First off, Barker. Proper British shoemaker since, like, forever (1880, apparently). Think proper brogues, Oxfords, the kinda shoes your grandad would wear to church… or, you know, maybe a fancy business meeting. They’re supposed to be *quality*. Handcrafted, all that jazz. You know, the kind that *sounds* expensive and probably *are*.
Then there’s the, uh, *other* kind. The “Fake Barker Shoes: A Cloak of Lies” kind. That’s what caught my eye anyway. I mean, come on, a “cloak of lies”? Dramatic much? But yeah, turns out there’s a thriving market for *not-quite-legit* Barkers.
Now, why would anyone want fake Barker shoes? Well, duh. Money! Like, those real Barkers probably cost a small fortune. Especially if you’re a “young person who love to experiment with new,” you probably dont have the money to spend on the real thing.
But here’s the kicker, and this is where it gets a bit confusing. I saw a listing for “Barker UE” which is selling “1:1 reps” of sneakers and clothes, for brands like Jordan and Nike. So, is this just a company that also sells fake shoes, or is Barker UE actually selling the shoes? And this is where my brain starts to hurt.
The thing is, the quality probably isn’t gonna be the same. You’re not getting that handcrafted, leather-smelling goodness. You’re getting… well, you’re getting what you pay for. Probaby something that will fall apart after a few weeks.
And tbh, I get the appeal, but I kinda feel like it’s a bit… I dunno, *wrong*? Like, you’re not just ripping off a company, you’re kinda ripping off the whole idea of craftsmanship and quality. Plus, that “cloak of lies” thing is kinda true. You’re walking around pretending to be wearing something you’re not. Is it worth it? Eh.
