7 ways to spot a fake designer handbag

You’ve wanted it for so long. You’ve had your eye on one particular handbag. You have saved money, and finally you’re ready to buy your brand-new fashion item. But before you do, just think of all those retailers eager to sell you a very good replica or, in some cases, a decent fake copy of designer bags. Really, it’s like buying a luxury car for men: you have to be very attentive to small details and know everything about your dream handbag.

We at Bright Side decided to come up with this short yet very useful guide that will teach you how to choose the real thing and hopefully will prevent you from buying a fake copy.

Attention to details

Every single item produced by any worldwide famous brand is very carefully checked for defects before its release. All of the stitches should be perfectly even, and there should be no loose threads or any other visual defects or imperfections. All genuine designer handbags are handmade, so if sellers try to convince you that it’s just a manufacturing defect, don’t listen to their stories. There’s no such thing as a manufacturing defect for authentic handbags.

Clasps, buttons, and zippers

Pay special attention to small things like metal clasps, buttons, zipper pulls, plates, and locks. Their quality should be perfect, and they will have a number or a name printed on them, which is another sign of quality and authenticity.

For example, every Hermes bag has the stamp logo ‘Hermes Paris made in France’ and another stamp on the back of the flap indicating the year and material used.

Materials

A famous brand doesn’t use rough leather. They use fine, high-quality materials only. Items with leather trim should not be oily or sticky. Some designer handbags can be soft and flexible, but they all maintain their shape no matter what.

Brand names

Sometimes we can be too much into the details, and we don’t even notice the main thing: the name of the brand. Surprisingly, fake items often have the brand names printed in different fonts, smudgy letters, or even with misspellings. Tags and labels are always a giveaway.

Serial number

A serial number is one of the most important marks of authenticity. The label with the number is sealed and attached in a special way, making it impossible to remove without damaging it. Fake items usually have the sticker with a number that has just been glued somewhere on the surface.

Packaging

Keep in mind that an expensive designer handbag always has expensive packaging, often made of the most high-quality materials. The package your precious bag comes in should have no color defects whatsoever. All the additional accessories should be packed as a whole set with the bag. They’re never offered for extra payment or as a gift.

Distinct characteristics

Before visiting a store, try to do a little research on the specific attributes of the chosen brand. Remember that each brand has its very own distinct characteristics.

For example, an authentic Prada item will never use a contrasting color for the lining compared to the exterior color. One of the main things you should know about Prada is that they always use a perfectly matching color for lining and exterior material. As for Dior, look for their unique bright red lining with the brand logo woven throughout. A shiny, super silky lining is a bad sign.