Once a month, well-groomed Indonesian homemaker Widjaya flies to Singapore for her shopping fix.

Instead of hitting high-end stores, however, the self-proclaimed tai-tai checks out her favourite shops in Far East Plaza that sell discounted designer threads.

'I've been trying to spend less lately and as I wear these outfits only once or twice, it's a good way to save money,' says the Hermes Birkin-toting 33-year-old.

While shops that tout themselves as luxe-for-less havens are not new, a rash of them have opened in the last two years.

In Far East Plaza alone, Urban counted at least 11 such shops.

They replenish stocks about once a week and sell brands such as Chloe, DKNY, Karen Millen, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Roberto Cavalli.

Blouses go for as low as $70 while dresses are priced from about $140 for a shift dress from Diane von Furstenberg to $260 for an evening gown from BCBG Max Azria - up to 80 per cent cheaper than the regular prices.

The combination of value and variety draws customers like bees to honey. But a check by Urban found that some of these so-called designer togs are counterfeits of inferior quality that are not worth the money spent.

For instance, one store assistant in Far East Plaza, who declined to be named, admitted that the shop sells fake Chanel scarves and shoes.

Wu Qiong, 33, who owns one of the few reputable stores selling genuine discounted designer goods here, notes that the average customer may not know how to tell real from fake goods.

Her shop in Haji Lane, called I'm Wuyagege, opened in 2007 and specialises in factory overruns of high-end labels mainly from France, Italy and the United States. They include Alexander Wang, BCBG Max Azria and Dolce & Gabbana. Prices start from $169 for a skirt and from $269 for a dress.

She says she gets her stocks from contacts in Italy, who buy them from factory outlets.

Some shoppers remain staunch supporters of such stores despite doubts over the authenticity of their goods. They include the well-to-do as well as discerning fashionistas looking for a bargain.

A 27-year-old private bank manager who wants to be known only as Elinor says she was surprised by the variety of hard-to-find cult brands that some of these shops in Far East Plaza stock.

These include British brands such as Tibi and Catherine Malandrino.

'I do buy branded clothes occasionally but I think it's perfectly fine to mix and match them with the knock-offs once in a while,' she says.

But she advises that customers examine the workmanship of the clothes closely to avoid ending up with poor quality pieces.

A 42-year-old housewife, for instance, says she has had several bad experiences with these knock-offs.

'Sometimes the stitching on the inner seams are frayed and the zippers get stuck easily,' she says.

'You get what you pay for.'