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LVMH’s powerhouse brand, Louis Vuitton is one of the most sought-after luxury labels in the world. Its iconic LV canvas monogram and its coveted trunks have stolen the hearts of millions of fashion lovers. The French luxury brand has also been adored by celebrity fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O.
If you are one of the many women who dream of owning a luxury bag from Louis Vuitton – we don’t blame you. Like a classic cashmere sweater, a Louis Vuitton bag is a wardrobe staple that is resilient against fashion trends. It is the type of bag that can be used to accessorize outfits for the next decade and beyond!
Whether you want to invest in a new bag from Louis Vuitton or to gift a loved one, the first thing to do is to make sure that you are buying an authentic Louis Vuitton bag. Because I’m sure that you don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on a fake designer bag.
Unless you are an expert at identifying fake Louis Vuitton handbags, it can be quite difficult to spot a knock-off. Unfortunately, many shady companies have made counterfeit products of lv bags that are so identical that you might mistake it for a real Louis Vuitton Bag!
But luckily for you, we have so many tips to help you get authentic Louis Vuitton bags. Scroll on to learn how to spot a Louis Vuitton knockoff Vs real bag
1. Vachetta Leather
For the past 150 years, Louis Vuitton has used Vachetta leather to craft the trimming, handles, and pipping for its classic and head-turning luggage collections and handbags. Not sure what this leather is? Well, this ultra-soft material is natural cowhide leather that has not been treated with dyes. Over time, this leather ages gracefully and develops a patina.
Just like the way your go-to pair of denim jeans age, natural leather does as well! Due to the oils, sunlight, and water stains from your surroundings, Vachetta leather develops a “patina” that darkens the leather from a creamy beige color to a chocolate brown.
So if you are on the hunt for an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag from a second-hand retailer, and their LV leather goods are from the early 1980s but they still have a light brown color, then there is a high chance that they are trying to sell you a replica bag.
2. The monogram pattern
The encircled rounded flowers and the interlaced initials make up the recognizable monogram that luxury fashion fanatics can’t get enough of. Designed by the eldest son of Louis Vuitton in 1896, this pattern was made with precision that counterfeiters can’t easily copy and perfect.
This is why one of the best ways to make sure that you are getting the real deal is by checking the quality of the lettering. Spotting a little detail like the different font from the signature LV logo means that it is a fake handbag.
A fake LV bag will also have messy finishes on its monograms such as bleeding gold lettering, capital letters that are poorly aligned, and an L that doesn’t have a short tail.
3. Louis Vuitton’s hardware
Louis Vuitton is known for using its line of high-quality golden brass for its handles, locks, zippers, and studs. Counterfeit items, on the other hand, use plastic coated in a gold finish to deceive buyers.
Another important thing to know when trying to identify a fake Louis Vuitton purse is to see whether it has authentic Louis Vuitton logos. You can usually find this on the imprinted gold brass hardware. Additionally, if the hardware doesn’t feel solid and heavy, this is a dead giveaway that it is a non-authentic bag.
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4. Savoir-Faire
Louis Vuitton uses expert craftmanship or, as they call it “Savoir-Faire” to make its different lines of bags. This is why real designer bags from the French Maison should never slouch, crease, and have strange proportions. You should also take a closer look at the side seam to ensure that the stitching is symmetrical.
Another important aspect to know is that Louis Vuitton coats its thread in a special resin. This is done to make it durable and water-resistant. In the process, the resin turns the color of the thread yellow. So if you are buying a bag and it doesn’t have mustard yellow stitching, then it is a fake Louis Vuitton bag.
5. No more date codes in modern bags
A modern and real lv bag does not have a serial number. Since the early 1980s, Louis Vuitton date codes have been used to identify manufacturing locations and production dates. However, the date codes are not enough to verify the authenticity of any LV bag. A fake Louis Vuitton product has a date code that follows the correct format of a real bag. This is why as of March 2021, the luxury French brand has stopped using date codes.
Now they use technological chips that have been placed inside the lining of the bag.
6. Extra Accessories are a red flag
The neverfull bag is one of the most popular accessories in the world. Ever since it was released in 2007, it has become a wardrobe must-have for luxury fashion lovers.
If you want to add a neverfull bag to your handbag collection too, you will need to know an important factor about a Louis Vuitton knockoff vs real Louis Vuitton bags.
Neverfull bags only come with two shoulder straps, while a fake Louis Vuitton neverfull bag comes with many accessories. This includes a shoulder strap, a crossbody strap, and a wristlet strap.
7. Authenticity cards & Dustbags
A genuine Louis Vuitton bag does not come with authenticity cards. So if you find this strange card inside of the bag, then it is not the real thing.
Another easy way to spot fake Louis Vuitton bags is if it comes with a dust bag that has too much information on it. Such things as when and where it was made are telltale signs that it is a fake bag. A real LV dust bag, on the other hand, only has the LV logo on it or simply the LV lettering on it.
The rise in counterfeited Louis Vuitton bags has made shopping for a real bag difficult. However, thanks to this guide, you will now be able to spot a Louis Vuitton knockoff vs real Louis Vuitton bags with ease.
For authentic used bags, you can check out retailers like Fashionphile.
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