If you, like many women, want either the real thing or nothing at all, listen up; we're about to reveal the subtle differences between real and replica purses.
Ever heard the saying: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?" Most designers would disagree, especially when it comes to premium purses. You see, most consumers can't really tell a good fake from the real thing.
According to the International Chamber of Commerce, counterfeiting makes up five to seven percent of global trade, or $450 to $500 billion. While any name brand is at risk for counterfeiting, the most commonly ripped-off labels include Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, Christian Dior, Prada, Gucci and Burberry.
So, how can you tell the difference? Experts say it's the small details that are often overlooked by manufacturers of designer knockoffs. All you need to do is take the time to pick apart the fakes to reveal their many flaws.
Watch for lining that isn't stitched in, but glued on. The same goes for labels.
The material used can also be a dead giveaway; if the signature plaid of a Burberry bag is even slightly askew, it's a fake.
Some knockoffs do take the time to stitch the lining into place; in these, look for threading that is pulling in spots. A real designer bag would have near-perfect threading.
Ask where the bag was made or look for a label. If you see "Made in China," you can pretty much pass up that purse. Do some research before you go shopping, so you know where the real thing is manufactured.
Real Bag for Your Buck
Arguably, the dominant force in designer purses is Louis Vuitton. If genuine Vuitton is what you're after, refer to our list of guidelines before you buy a "bona fide" bag.
The classic Louis Vuitton monogram bags run from $400 to more than $1,000. If you're paying any less, you're not getting the real deal. Fakes range in price from $20 to $80.
Real Louis Vuitton purse snaps are monogrammed. Manufacturers of replica Vuittons often skip that specific.
Legit Louis bags usually start out with light leather. Over time, the leather will wear and darken.
Take a close look at the handles, which should be made of an entire strip of natural leather. When first purchased, the handle is light tan in color; over the course of a few weeks, it should oxidize and turn into a darker, cognac color. Fake bags don't change color like this because the handles are usually painted.
The stitching on the handles should be clean and consistent, and should use yellow thread. The sides of the handles should be a shiny, glazed red.
The zipper pull should be brass hardware, heavy to the touch. Look for a neatly imprinted "LV" symbol on it.
The canvas of the bag shouldn't be too soft or stiff, or "oily" or shiny.
The LV monogram should have irregular brown lines through the gold-colored letters, and flower pattern. Fake monograms may be a solid color or look too green or orange.
Ask for ID. There should be a card with the style number and name inside the bag.
Know what styles of the bags are genuine and look at the lining. Fake bags often come in styles and colors not available in the real thing and the lining will be different.
It Just Makes Sense
So, what do you do if you don't possess an expert eye for detail? Well, common sense is the simplest way to increase your odds of getting the real deal.
Buying a bag out of a car trunk or elsewhere on the street pretty much guarantees you a fake.
Common places to find counterfeits in North America include the Chinatown and garment districts of bigger cities, kiosks in shopping malls, flea markets and, most recently, online, at a variety of Web sites and, perhaps most predominantly, at online auction sites like eBay.
Travelers will find a plethora of phony merchandise in countries like China, Mexico and Thailand, where mass manufacturing is a big industry. Since those countries don't have a big enough police force to enforce trademark laws, counterfeiting runs rampant.
Beware of "purse parties," where a seller brings a selection of fake handbags, wallets and accessories to a private gathering to show and sell (the modern version of the Tupperware party). A good hostess will inform her friends ahead of time that the merchandise they'll be looking at is not the real thing.
Remember: there are only a handful of Web sites authorized to sell the genuine items. Your best bet for buying online is to go straight to the source: the actual designer's site.
Did You Know?
Selling counterfeits is definitely illegal, but so is buying them. While you can't be prosecuted for buying counterfeit items, they could be confiscated from you when you pass through, say, an airport.
Buying counterfeit merchandise helps keep sweatshops and child labor in third world countries in business.
If you want the real thing but can't afford to buy it, look for department and chain store items that closely resemble designer bags in look. Brands like Guess imitate the Coach signature print, replacing the "C" with a "G," and emulate the distinct triangular, metal Prada label by printing "Guess" in the middle instead of "Prada." These aren't considered counterfeits because they imitate the fashion style, not the actual logo, which is considered "artistic license."
Alicia Says:
Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:53 pm
How do i know if the leather is real!
veronica Says:
Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:25 am
do fendis have to have a number. i purchase a fendi that says fendi made in italy, on the inside and on the handle it says fendi, on top, and on bottom. how can i tell if it is real. or a fake
Melissa Says:
Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:59 am
hey I purchased a fendi off e-bay and she said that she got it from neimen marcus and that is where she gets all her bags I would like to know how can you tell if a fendi is fake or real I would really like to hear from you thank You Melissa
geofferson faudan Says:
Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:42 pm
while everything has been written and said... there's one thing that can add up to that for everyone to know...
