Counterfeiters cash in on Being Human rip-offs

Dubai: A crackdown on fake Being Human T-shirts, a charity fashion brand whose sales support child welfare projects by Indian actor Salman Khan's foundation, may be on the cards, XPRESS has learnt.

Dubai fashion giant Splash said it will report to authorities those found selling fakes of Khan's brand. Launched by the superstar in Dubai last week, Splash and sister company Iconic are the only UAE retailers of Being Human clothes, whose royalties fund child health care and education in India.  

However, knock-offs can be found in many stores in Dubai and Sharjah, selling at roughly half the price of the originals which cost between Dh50 and Dh100. Residents have also been spotted wearing Being Human T-shirts even before the Dubai launch.
 
Images of Khan sporting the T-shirts have shot them to fame and spawned counterfeits. Illicit copies threaten children's causes by siphoning away revenues meant for Being Human projects, Splash CEO Raza Beig said.

"Buying original Being Human clothes is the only way consumers can contribute to the Being Human Foundation and, yes, knock-offs do hurt the charity and children," he said in a statement.

"If any customers find fakes being sold, please report it on www.splashfashions.com or www.iconic.ae, and we will take it up with the authorities. Selling fakes is just stealing from the blind."

Originals carry tags identifying them as such and there are also plans to include hard-to-copy holograms to counter duplication, Beig was quoted as saying.