How to spot a fake designer brand
For most women, high-end bags, shoes and accessories are an investment – a wardrobe staple that will endure through the years and give a touch of luxury to everyday wear.
The prices of luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Coach and Chanel are sky-high with bags ranging from thousands to tens of thousands apiece, and even the most devoted fashion followers have a tough time swinging those price tags.
However, through re-sale, these indelible brand-name items achieve immortality, and shoppers receive a prized piece of the fashion world for a fraction of the cost. While high-end consignment shops and vintage stores carry their share of luxe goods, the Internet has quickly become the fastest way to source the gently used accessory of your dreams. Sites like eBay offer thousands of listings for the perfect fill-in-the-blank, and their prices bring these items back down to earth for the average shopper.
Attractive prices and authentic-looking photos are often too good to be true.
While there have been knockoffs of fashion pieces as long as there has been “fashion” to speak of, the presence of “fakes” is a different, ugly story. The knockoff and the counterfeit hold the same differentiation as a replication of a piece of art and a forgery – one is an understood, lesser copy to make a thing of beauty available to the masses, while the other subverts the brand and tries to pass itself off as the real deal.
Many local retailers have chosen to become more selective in the designers and lines they chose to carry, specifically to provide authentic, unique pieces in an over-branded market. Knox Goodman’s Boutique in Shreveport is one such shop – offering luxury clothing and accessories from brands like Elaine Turner, Badgley Mischka, Darim Hakim and many more. Knox Goodman’s has discontinued several lines directly due to the fact that some of their pieces, particularly handbags, were so readily copied.
“We now seek out smaller, more exclusive lines to offer our clients, to insure that their investment is made on genuine, worthy items,” James Osborne, manager and buyer at Knox Goodman’s, said.
Osborne said while there are some “great fakes,” experience gives boutiques like Knox Goodman’s a finely-tuned eye for quality and consistency.
A knockoff wallet or scarf will generally have a similar look or pattern as a coveted high-end piece with noticeable discrepancies, like intentional misspellings or slight brand name changes, a discernible quality drop in materials, etc. For example, no one purchasing a “Michael Kars” wallet would labor under the impression that they paid $25 for the genuine article.
But what about the items that look like the real deal, and are priced and promoted accordingly? Industry insiders and fashion experts offer tips to determine if your “find” is all that it seems. According to an article from Forbes.com, there are some surefire ways to weed out the fakes and find your bargain.
1. What is it made of? Do some research to find out what materials your desired item is supposed to be made from, and treat yourself to an exploratory trip to the brand’s actual store or counter. Once you feel the weight of their hardware and the texture of the leather, it will be easier to discern the hollow hardware and plastic feel of a fake. Quick signs to look for are metals with a rough, low-quality finish and low-quality leather that feels slick or sticky instead of dry.
2. Who made it? Another, more tedious method of discovery is through an examination of the workmanship. According to Forbes, “The stitching should be perfectly even, with no loose threads or back and forth stitching at the end of a seam.” You can also check for logo placement – the logo being the real company’s priority, they would not break up their lettering in a seam.
3. Where was it made? Many brands are known for their place of manufacture, but they often have special lines produced in other places. For example, according to Forbes, many counterfeiters mark with “Louis Vuitton” versions “Made in France” across the board. However, at least one line from the actual brand was produced in Spain. Check the origins of the piece in question, and compare with the stamp on the item.
4. It’s all in the details. Forgers are not often able to get a detailed look at the inside of a bag, so that can offer telltale signs of a rotten apple. The linings and pockets of handbags are crafted with care by luxury brands, so do some research on lining color and texture, zipper placements and pockets.
If after doing research you are still on the fence, there are further measures to insure an investment isn’t being wasted; YouTube offers savvy videos to help shoppers make an educated decision, and if you are really dedicated, you can pay an expert to weigh in on the item.
Local boutiques like Knox Goodman’s are also a great resource to avoid the headache of research and possibly squandering of your hard-earned cash. By taking the guesswork out of the process, shoppers are left to enjoy the fun part of finding their perfect fit. “Your big purchases should be about investing in longevity, uniqueness, quality and integrity,” Osborne said. “Whether a retailer or consumer, we have a responsibility for how we spend our dollars and how they affect the planet in so many ways.”
–Kayleigh Plette
