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Has anyone purchase a knock off wedding dress from overseas? The price are very tempted but I question the quality. Please share stories or any experience...good or bad. Thanks

I'm going to be purchasing one from Peridress here in the next 2-3 weeks. If you can hang on until then, I'll let you know how it goes...

I purchased a custom made replica dress on Ebay from an australian seller with 98% positive feedback. I did it because I fell in love with the dress in the picture but couldn't find the real designer and plus I was on a major budget.

 

So the dress came, in the time stated, and I think I paid around $100. But right before it arrived I found the actual dress on the Maggie Sottero website! It was a Maggie!

 

So I tried the replica on and I liked it. I felt it was well made. It varied slightly from the picture but not in any way that detracted. However, the chiffon empire waist was just a little puffy and I really felt that the Maggie version wouldn't have that problem.

 

So long story short. I bought the Maggie (SD300 at a bridal shop for $500 and it just came in this past week. Funny thing is, I felt that the replica was almost better made than the Maggie in some ways but I was very happy because the real thing didn't have that puffiness but was slimming just like I wanted.

 

So my plan now is to use the replica as for my TTD and either save or resell the real Maggie after using it for the actual wedding.

 

I would say, based on my experience, that if you really can only pay $100-$200 and you want a certain design you'll probably be happy with a replica dress. Especially if you have some sewing skills or are willing to do some slight alterations after it comes. If you can spend more though and are kind of...precise in what you want, just go ahead and splurge on the real thing!

I know a few people that have purchased from eBay Australia Shop - zero-love: Strapless, Bridesmaid dresses, wedding dresses gowns

 

they are based in China and if you contact them they can make any dress you like. I was thinking about purchasing from them for a TTD shoot.

 

mods please delete the link if this is not allowed

I bought one......Just waiting for it to get here. It is a knock off Maggie. I ordered it from Landy Bridal.

i think alot of people question the quality of dresses made over seas. Just look at their previous work and feedback. I personally think alot of over seas dress work is better. My FBIL lives in Bangkok (FI has 3 older siblings who are half thai). We visit him every year and he can have whatever he wants made, and it's VERY well done for very cheap. This year we had suits done for $250 custom tailored for the guys in the family and they picked what styles and fabric they wanted and have matching wool coats. They are great!

I just ordered a new dress from this ebay seller, but she's doing one she didn't have listed and we've been corresponding through email and I just found out she is actually Landy bridal, they are one and the same!

In addition to the question of quality, I feel that it's a bit of a question of ethics. Part of the reason that designer dresses are so expensive is because someone takes a lot of time and effort to come up with an original and beautiful design. The knock-offs are cheaper because they don't have to waste time designing anything if they can just steal someone else's design.

 

It's also semi-illegal to buy knockoffs. I say semi, because some of the designs are not unique enough for trade dress laws to apply, plus they usually don't prosecute consumers in the US, especially if you only own one knockoff.

 

Better off buying an original at a sample sale, imo.

Really honestly, Davids bridal are knock offs. Their designs are from other designers such as Maggie Sottero. I personally don't have an issue w/ it. I own ALOT of knock off stuff especially since we go to Bangkok every year. I do own alot of real stuff as well cause we don't have anywhere here to buy knock offs.

 

i mean common, Canal St in NYC is a knockoff heaven!!!! And the knock offs there are DEAD on! So, it can't be that big of a deal.

 

Some people, simply can't afford a $1000+ dress. And I "steal" designs from you girls ALL the time! LOL!

 

Don't fret ladies, it is not illegal to own knockoff products, it is illegal to sell them in the US. And there is a difference between counterfeit and knock off. A knock off doesn't claim or label anywhere being a dress by another designer. So, my dress that i ordered is being made for me based (will not be exact) on a Moonlight bridal dress, but will not have a label anywhere saying it is a Moonlight bridal dress. Which is legal. If you bought a dress that they claim is a Maggie and has Maggie labels, but is being made in a factory in Asia, you're getting a counterfeit item.

I have to agree with Jacilyn on the question of ethics.

 

Designers get paid big money because they have built a brand around themselves. The reality is, when someone purchases a Vera Wang, they aren't purchasing a "dress" - they are purchasing couture, fabulous, sexy, stunning. They are also purchasing the right to say "I got married in Vera Wang."

 

By purchasing a knock off from china, I am saying, "take a look at this picture, can you do something super close to this?" I don't want a brand name, I want a look... and that's because for my dress, I don't want to buy the rights to say "my dress is from so and so."

 

I'm buying a custom made dress that looks like one I saw in a picture. Kind of like taking a picture to the salon and saying "make me look like this."