Syed Nusaiba Morshed :
What Are Dupe Products?
The term dupe emphasizes on items or products that customers and consumers use which resembles high end good or ‘fake luxury’ products at lower price tags. These things are often popularized by social media influencers or on growing teens AKA Decoding Dupe Culture: The Ethics Behind a Bargain – The Modern Muse Magazinegen-z’s via platforms like TikTok’s, Instagram and Facebook. It explores the impact on consumers, the country’s economy and the legal implications of copyright infringements versus inspirations. However, dupes aren’t necessary to be counterfeits; many goods are legally made but inspired by premium brands. The production process of these goods plays a key role in why people around the world are more inclined to buy dupe instead of the original ones.
Why Dupe Products Are Rising in Popularity:
Due to the exposure of social media and changing consumers dupes are reshaping the market. As well as for availability, people want the look and feel of luxury without paying high prices. Social media influencers in TikTok, Instagram and youtubers have normalized these fake alternatives.
Not only that, in the recent world with rising economic issues and inflation, the cost-of-living cries pushed consumers toward budget friendly options. Moreover, by nature we humans have a cut for taking a taste of everything, so enjoying testing with cheaper alternatives wouldn’t hurt a lot.
Inevitable Uses in the Present World:
Beauty and Skincare:
Skincare and beauty can get really expensive. These dupes are affordable alternatives to high-end products that deliver similar (or sometimes identical) results. And here’s the best part—many of these budget-friendly options are made by the same companies or chemists behind luxury brands. That’s right: you can save big without sacrificing quality. Brands like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder create products across all price points. This means that the same research and development teams often work on both high-end and budget-friendly formulations.
· Fashion Industry:
Designer inspired clothes, shoes and bags are widely available in fast fashion stores and in online platforms, specially making master copies of brands like Coach, Birkin, Gucci, Prada, Steve Madden, Dior and much more. In this way fashion becomes democratized and no longer limited to wealthy elites. Consumers can test for their styles before committing to premium investment prices, and in the meantime dupe culture has boosted the global second hand, resale and inspired market.
· Lifestyle and Tech:
Perfume dupes, for example, inspired by Dior Sauvage or Chanel No. 5 are widely popular as originals cost more than hundreds of dollars. For home décors, candle and home fragrances dupes mimic Jo Malon at a fraction of price. For tech-based flexibilities Chinese earbuds, smart watches or speakers manufacturers are offering the same bass, quality, modes and features available in renowned brands like Apple, Samsung, Marshall etc. And even for household women, kitchen appliances, fitness trackers are widely duplicated to make life easier for them.
Culture and Social Significance:
Previously luxury goods showcased status, but nowadays creativity I find dupes are highly appreciated. For this fashion and beauty are no longer captivated by the elites rather by all. Also, the entire trend of dupe has been so significant that videos, reel and blogs are being made with captions of ‘Best dupes of 2025’ type of contents are going viral, fueling sales.
Future of Dupe Products:
Young people can now participate in trends or even collaborate with high end influencers and earn to satisfy their own wants. Consumers can easily test new styles without any financial risk and to some extent dupes prevent customers from over consumption of luxury products or offer cruelty free alternatives. Yet many dupes don’t match the standard, durability or safety standards or originals. Some closely imitate logos or designs, blurring the line with counterfeits. However, it is for sure dupe culture is not going away; in fact it’s growing with Gen-Z and budget conscious millennials. So it’s likely to expand beyond fashion, beauty into tech and home products. With regulations, dupes will exist more in the “inspired by” space than illegal counterfeits, in a world shaped by social media trends and financial realities, dupes are here to stay.
(The writer is a student of BAF Shaheen English Medium College)