SRBAG Says:
Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:50 pm
***srbag*** sell replica handbags and watches
alex Says:
Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:07 pm
We all know that there are some names that stick out when it comes to the very best in Designer handbags and the one that usually tops everyone¡¯s list is Louis Vuitton. That famous designer has a past that included the usual ups and downs that comes with any career , but everyone agrees that it was a good thing the business held its ground. And with the advent of the Internet, it¡¯s now possible to shop for stylish exact replica designer handbags at places like Ereplicasupplier***.
JASMINE Says:
Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:37 am
How can i tell when a coach purse is fake when it has the numbers inside the bag?
ALISHA Says:
Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:30 pm
how can you tell its fake...?? by just looking at the style am in fashion class we learn whats fake and whats not...if the color and pattern dont look right its fake..
Chrisitna Says:
Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:26 pm
Hello,
veronica Says:
Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:55 pm
i bought a coach purse on e bay everything looks rite but the inside looks slitley different wuld it be a knock off it has all the tags and says coach everywhere no threads are out.
Marilyn M. Says:
Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:14 am
well veronica i have been checkin out some web site on real or fake bags, i found a site that showed on the fake bags of coach and i noticed there "C" monogram is different from my coach auth. bag ( brought in coach store) you know the 2 C's that are facing each other and linked together? the C's on top and bottom of it are facing upwards, on the fake they were all facing downwards. i hope this kinda helped you.
Says:
Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:11 pm
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Jessica Says:
Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:54 am
So perfect, you can`t tell the difference!
krista Says:
Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:20 am
I purchased a LV at a purse party and it actually had the ID card in it.Is it possible that it could be real?The hostess told us that some are knock offs and some are seconds???Please help!
Milly Says:
Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:11 am
PLEASE HELP :)
star Says:
Fri Oct 31, 2008 4:01 am
I like the perfect
valeria Says:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:52 pm
omg i bought a lv at a garage sale the girl said she didnt know if it was real or not i checked the tag it said made in france and also it has lv on the zipper i also went to a store that sold desiner bags and they said it looked real i went to another store and they said it was fake HELP!!!!!:[
jasmine Says:
Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:56 am
i have a bag that my boyfriend bought me for my birthday and im confident that it is the real thing but i just dont know how to tell. i dont remember havin an id tag with it but it came in a tan colored cloth in side a really bid box and inside an even bigger bag. the tag on the side says louis vuitton paris made in italy and it is the brown monogram print. what signs can i look fro, for a fake
Boomer Says:
Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:56 am
Re this Quote:" Ask where the bag was made or look for a label. If you see "Made in China," you can pretty much pass up that purse. Do some research before you go shopping, so you know where the real thing is manufactured."
brian Says:
Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:36 am
im looking for a louis vuitton purse for my girlfriend what are some more things to figure out if its fake or fendi
Ann Says:
Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:45 pm
I bought a coach and it looked so real that I took it to Macy's and exchanged it for another style. They never questioned it I said it was a gift.
Lenka Says:
Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:46 pm
Hi,
fennie Says:
Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:39 am
Ann Says:
fennie Says:
Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:36 pm
Ann Says:
Susie Says:
Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:28 pm
Someone is proud of the fact they took a replica purse to a store
Ellen Says:
Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:24 pm
I see Coach purses online and can't tell if they are fake or not. When I go to google and ask for fake coach purses to see if I can tell the difference, I CAN'T!! It drives me crazy. Merry Christma to all and to all a good mid-day.
MrsB Says:
Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:28 pm
In an article I read in Harper's today, it came to my attention that the owners of shops that produce knock off handbags employee children ages 8-10. The article said that the owners break a child's leg and tie it up in such a way that it will never heal. This is done because the child want to play outside and the owner wants them to work 12-hour days. How can this type of thing still be going on? Apparently, the government is very corrupt but still, how can you overlook such horrid inhumanity? I just don't get it except that it all boils down to greed. I'd never buy a knockoff no matter how cheap.
Kaile Says:
Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:53 am
I have a small LV Bag It says Made in USA and NOt made in france but it has the LV symbole on the zipper Im not to sure about the handel about the whole changeing color thing as the weeks go by but I need to know if I got ripped off or not do you think It real?
Amanda Says:
Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:37 pm
My sister bought me an LVthe monogramed snaps and everything, but i'm kind of confused about the leather and logo. It is the white leather version and has the LV, but I never got a card with it. It also has the leather handles and the sides are red, but I'm not entirely sure if my sister and I both got ripped off. She would never purposely buy a fake and she is NOT cheap (lets just say money is not an issue for her). I never knew that people could actually steal the logo because my friend had one and she said hers was real, but it looked totally fake; different symbols and whatnot. I wish people wouldn't lie about buying counterfeit bags and trying to pass them off as real. It seems like they're trying to pose as a wealthy person, but by buying fake bags, they're really showing that they are cheap liars.
