What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | Rebroadcast: Dupes!
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Nov 28, 2025 
Mia Sato, a technology and culture reporter for The Verge, dives into the intriguing world of 'dupes'—the budget-friendly knockoffs that flood the market. She explores how viral trends, like a Taylor Swift skirt, ignite shopping frenzies. From skincare to travel, Mia reveals how social media and fast manufacturing create a booming dupe economy. With a focus on the moral implications, she discusses if dupes undermine creators or simply serve savvy consumers. The conversation highlights the fine line between inspiration and imitation in today's digital marketplace.
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Viral Celebrity Boosts A Small Designer
- Cassie Ho excitedly discovered Taylor Swift wearing her Pirouette Skort, which made the design go viral.
- That quick exposure turned a niche product into mass demand almost overnight.
Unlimited Shelf Space Accelerates Dupes
- The internet's limitless shelf space and fast manufacturing enable rapid dupe creation and distribution.
- A viral image can lead to prototype production within days and shipping soon after.
Skincare As The Dupe Gateway
- The host describes SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic as a gateway product that many try to dupe.
- Listeners commonly weigh whether expensive original skincare is worth paying for versus cheaper dupes.