A close look at authentic Prada bags and accessories. How and what to look for. Some useful information about Prada colors, leather types and more. This post can help you to check a Prada bag you are not totally confident with or would love to purchase soon, and help your confidence for future second-hand online shopping. On the other hand, an authentic Prada should have bigger spaces and can be easily readable at a far distance. Tip: Examine the letter “R” on the logo tag. A missing curve or gap between the loop and leg.
I was wondering if anyone can tell me how to tell if one is authentic or not. I recently acquired a georgous bag, and it has a Prada logo on the front. There is no idication of a brand on the inside though. I was wondering how to tell if it is authentic or not. I would appreciate any tips available. Thank you so much in advance. Prada was started in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino as a leather goods shop. Prada's originality made it one of the premium status symbols in the 1990s and since then, many replica Prada handbags have been flooding the market. Below are a few ways to spot fake Prada Handbags.
A pioneer in monogram bags, Louis Vuitton has produced countless handcrafted purses that women and men alike covet.
Even if their artisanal handbags come with hefty price tags, Hollywood celebrities to common folk want to get their hands on one (or several).
The classic Louis Vuitton logo embellished on monogrammed leather
This comes as no surprise thanks to their top grade Italian leather and precise craftsmanship. Each bag comes with a whole lot of time, love, and effort.
The Hollywood favorite Louis Vuitton “Keepall” duffel bag
Currently, Louis Vuitton houses Michelle Williams and Alicia Vikander as their main endorsers. Other under-the-radar LV faces include Jaden Smith, Cate Blanchett, and Jennifer Connelly.
Louis Vuitton showcases its “Manhattan” bag
Unfortunately, with the rise of the brand’s popularity also come the counterfeiters. Fake Louis Vuitton bags have dominated the e-commerce industry, resulting in numerous eBay sellers who offer knockoffs at ridiculously low prices.
In November 2019, CNBC reported that The RealReal, the world’s largest online consumer marketplace for luxury items, has been selling fake luxury products. The same month, officials seized thousands of counterfeit designer bags at Dulles International Airport.
According to FOX 5 DC, the counterfeit cache included 2,601 coin purses, 459 purses, and three backpacks adorned with Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Prada, and Hermes designer labels.
Louis Vuitton 2003 Pre-Owned Monogram Multicolour Eye Love Holdall, $36,040 at Farfetch
Don’t worry – all hope is not lost. We have the know-how on busting those fake Louis Vuittons, saving yourself the money and hassle of falling prey to counterfeit bag predators.
Without further ado, we bring you nine easy ways to tell whether your LV is the real deal:
1. The workmanship is top-notch artisanal
One of the more common ways to know if a bag is authentic or not is to check its workmanship. Just like Gucci handbags and other luxury designer bags, an authentic purse will have perfectly aligned stitches that are the same length.
In fact, the artisans behind authentic bags are so skilled that the number of stitches on one handle matches the other.
Authentic Louis Vuitton bags will have perfectly aligned stitches that are the same length
For Louis Vuitton bags, the stitching thread is more of a mustard color than a brighter yellow hue.
The leather pieces that make up the bag are perfectly cut and fitted with each other. If there are creases, bubbles, and misalignment due to bad fitting, you might want to put that bag down.
2. Hardware is beautifully crafted from brass
Bag connoisseurs know that the next thing to check for is hardware. Louis Vuitton uses top grade brass hardware that usually comes in shiny or matte. For shiny zippers and locks, do a reflection test – the brass should reflect as a mirror would.
Louis Vuitton uses top grade brass hardware
The zippers should not snag when you try to unzip the bag. Louis Vuitton also manufactures their own zippers and does not use YKK or other branded zippers.
Hardware should not be covered in plastic. Counterfeit bag makers wrap the hardware in plastic to prevent them from tarnishing right away. Quality hardware will not tarnish and is usually uncovered.
3. Shell pattern should be neat and symmetrical
Another obvious thing to look at in monogram bags is the shell pattern. For Louis Vuitton, the classic LV logo should be symmetrical and the letter L should always be lower than the V. If the letters are wonky and not perfectly aligned, the bag is not authentic.
Louis Vuitton’s classic LV logo should be symmetrical and the letter L should always be lower than the V
It is also important to note the placing and consistency of the monogram pattern. If you look at the pattern diagonally, the order of one strip should be a fleur-de-lis, a circle, another fleur-de-lis, then the LV logo. The strip alternating it should contain only the fleur-de-lis symbol.
For logo embellishments, check that they are symmetrical and beautifully crafted. The Maison logo usually writes “Louis Vuitton Paris” in two lines.
4. Vachetta leather oxidizes and darkens over time
The leather strips that run across and make up the handles are called Vachetta leather. Vachetta leather is made out of natural, untreated European calf hide that darkens with oxidation over time.
Vachetta leather oxidizes and darkens over time
If the strips stay a pale color over time, it is fake. The leather should darken into a beautiful golden shade as it ages.
5. Handle trim should be a darker shade of red, not bright red
There are many great things about Louis Vuitton monogram bags that keep us preoccupied. To the hawk-eyed, one lesser-known detail is the red trim that runs along with the Vachetta leather.
