October 18, 2024, 2:36 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Have you ever held a fake designer handbag in your hand? Or better yet, do you know if you’ve ever held one? It’s often not easy to spot them at online auctions, flea markets, or second-hand stores. The quality of fakes is constantly increasing, and they are often almost indistinguishable from the original. STYLEBOOK has tips on how you can still spot fakes.
Overview
1. The material
Most original designer handbags are made of high-quality leather, often from cattle or deer. This is heavier than artificial leather and darkens with rain, sun, and everyday use. Handles and grips also tend to become greasy. This is often not the case with fake handbags made of artificial leather. Better fakes are made of lower quality leather, for example, from sheep, which you can recognize by the strong smell.
It may sound strange, but it is effective: take the bag in your hand and close your eyes. Feel the leather and smell it. This will give you a feel for the quality of the product. The reason is that you can easily sniff out glue and plastic.
2. The seams
Pay attention to the number and quality of the seams. On originals, these are neither broken or uneven nor made of different colored threads. What’s more, most originals consist of just a few pieces of leather. The underside, for example, consists largely of one complete piece of leather and, therefore, has no seams. Caution: Even if everything looks genuine at first glance, take a look inside the bag. Counterfeit handbags often have a poorer finish on the inside than on the outside.
3. The processing of metal elements
Great importance is attached to this in the manufacture of luxury bags: The metal elements must be very well-finished and function without any problems, and the same applies to the zippers. A tip: YKK brand zippers are not used in the manufacture of designer bags.
4. The logo
Original logos are generally not cut and do not disappear in a seam. But, of course, there are exceptions, even with originals. Also, check the monogram, such as the famous intertwined double C (for Coco Chanel), LV, or GG. Are the letters arranged regularly, or is the coating applied evenly? On counterfeit handbags, the color usually runs out and/or is applied in small dots.
5. Brand-specific features
Is there a date stamp or a serial number? Ask to see these. On originals, serial numbers are usually written together, but on many counterfeits, they contain spaces. At Louis Vuitton, for example, the article/serial number consists of two letters and four digits: The letters indicate where the bag was manufactured and the digits when. The first and third digits stand for the month, and the second and fourth for the year of manufacture. Also, look out for special features depending on the label. Marc Jacobs, for example, has embossed all zippers with “Lampo” or “RiRi.”
6. The receipts
Are receipts, invoices, certificates of authenticity, etc., available? Do these also correspond in font and design to the claim of the fashion house? Are the original box and dust bag included? If these points are met, it is still not 100% certain that the item is original, but it is more likely. Important: Originals are never wrapped in foil or packed in plastic.
7. The origin
Beware of bargains! Unlike Prada or Burberry, Louis Vuitton products are not available in outlet stores. The same applies to B-goods. Most designer brands would never offer second-rate products. Most of these come from dubious productions. If in doubt, keep your hands off them.
8. Take a look at the original online
If you are still unsure, check the official website of the designer label. Is the bag you want also in the range there? If so, check certain features such as lettering, pattern, and color as best you can. Most labels even offer a service that provides precise model-specific information on the differences between original and counterfeit handbags. A number of forums, blogs, and websites have also been created on this topic.
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Is my handbag genuine or not?
Unfortunately, there is only one way to be 100 percent sure: don’t buy your handbag from street vendors, but rather from an official retailer or a reputable designer online store.