Ultimate Style Guide: How to Spot a Fake Designer Item
Learn effective tips to identify counterfeit luxury fashion items and protect your investment.
Over the past two decades, counterfeit fashion brands have caused the loss of 2.5 million jobs worldwide. Today, fake products account for 7% of global trade volume. By 2015, the fashion industry’s revenue loss due to counterfeiting was estimated to reach $17 trillion.
The more popular a brand, the higher the chance it will be copied. Globally, only 34% of people are confident they’ve never encountered a counterfeit product.
Are you sure you haven’t?
Beware of Counterfeits!
Unfortunately, absolute certainty is hard to achieve. The statistics above prove the fashion world is flooded with fakes.
The most commonly counterfeited items include:
- Burberry clutches
- CHANEL handbags
- Louis Vuitton wallets
- Gucci sunglasses
- Cartier watches
It’s one thing to laugh at a picture of “Abibas” sneakers, but quite another to spend hundreds of dollars on a low-quality counterfeit.
To help you avoid this, we’ve compiled clear tips to distinguish genuine designer items from cheap imitations.
How to Recognize a Fake?
Seams
Inspect the seams under labels, around zippers, and pockets. Genuine products have straight, continuous, and neat stitching with no loose threads.
High-quality designer items usually feature tighter seams, with more stitches per centimeter than fakes.
Leather
Designer pieces often use genuine leather, which has an uneven texture and a subtle, distinctive aroma. Synthetic leather tends to have a uniform porous texture and a strong chemical scent.
Zippers
Zippers should move smoothly, match in color, and have heavy, well-made pulls. Designer items usually feature matte-finished, high-quality hardware, while fakes often use cheap, glossy gold-colored metal.
The best way to assess metal quality is by comparing it directly with an authentic item.
Buttons
Buttons should be securely sewn and bear the designer’s name. Counterfeits often fail at these small but telling details.
Logo
The logo must be flawless. Any deviation from the original design indicates a fake.
Most branded bags feature metal emblems with their logos; plastic logos are a red flag. Also, the stitching on the emblem should match the rest of the item.
Material
Luxury brands use premium materials not only on the exterior but also inside the product.
Labels
Check the label for correct language, spelling, and grammar. Over-the-top claims like “100% natural” should raise suspicion about authenticity.
Price
If the price seems unbelievably low, it probably is a fake. Extremely cheap prices are a sure sign of poor-quality counterfeit products.
Packaging
High-end designer items come with quality packaging such as branded bags, boxes, and delicate tissue paper.
Additional Tips:
- When purchasing expensive designer items, buy from reputable large stores or directly from brand boutiques to avoid counterfeits.
- For online purchases, thoroughly verify the seller’s contact details, including legal and physical addresses, tax IDs, and other credentials. Avoid websites with suspicious names featuring terms like “discount” or “special offer.”
- Remember, consumer protection laws allow you to return defective products, including online purchases. If you receive a counterfeit, familiarize yourself with your local consumer rights laws and assert your rights.
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