Everywhere you look these days there appears to be women carrying around luxury handbags and purses. The first question that crosses our mind is “how can she afford that?” If someone has an average job working as a customer service agent and walks into work with a Prada or Louis Vuitton bag, the chances of their bag being authentic is very slim. Knock-off bags have been around for as long as I can remember. The construction of these bags are so close to the original that some people who look to buy the real thing are duped into buying a fake. Here are a few clues that can help you decipher whether or not you’re carrying a Gucci or a Fucci.
Materials. Fake bags are usually a lot stiffer than the real thing. Most of them are also made with plastic instead of leather. Don’t be fooled by the attached hardware. The authentic bags have solid and heavier hardware than that of the knock-off bags.
Workmanship. The stitching should be perfectly even with no loose threads or back-and-forth stitching at the end of a seam. That’s a sign of sloppy construction. Most designer bags are hand-sewn which is the reason why they cost so much. Check the seams for matching patterns. They should match precisely no matter the location.
Lining. If you have gone to a boutique and seen the lining color in person, you immediately have an advantage. It should be precisely the same shade as the real thing not a close approximation.
Place of manufacture. Know where the brand that you purchased is made. If that label says “Made in Mexico,” and you know that Chanel is manufactured in France then you already know that it is a knock-off.
Misspellings. This is the #1 way to tell that the bag is not authentic. No one wants to be caught carrying around a bag with a misspelled name that is supposed to cost $600.
Knock off bags give people of a certain demographic the option to feel just as stylish as the next. If you are able to purchase the real deal and do not want to be duped, look for these clues when you make your purchase.
By: Foxx Mouton
