How to Spot Fake Handbags
Posted: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
by alex matthews
Emilio Oneto
From the trash bags of street vendors to the ritziest stores on Rodeo Drive , designer handbags are everywhere. Most of us can't afford the authentic thing (with bags costing, on average, $1,500+), so we gravitate towards the Internet, the streets of big cities, or purse parties for the next best thing. However, those replicas can sometimes be more fake than we thought. Here are five major things to look for when buying a designer knock-off and tips for spotting a spoof.
Many fakes are no longer made of PVC but of reasonably good leather, even lambskin; however, they are seldom as good as the materials labels like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Coach would use. Fake purses tend to be stiff and often have some sort of discoloration. When dealing with replica leather handbags, make sure the leather does not have an uneven look that is consistent. Also, people generally assume designer bags should be lined, which is why many replicas are lined. But, on the contrary, real purses are not.
Look for any kind of misspelling - at all - on labels and tags. In any quality product, the label is stitched in, but in Gucci counterfeits (for example), a cheap hand tag will hang from the handle. Look at authentic purses online, and study the real tags. That way, it will be easier to spot the fake labels. Fake labels are generally cheaply made, unclear in impression, and has a lesser quality of stitching (and the attachment of the label). Two examples: for one, sometimes cheaply replicated Coach bags will include tags with misspelled and run-on words; secondly, Burberry bags will often be stamped "Burberrys" instead of "Burberry - London " in gold or silver on one side.
Luxury retailers put a great deal of care into packaging their products. This includes the works: tissues, wrapping paper, shopping bags, these extra touches are usually part of a real transaction. Look for items that have their original packaging. It's important that the box or bag the item comes in is neither too big nor too small, and is of the same brand as the purse you are purchasing. Makers of luxury goods seldom cram things into boxes or flimsy dust bags. Most luxury dust bags are made of thicker, soft cotton and flannel. Smaller items, like wristlets or wallets, will usually come in boxes.
Everybody knows that details can make or break a dress; well, the same goes for purses. The intricity of threads, leathers, fabrics, metals and stamping make a luxury bag what it is and should be...expensive. Most luxury items don't just come with authenticity cards; they also come with a product booklet with details on the details. Key things to look for when it comes to details: make sure the handles are of equal length, the logo is straight and firmly fastened, the details of the bag match up, and that the zippers are in full working order.
Alex Matthews is a leather industry veteran involved in leather goods manufacturing for the last 15 years. To get additional information about the properties of leather handbags please contact Alex at emilio oneto.
For more information about leather products please visit emilio oneto to realize the benefits leather material.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Very helpful indeed ! I will never be able to afford a Fendi , So at age 59 I guess I will be happy buying my handbags at TJMaxx, not a designer but for a mere $75.00 a beautiful Italian Leather will float my boat anytime.
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