.The same can be said for Louis Vuiton handbags, which cost about US$120 online but don’t stand up against the authentic Louis Vuitton. It’s not only a “t” that is missing from the copycat design. You can also factor prestige and quality into that equation.
We can safely say the spelling mistakes are not typos from the design houses but rip-off merchants looking to capitalise on big name brands. And wouldn’t you feel ripped off paying $200 for a replica if you thought if was the real McCoy?
Mr. Festa and several other members of the organization are expected to go on trial in Naples this year. The five-year delay is due to a slow-moving Italian justice system bogged down with a heavy case load.
Mr. Ragozzini says Mr. Festa now is living in Dortmund, Germany. He is selling tableware and other home products after a stint peddling Italian foodstuffs. “He’s an eclectic guy,” Mr. Ragozzini says.
Ellen Byron in New York contributed to this article.