Dupes & The New Fashion Cycle

Laasya Palla

Online retailers have never fared better. With fast fashion clearing out department stores left and right, trends are circulating faster than ever. Dupes in fashion have always existed (Canal Street knockoffs of Chanel or Gucci) but the runway-to-customer pipeline has never been shorter.

As New York Fashion Week wraps up, I found myself asking: how fast is that turnaround, really? What does it mean when a design can be copied, produced, and shipped before the designer’s own collection hits stores?

Fashion has always reflected populations. Think the hemline index, or the way textiles spread globally. Today, that “globality” has skyrocketed thanks to TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms. In some ways, that’s positive: more voices, more aesthetics, more access. But it also means we’re buying, spending, and consuming more than ever.

Influencer culture fuels this shift. Huge hauls dominate feeds, and fast fashion retailers offer two irresistible promises: instant turnaround and unbeatable prices. Compare that with the traditional runway calendar, which dropped maybe 3-4 collections a year. Now? Trends can launch and die in weeks. Older stylists and houses are losing ground fast.

So I want to pose the question: who’s paying the price for all this accessibility? Dupes have always been part of fashion’s story. But with this new speed, who (or what) is really bearing the cost?

A quick note:

Happy October, Styleline✨ As our summer releases wind down, we’re moving into the heart of the season. With September wrapped up, I’d like to remind everyone that we only have a few more shoots and features left this semester. Make sure you’re checking our Instagram and GroupMe for details, updates, and calls for contributions.

Thank you all for your creativity, energy, and voice- it’s what makes our magazine thrive. I’m so excited to see what we create together as we close out the year.