Identify fake Louis Vuitton bags by studying the shade of the trim
You can easily tell a fake Louis Vuitton bag from an original one from the shade of the trim. The authentic ones will run closer to burgundy (but not quite) while counterfeits will usually be a brighter shade of red.
Low-quality Louis Vuitton counterfeits will also have the trim peeling off over a short amount of time.
6. Date code should be found on the lining
Each bag comes with a date code, which is basically a little leather tag where letters and numbers are embossed to note where and when the bag was made.
Unlike other bags, Louis Vuitton date codes are a little harder to find since they’re tucked within the lining. One thing is for sure: an authentic LV will always have a date code.
In some cases, the date codes are stamped into the lining.
7. Know your dust bag and box history
Counterfeiters often get lazy when it comes to details. A good way to catch fake products is to know your history of Louis Vuitton dust bags and boxes.
Dustbags before 2004 are made out of beige flannel with the LV logo on it and brown drawstrings. Some of the older bags may have blue drawstrings on them, and some have felt-like material that has jagged cut edges.
Louis Vuitton Pre-Owned Special Order Monogram Amfar II Trunk Case, $20,578 at Farfetch
This brown leather trunk case from Louis Vuitton features a round top handle, a push-lock fastening, an all-over logo print, gold-tone hardware, a hanging key fob, an internal mirror, internal drawers, two removable logo-print bags, and two detachable shoulder straps
From 2004 to 2016, the beige dust bag is made out of flannel or linen. A perfectly symmetrical and centered LV logo is printed in brown on it. A small white tag saying where the bag was made can be found inside.
In 2016, Louis Vuitton revamped their packaging. All their boxes are orange with navy blue text. The dust bags followed suit, turning into a cream color with navy blue writing.
8. Use your sense of smell
This one takes some time to practice. It’s good to know what authentic leather smells like so you can easily set it apart from synthetic ones.
Also, if the bag reeks of chemicals, you might want to reconsider your purchase.
9. Common sense, really
If you have a bag that retails for $1,000 and is being sold to you at $100, there is much reason to be wary. Research the original retail price online before considering a purchase.
Louis Vuitton Pre-Owned x Comme Des Garçons Burned Holes Monogram Tote, $8,696 at Farfetch
This dark brown and beige leather tote from Louis Vuitton features a monogram pattern, gold-tone hardware, round top handles, an internal logo patch, a hanging luggage tag, a drawstring closure, and a removable lining
Louis Vuitton also lists the retailers where their bags can be purchased. The brand also limits online resellers, so be careful of purchasing bags over the internet.
Louis Vuitton Questions and Answers
Why are LV bags so expensive?
One reason is the high manufacturing cost. The luxury brand produces its handbags in workshops located in France, Spain, and the United States, and does not outsource manufacturing to cheaper locations like India and China.
Cynthia Bailey carries a large Louis Vuitton tote at LAX on March 5, 2020
In addition, the company spends billions of dollars every year on marketing. According to Reuters, in 2018 Louis Vuitton spent 5.6 billion euros ($6.3 billion) on marketing, reaching 12% of group revenues.
Does Louis Vuitton have a sale?
How To Tell Real Prada Bag
No, Louis Vuitton doesn’t have sales that are open to the public. Instead of discounting, the company will burn or destroy unsold stock. In some countries, the company organizes secret sales for its employees.
Why does Louis Vuitton burn unsold bags?
While burning handbags helps maintain the exclusivity of their goods and stops them from falling into the hands of illegal counterfeiters, environmentalists have criticized the company for this wasteful strategy.
Some myths:
1. “The leather will never cut off at the LV logo.”
Some have claimed that pieces of leather will usually not cut off at the LV logo, but that is not necessarily true. For smaller bags, the logos are cut off at the edge.
One thing that you can check for, however, is if all the logos cut off at the same point. This means that the pattern is symmetrical.
2. “Louis Vuitton does not invert their logo.”
Again, this is not true. For models that use a single continuous leather piece such as the Keepall, one side will have inverted logos on it.
Louis Vuitton is continuously coming up with designs outside of the classic ones, so it’s good to know their bags well. A great way to familiarize yourself is to study their photos online.
If you’re in doubt about a purchase you made, you can call Louis Vuitton for help in authenticating your product.
Authentic Prada Backpack
Celebrity Fans of Louis Vuitton Bags
Some of the celebrities who go gaga over Louis Vuitton include Selena Gomez, the Kardashians, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Miranda Kerr. Check out more celebrities who love their LV’s below.
Miranda Kerr, Selena Gomez, and Rihanna love their Louis Vuitton purses
Hilary Duff gleefully strolls through the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) with her two-piece Louis Vuitton luggage
Cherries, pinks, and furry things: Kim Kardashian, Reese Witherspoon, and Kelly Osbourne prefer their Louis Vuitton with a dash of cuteness
Taylor Swift dresses up her casual outfit with a Louis Vuitton x Christian Louboutin “Shopping Bag”
Alicia Vikander, Dita Von Teese, and Christina Milian pick out variations of the infamous LV monogram
For more tips on busting the fake LV’s, watch the video below to see how a fake $169 bag compares to a real $1,850 handbag: