The authenticity of the outlet mall

By: Anne Robinson

amr8798@gmail.com

Buying a designer item is often not as easy as picking up a new pair of jeans from the Gap. You can't find Louis Vuitton or Vera Wang at your local retail mall. If you don't want to buy these items online, your other obvious option is to find one of the designer's stores. But even this is a challenge, as some designers only have a few stores in the country.

I guess designers are looking out for us! Because more and more outlet malls are cropping up across the globe. If you have a skeptical side like me, you may have wondered about the authenticity of items purchased at outlet malls. Do they really come straight from the designer? Well, you can put your doubts behind you; the items are 100% authentic!

To get a little technical for a minute, outlet malls are individual stores grouped together, where manufacturers and designers can sell their products directly to the public. They originated from factory outets, which were stores that were directly connected to a factory or warehouse. They are usually set away from a city, often in the middle of nowhere. Outlet malls, in general, are much larger than a regular shopping mall. Upstate New York's Woodbury Commons is about 800,000 square feet and Sawgrass Mills in Florida is over 2 million square feet (and has 300 stores). Needless to say, you'll get your exercise in while doing your shopping.

There is a common misconception that outlet malls contain damaged clothing that doesn't meet the standards to be shelved in the retail store. As a 15 year-outlet- mall- shopper veteran, I have never been dissatisfied with the quality of the items I have bought. It is true that some of the items are in outlet stores because they are slightly damaged--usually the store will attach a note to the tag warning the customer of the imperfection. However, many clothes that wind up in outlet centers are not damaged at all, but instead are overstocks or things from last season.

Many designers, such as Ralph Lauren, Coach, and Calvin Klein, use outlet malls as a way to expand their market by reaching a new group of customers. Designers or manufacturers agree to sell certain items at their branded store-the store at the outlet mall. So, the items come straight from the designers. In the case of Ralph Lauren, it often takes up to a year for a new item to hit the outlet store. But, when it does, it will usually be up to 20-40% cheaper than the original retail price. Newer items may not have much of a discount, but on the other hand, some outlet stores have unbelievable discounts. Eddie Bauer often has swimwear and women's suits (items that sell for over $150 in the retail store) marked down under $10!

I think most people would agree that outlet malls aren't for everyone. The over-stressed mom or busy career woman who has exactly 20 minutes to run into the store and find the perfect outfit may not have much luck at the outlet. You never know what you'll find, at certain times stores are stocked with a variety of sizes and colors, while at other times, you may have to pick through a million racks before finding the perfect buy.

So, if you are the patient shopper who doesn't mind waiting a year for your favorite Coach bag to hit the market at a discounted price, the outlet mall might be for you! But, if you like the newest look of the season's collection, check out your favorite designer's website to do your shopping, or look up store locations and take a little trip! Either way, your bound to look good when you are confidently wearing your favorite labels.