell her that I knew it was a fake and that got me thinking: is value added by the designer stamp or my the intention and sentimentality behind the gift?






A lot of thought had been put into the purchase of this gift and Mum had obviously gone out of her way to check it was not a fake. It is exactly the necklace that I admired earlier on in the year; completely oblivious to the fact that she had mentally added it to my Christmas list at the time. the crystals were real, it was real silver and undoubtedly expensive, and so is it any different to receiving a necklace that is a slightly different shape.






I do not condone intentionally purchasing fakes. I detest the industry behind copying and can spot a fake handbag instantly. It destroys designers and reputations and funds violence and organized crime. Louis Vuitton is one design that has been destroyed by the fakes that are so easily available. The amount of fakes promps anyone that is carrying a real handbag to be asked the question; 'is it real?'. However, the fact that the design is still successful shows that their designs are still worth copying. It is a catch 22 situation: A designer wants to be successful, and a successful design will undoubtedly be copied and faked.






With that in mind, I came to the conclusion that my Mum has obviously been duped without her knowledge. The thought that she has put into the necklace makes me want to wear it with pride. It is beautiful and sentimental to me and in a way, that is worth more to me than the real thing.

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