2015 Dec 9
Designer handbags are off limits for the average Sri Lankan woman and that is why we see the growth in a new market in Sri Lanka that smart handbag vendors have started; The Knockoff Designer Bag market.
One thing that I would ritualistically when I spot a bag that is likely to look like a Michael Kors or a Louis Vuitton or Coach or Gucci and the list can go on and on and on, is look closely enough to see if it’s an original or a knockoff. I’ve been considered rude or nosy by my friends when they see me do this, but trust me ladies, you and I both know that the curiosity to establish in our heads if that particular bag is authentic or not is killing us on the inside.
The other day, I walked into a small handbag boutique down the corner of the street in Nugegoda because I saw some Louis Vuitton bags hung on the door from the inside. I couldn’t believe my senses cause I thought I was seeing an authentic Louis Vuitton with a price tag of just over Rs.4000. I walked in, and requested the vendor to have a look at the bag. It was then that I realised that the workmen in the developing countries in South East Asia have done themselves good by creating a knockoff of the original that would fool anyone at first glance.
With the cost of designer handbags rising with every season and collection they produce, more people turn into using poorly made and less durable fake bags. However, savvy customers can easily spot a fake bag if they’ve seen or used an authentic one. Keep reading to learn how.
The price tag
It’s only Jessie J who’s going to tell you that it aint about the money, but ladies remember always that the price tag matters. Designer bags are sometimes discounted nut they are never marked down to rock bottom clearance prices. Any seller that claims to have designer bags at too-good-to-be-true prices is lying to you, and trust me Sri Lankan vendors are exceptional at bargaining.
If you spot a, let’s say Michael Kors within the price range of Rs.2000 – as high as up to Rs.15000 or more, well consider yourself warned, it’s a fake bag! Prices of designer bags are usually so much more expensive compared to these amounts. It’s usually double or triple this amount.
How it looks
The bags themselves are the biggest source of verification about whether they are authentic or counterfeit. When you’re examining a bag, be sure to look into the details.
- Fabric and Materials: Fake bags use lower quality materials; leather may feel like plastic instead of being soft and supple or the dye job of the fabric is uneven and splotchy.
- Stitching: True designer bags have tight, even stitches, while knock-off bags may have loose, shoddy workmanship, uneven stitches, or even missing stitches where fabric (especially on the interior) is glued rather than sewn.
- Labels: Interior labels of designer bags will say made in Italy, and while some fake designer handbags do as well, others will stipulate made in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, or other manufacturing nations.
- Designer Logos: Most designers affix signature logo plates to their bags. Those plates should be crisply printed, while fake plates may be blurry or slightly inaccurate. A common trick is to misspell the designer’s name: Prada becomes Proda, for example. Also look for logos printed on interior linings – fake bags often lack this detail.
- Authenticity Documentation: Designer bags often come with certificates of authenticity to prove their origins. Fake bags will be missing this paperwork, though sellers may claim it will be mailed or was simply lost.
- Incorrect Styling: Counterfeits may be offered in colors or styles that authentic bags are not. Don’t believe sellers who try to claim that the unusual design is simply rare and therefore a better deal.
- Misaligned Details: Bags that use rivets or crystals, such as Juicy Couture handbags, should have straight lines and symmetrical spacing; fake bags are less carefully assembled and may have poorly aligned accents.
- Initial Damage: Designer bags are carefully wrapped (typically in paper or tissue) for protection until they reach the consumer. Any bag that exhibits damage when it is supposedly “new” is likely a fake item – look for scratches, scuffs, small tears, and other seemingly minor imperfections. The fashion handbag industry prides itself on superior quality, and such scratch-and-dent items would never be permitted to be sold.
If you do find yourself with a fake designer bag, the best option is to inform relevant authorities about it because the production and sale of counterfeit products is illegal. Don’t ever be fooled and be forced into buying a fake designer bag. It may look good at first glance, but always look into the nitty-gritty details. Owning a fake bag isn’t really a possession. It’s fake as it is and very less durable. Save up and buy an authentic, you’ll see the difference.
