How to spot fake luxury items
An online seller was recently arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for selling counterfeit luxury items that included bags, wallets, scarves, and other leather goods.
According to a report by John Consulta on Unang Balita, buyers who were duped by the suspect came from different countries such as the U.S., Taiwan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.
Nowadays, knock-offs can really be harder to spot, as fakers become wiser and more crafty and have the technology that can help them replicate genuine luxury items easily.
So, in order to help you check whether a pre-loved luxury item or a brand new designer piece that you're buying from a third party seller is indeed authentic, below are some pointers from fashion vloggers, authentication experts, and entrepreneurs that you should keep in mind.
Stitching in a fake Hermes (left) versus in a genuine one (right) / Source: @HeyChenny (YouTube)
Stitching
Chenny Long, a fashion vlogger and entrepreneur from Canada, showed the stitching on a fake versus a real Hermes bag in one of her vlogs. It's quite noticeable how the stitching in authentic luxury bags have smaller gaps.
Smell
Fake designer bags smell funny or more chemical-like and “plasticky.” The leather on authentic bags actually smells good.
Turn lock
The turn locks in genuine luxury bags like Hermes tend to turn smoothly, while dupes tend to be more stiff.
Strap of a fake luxury bag / Source: @HeyChenny (YouTube)
Strap
Authentic luxury bags have fine stitching even on the straps. If yours has roughly done stitching, then it's likely fake.
Zipper
Fake designer bags often have faulty zippers and to be easier to unzip and zip back than the authentic ones. If it zips and unzips too easily, it probably is fake. Zippers of real designer bags are also thicker than fake ones.
Leather
Epsom leather, which is the material used in an Hermes Mini Kelly, is softer than fake leather. If it feels a bit stiff or hard, chances are it's a knock-off.
Engraving in a fake (left) versus real (right) Louis Vuitton Bandouliere Bag / Source: Anne Magkawas (YouTube)
Engraving
Anna Magkawas, vlogger and owner of luxonlineph and bagloungeph, showed the difference of the engraving work in a counterfeit Louis Vuitton bag versus the real one in one of her YouTube videos. She said the engraving on original luxury bags are always readable and nicely done. It should look flawless.
The color of a fake LV bag versus a genuine one / Source: Anne Magkawas (YouTube)
Color
Anna also emphasized how a fake Louis Vuitton Bandouliere Bag is darker in color than the authentic one.
The difference in the size indicator in an authentic LV bag (above) versus a counterfeit (below) / Source: Anne Magkawas (YouTube)
Size indicator
In Louis Vuitton bags, the size indicator is often hidden behind the leather attached to the strap ring or D ring. But in fake ones, they're not concealed at all.
Strap ring/D ring
Louis Vuitton's D ring is made from metal brass. Fake ones tend to look bigger or chunkier than real ones.
Weight
This one can be tricky as some fake bags tend to be lighter or heavier than authentic ones. The best way to know is to familiarize yourself with genuine ones.
Charms
Fake ones have lighter charms compared to real ones.
The box of a genuine LV bag (above) versus the box of a knock-off LV bag / Source: Anne Magkawas (YouTube)
Box
Louis Vuitton boxes have a rough texture on its surface and the logo or text is embossed and not flat like in knock-offs. Original boxes also do not have holes on its sides. But she warns that some knock-offs are now just good as real ones.
Chenny Long shows a fake Chanel authentication card / Source: @HeyChenny (YouTube)
Authentication card
Chenny Long says the Chanel authentication card doesn't come with plastic. Plus according to of TheRealReal, Hermes doesn't issue an authentication card for any of their items,
As for the shoes, the ways to tell if it's genuine or not highly depends on what kind of footwear it is and how it was designed by the luxury brand. Here are some famous luxury shoes that are often faked and how you can spot the real ones.
The fake Valentino Rockstud Heels versus the real deal / Source: Shea Whitney (YouTube)
Valentino Rockstud Heels
Fahsion vlogger Shea Whitney says that the knock-off Valentino Rockstyd Heels had crooked studs and fraying on its straps. Plus, it has shorter heels and doesn't have a snug fit. Real ones are more comfy and tailored.
A knock-off (left) versus a real Chanel Tweed Sneakers / Source: insider (YouTube)
Chanel Tweed Sneakers
In an Insider video, producers Aly Weisman and A.C. Fowler consulted authenticity expert Graham Wetzbarger from the popular consignment shop in Soho, The RealReal, on how to spot counterfeits from real ones. For the Chanel Tweed Sneakers, Graham says authentic ones usually have a well-crafted Chanel logo in the back and high quality quilting.
Can you tell which pair of Chanel Espadrilles is the genuine one? / Source: insider (YouTube)
Chanel Espadrilles
The Chanel Espadrilles's leather should have a buttery feel to it since it is made from lamb skin . Plus, the rubber on the sole should be soft or malleable, not stiff like the ones in dupes.
A genuine white Adidas Yeezy Boost and a knock-off / Source: insider (YouTube)
Adidas Yeezy Boost
The Adidas Yeezy Boost holds its shape better than its knock-off counterpart.
Here's an added tip, according to Graham if anything says “Made in Paris,” that's a dead giveaway that the item is a fake, since it's always the country of origin that's indicated and not the city.
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You might also want to check out the hottest Louis Vuitton outfits of Heart Evangelista in the gallery below.