How to Spot Fake Bags: 5 Ways to Tell Real Designer Purses

It might be tempting to grab that “on-sale” designer bag online, but make sure you can trust the retailer before clicking the buy button.

Since counterfeiting designer bags is rampant nowadays, buying only from trusted retailers is best, so you won’t be ripped off.

The easiest way to buy real handbags is to buy from authorized stores, department stores, and online retailers (Credit: Ehrlif / Shutterstock)

In April 2016, CNN reported that the business of fakes and counterfeit goods is worth as much as $461 billion.

While buying a fake handbag may seem harmless on the surface, a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warns that it is “a significant economic threat that undermines innovation and hampers economic growth.”

Because of their widespread popularity, Louis Vuitton and Chanel are two of the most commonly copied bags. In April 2019, 5,000 counterfeit items were seized at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Counterfeit bags are often made in unsanitary conditions and can smell bad because they are made with low-quality materials that can have a strong odor (Credit: Nicoleta Ionescu / Shutterstock)

The products included 1,242 counterfeit Gucci belts, 678 pairs of counterfeit Nike shoes, 531 counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags, 500 counterfeit Samsung adaptors, 502 counterfeit Gucci fanny packs, 230 counterfeit Hermes handbags, 192 counterfeit Casio Shock watches, 144 counterfeit Ferragamo belts, 100 counterfeit Versace belts, and 119 counterfeit Fendi shorts.

If you’ve been thinking about getting your hands on a designer bag, take some time to do a little inspection first, especially if it is a second-hand or pre-loved item from an online retailer.

Real designer bags are made with care and attention to detail. The stitching should be neat and even, and the hardware should be made of high-quality metal. Fake bags may have sloppy stitching or cheap hardware. Read on below for hints on how to spot fake designer bags.

1. Expect the price to be on the heftier side

Designer handbags are expensive for a reason. There is a great deal that happens during the production of these purses.

If you are being offered a “designer bag” for just $250, but it normally retails in the market for $2,500, chances are it’s fake. If the price of a purse sounds too good to be true, the bag is most likely not authentic.

Even if the bag is pre-loved, a genuine designer purse will never be extremely cheap. In November 2019, CNBC reported that many purses sold on The RealReal, an online luxury consignment store, are fakes.

2. The hardware quality should be consistent

Unless it’s a special edition, the hardware of designer bags should all have the same color and finish. If the zipper is gold, all hardware should be the same.

An exception would be Chloe bags, as this brand makes bags with mixed hardware.

Counterfeit bags usually don’t have the same high-quality hardware as real handbags

Also, check that the zippers can open and close smoothly. Most brands put a brand stamp on their hardware, which should match the actual logo of the brand.

3. The stitching should be even and of good quality thread

Oftentimes, the stitching on the bags is a dead giveaway. Fake purses might copy the style and look of popular designer goods, but if you look closely, there will usually be obvious signs.

You should expect perfection when it comes to the stitching on a designer bag

The stitching on fake bags is uneven, sloppy, slanted, and even frayed. Cheap bags are also often just glued at the seams instead of stitched. Genuine designer bags have even and high-quality stitching throughout.

4. Know your genuine leather

Leather can never be faked. Designer knockoffs typically use cheap leather for their bags, but this material has a different feel, look, and smell from genuine leather. Fake leather can feel sticky and rough; some look shiny like plastic.

The below Hermès ‘Birkin’ bag is crafted in genuine crocodile leather with gold hardware. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), it can take the skins of four crocodiles to make a single bag.

Real designer bags are made with high-quality materials, such as leather, suede, and canvas

No matter how old, high-quality leather remains soft and dry to the touch. After some time, genuine leather oxidizes and turns into a rich, honeyed color. This is most common in Louis Vuitton bags.

5. Study packaging and authenticity cards

Other small details to which you should pay attention include the bag’s label, packaging (box and dust bag), and authenticity cards.

While many counterfeiters now copy small details like these, the real deal should display perfectly stamped, printed, or embossed labels. To be sure, check out the brand’s official website and compare the details.

The logo on an authentic designer bag should be clear and well-defined. The font should be consistent, and the letters should be evenly spaced. Fake bags may have a blurry or poorly printed logo.

Counterfeiters often make mistakes when copying logos and labels. Be on the lookout for misspellings or grammatical errors.

Many designer brands have serial numbers that you can look up to verify the bag’s authenticity. However, some counterfeiters have been known to forge serial numbers. Therefore, it is essential to use the serial number as one of many factors when verifying the authenticity of a bag.