First off, full disclosure, I’m not about to go spend a fortune to compare a real pair of Hermes to… well, *anything* else. But I’ve been seeing stuff pop up, you know? On those weird online stores, tucked between “luxe golf products” and something about Spring-Summer 2025 already? Like, seriously, 2025? Who even *plans* that far ahead? (Besides, I guess, Hermes, probably).
Anyway, these “unbranded” or “logo-less” or even just “plain” shoes, they keep referencing Hermes stuff. “Moccasins with the legendary Roulis buckle!” Okay, buddy, *legendary* is a strong word for a buckle. But, fine, I get it. They’re trying to hint at something without, like, *actually* saying it.
And then you got the descriptions… “slim, daring lines,” “always feel like you’re walking on air” – which, let’s be honest, *no* shoe *ever* feels *exactly* like walking on air unless you’re, you know, *actually walking on air*. But I digress.
So what are we dealing with here? Are they knock-offs? Are they “inspired by”? Are they just plain shoes that happen to have a similar vibe? Honestly, I kinda think it’s a mix of everything. You probably got some straight-up fakes out there. Then you got some that are trying *really* hard to be Hermes-esque. And maybe, just maybe, you got some that are decent quality on their own, and the whole “Hermes” connection is just…marketing fluff.
Honestly, I think it’s kinda shady. Like, if you’re gonna make a shoe, just *make a shoe*. Don’t try to sneak your way into Hermes’ territory without, you know, actually *being* Hermes.
But hey, maybe I’m just old-fashioned. Maybe in the future everything will be “inspired by” something else, and nothing will have a real brand anymore. Maybe we’ll all be wearing “unbranded” luxury, and no one will even remember what the fuss was about.
