I'm curious about this: are you more likely to willingly buy a counterfeit item such as a handbag or shoes during hard economic times than during good economic times?
For example, would you consider buying a counterfeit Gucci handbag during a recession because you couldn't afford the real thing-- but you still want the look?
Now, please understand that I am talking about counterfeits and not knock-offs or look-alikes of popular styles. A counterfeit Gucci bag, for example, would use the trademarked labels and designs in an attempt to make a copy of the legitimate bag. On the other hand a knock-off or a look-alike would not use trademarked symbols or designs but while the knockoffs might similar in color or size or function or design, they would be obviously different.
An example of a knockoff is a button-down shirt with the logo of a cowboy riding a bull which would compete with a button-down shirt with a polo player on a horse.