Shanghai-based start-up VeChain is taking a high-tech approach to combatting the counterfeits that plague the high-end fashion market, using blockchain technology to track luxury goods. By charting the history of each item, it can ensure prospective buyers that they're getting the real deal.

Counterfeit goods, from handbags to headphones, are popular among aspirational consumers who can’t afford the real thing. But widespread fakes are having a negative impact on brands looking to sell in India. How do Indians perceive counterfeit goods, and why is the domestic market so huge?

Imagine popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly to find that it tastes slightly off. Or finding that your new Lacoste cologne is suspiciously spelt 'Lacoast'. Unfortunately, more and more Brazilians are facing these disappointments. Can Brazil get a grip on its influx of counterfeit goods?

Blockchain, the digital scaffolding behind cryptocurrency bitcoin, has hit critical mass and is being taken seriously by major conglomerates and governments alike. Canvas8 spoke to technology strategist Paul Armstrong to understand how it might make an impact beyond the financial world.