Jessica/smileface Says:
Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:52 pm
some of these bag should be a lower price for people to bag.if they do not have the money for it.
Jeanie Says:
Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:49 am
if is a real lether, it can't be burn
jeanie Says:
Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:05 am
Lv is very easy to see its is fake or not.
. Says:
Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:44 pm
its super easy to tell from fake to real.
ZUZANA Says:
Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:17 pm
I bought a burberry bag in BURBERRY SHOP in Madrid and inside it is written, made in china....so have I been misled? Did I buy a fake bag in BB shop?
sharah Says:
Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:04 pm
i bought a ferromoda bag from a charity shop. Its in really good condition, the stitching is really good, but im nt sure if its real or fake. How can you tel?
MIKE ARENS Says:
Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:38 pm
I bought 1998 Harley Davidsion Softail at a local Auction -- After the puchuse of $11000 I found the tile indicates the motorcycle ifs a "Kraf". The badging on the replica was donne very well. Any suggestions -- The Auction Company will not reimbuse any money. I know it is not a hand bag , but I value your responses. Thanks
lois swoboda Says:
Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:46 am
does the louis vuitton purse sunset bld. come in purple????? or just in red and what looks like a chocolate color? please tell me
Coachluver Says:
Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:10 pm
i just want to say something that you could do to save money and have some bags. This is what i do: i splurge on a real designer bag (get it from the real designer store to make sure that its real), then to get some handbags, just buy fake ones. It looks real and when your shopping, no one will know that its a fake because it would look weird if they stare closely at your bag in public. It also helps you save money. Why get expensive designer bags, if anything happens to it, that's it? You could get an EXACT imitation of a Louis Vuitton bag for like $40, instead of paying $1,000- something dollars for a real one that could be stolen be somebody and sold on Ebay. I just wanted to tell you what I do.
Claire Says:
Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:38 pm
here's a website where you can buy fake designer purses: ***basicreplica***
KATIE Says:
Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:57 pm
WHAT IF THE LINKS ARE TURNING COLOR?
Jade Says:
Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:33 pm
i got a Louis Vuitton bag and i cant tell if its real and i dont want to go round with a fake bag ... the design is the same one on the page with the flower is it fake because it says the style in the picture is fake
dave Says:
Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:49 am
i bought a purse (coach) on the streets, the lady had several, they all had tags from coach, and the paper work, and the (NO. numbers) how do i know is real? It has the bast sewing, and has the ykk on zipper
Dan Harig Says:
Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:07 pm
I still can't tell if my bag is real, its a LV Keepall 60 luggage bag, it has a small leather date tag that says 1780-003. I have many pictures if someone would like to see.
anne Says:
Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:30 am
***forum.purseblog***/
SUE! Says:
Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:54 pm
erm...
Donna Says:
Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:44 pm
Hi...I have a Louis Vuitton Hand Bag.
Alia Says:
Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:41 pm
Like who really cares if the bag is real or not???? Take the $300 to over $1000 that you spend on these stupid bags and help the homeless and hungry in your community!!! In three or four years your bag won't be "popular" anymore and you will be on to the next thing.....but the homeless could be in a home and the hungry not dead!
Anisa Says:
Fri May 01, 2009 11:14 pm
i hav that white multicoloured bag .. and i love it to death !!
Chantal Says:
Tue May 05, 2009 1:43 am
How do you turn in someone you know is making $100k-$200k per year selling knock offs on a big internet website?
Natalie Says:
Tue May 12, 2009 4:41 pm
have you ever heard that on a real louis vuitton bag, the LV is never cut off ?
fake designer handbags Says:
Wed May 13, 2009 6:04 pm
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Teonie Harland Says:
Fri May 15, 2009 7:32 am
FAKE IS BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brianna ray Says:
Wed May 20, 2009 2:01 pm
i feel that fake purses nake yu look fake as well. so that is why i love them real purses...
monica duarte Says:
Sat May 23, 2009 8:20 pm
i like to eat chicken in my bag
GRouston Says:
Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:59 pm
We have several handbags we purchased over the years we do not need or use any longer and want to sell them, ned to know if we were dupped, purchased real or fake, how do we know and can we send pictures to verify?
Tish Says:
Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:41 pm
omg i brought mine from a market for £20
btatz Says:
Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:39 am
hi.just wondering if the real lv bag thread color color inside uses brown? and the serial number can be found on the side of the cellphone pocket?
linda yeulenski Says:
Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:58 pm
I bought a lv at a garage sale. How can I tell if it is real or fake. It has the lv on the zippers. It has the made in france label and the serial number below it. The zipper pull inside has the lv on it also. I wish I knew, can you help? thanks
Ever heard the saying: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?" Most designers would disagree, especially when it comes to premium purses. You see, most consumers can't really tell a good fake from the real thing.
Shan Swimwear
