What is canvas in bags? How to distinguish a real Louis Vuitton bag from a fake one. How to distinguish Louis Vuitton bags from fakes - video
Louis Vuitton is one of the most popular fashion brands in the world. Unfortunately, it is also the most counterfeited. Most often, unscrupulous manufacturers copy bags and various accessories. To produce these things, you do not need to purchase expensive equipment and use complex technologies, as, for example, in the manufacture of shoes. And the profit from selling fake bags is much higher than from selling clothes.
Since April 17 of this year, the sale of counterfeit Louis Vuitton products is considered an administrative offense and is punishable by law.
Of course, in most cases we buy a fake, clearly realizing that it is far from the original. Genuine LV products will never be sold in markets, subway passages or dubious online stores. Moreover, the French brand never has sales or discounts, and selling goods in bulk is out of the question. LV products are high-quality luxury items that can only be purchased in branded boutiques or in the online store on the official website.
If you nevertheless take the risk of buying a famous bag in a place that does not inspire 100% trust, or, for example, it was given to you as a gift, then it is still worth checking the authenticity of the product. So, how can you tell a real Louis Vuitton from a fake?
Memo for connoisseurs of original products:
Price
First of all, pay attention to the cost of the product. Even in Europe, the minimum price for bags from a French brand cannot be lower than 300 euros. But also remember that high cost may not always be an indicator of authenticity.
Name
Carefully read the “Louis Vuitton” inscription itself. Often, fake manufacturers change or “throw out” some letters, as a result of which the product acquires a completely different name, although at first glance this is almost invisible.
Package
A genuine item is always well packaged. All Louis Vuitton products are presented in light yellow or darker (to a rich mustard shade) cases made of natural material that is pleasant to the touch.
Together with the cover, the product is wrapped in white paper, which must have a round or rectangular sticker with the brand name.
Wallets, belts and some bags are packed in a box Brown. In other cases, the products are placed in a thick bag of an identical shade with the inscription "LOUIS VUITTON - Maison Fondée en 1854 - Paris".
Logo
The logo is always smooth and symmetrical. The monogram cannot be turned upside down unless the item is made from whole piece material.
Material
Since the 19th century, the French fashion house has been using a unique material – canvas, which is almost impossible to counterfeit – to produce bags, luggage, wallets and accessories. True, some models of things are made from various types natural leather (goat, calf or reptile skin).
Details
There is always a company inscription on metal rivets and locks. The country of origin and individual code are indicated on each item. All seams on the product are extremely neat and durable. There can be no defects, since damaged goods are immediately disposed of.
Warranty and Certificates
All LV products come with a lifetime warranty. If the store where you purchase the item refuses to give such a guarantee, then you have the right to demand a quality certificate. Most likely, the product will be counterfeit.
There are many replicas that look very similar to Louis Vuitton brand bags, so it is important to learn how to spot a fake so you don't waste your money. Many of the fakes are difficult to distinguish from the real bag, so attention to specific details is critical when determining authenticity.
Characteristics of real and fake Louis Vuitton bags
Along with popular designer bags, counterfeit items are appearing on the streets and online auctions. Don't be fooled into buying a Louis Vuitton bag into thinking it's the real thing when it's not. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between a fake and a genuine item, but there are several ways to tell the difference between a genuine and a fake bag. What characteristics does a genuine Louis Vuitton accessory have?
Quality materials
Louis Vuitton bags are expensive. They are made from expensive materials such as high-quality crocodile, sheep and camel leather. Fakes are made of artificial leather and vinyl. They may feel rough and hard to the touch. A real Louis Vuitton bag is smooth and soft to the touch.
Finishing
A genuine Louis Vuitton piece made from Vachetta leather. Most fakes are made with fake decorative trim.
Monograms
The placement of the monogram is done carefully. It will not be stitched crookedly or cut off. The skin is one continuous piece, not pieces. You will never see a seam in the wrong place.
Shortcuts
They are never tied to a Louis Vuitton bag. They may come with tags, but they are simply placed in an inner compartment or packing bag. Labels are never attached with plastic or pins.
Beware of extra accessories
Many LV knockoffs come with additional accessories. Authentic Louis Vuitton bags are sold without any accessories.
Checking handles and stitching
Inspect the product carefully. All Louis Vuitton bags have good, neat stitching that is durable and won't have threads sticking out of the seams. The handles on the bag are carefully secured with glue that binds the leather. You won't see a single uneven line. If you see this, this is an indication that the bag is a fake.
Inscription
Check the writing on the bag. This is another way to determine authenticity. What you need to pay attention to:
- Wherever you see Louis Vuitton, you can check that the O is round and not oval. Many fake versions will use oval shapes O instead of round.
- Another thing that is often counterfeited is the letter L placed in front of the O. The letter L in the fakes is very close to the O, and if you look closely, there will be an I instead of the L.
- The name Louis Vuitton is almost always written in capital letters.
Keep track of certificates of authenticity
Another indicator that a bag is fake is the authenticity card. Actual Louis Vuitton bags do not come with a Certificate of Authenticity. You may find a cream card with the bag style name and barcode inside, but there will be no certificate. Many counterfeit items come with a certificate, leading consumers to believe they are real.
Codes
Each Louis Vuitton bag comes with a code. The real thing doesn't have serial number, but there is code to determine where and when the item was made. Keep in mind that these codes are not always easy to find. They are usually printed on a leather tag inside the bag or on the lining. Louis Vuitton codes consist of numbers and letters. Depending on when the bag was made, the code may vary. For example:
- Bags made before 1980 will not have any codes.
- In the early and late 1980s, codes consisted of three or four numbers immediately followed by two letters. The numbers show the year the bag was made and the month. The last two letters indicate in which country it was manufactured.
- From 1990 to 2006, the codes contained two letters followed by a number. The letters encrypted the location of the factory where the bag was made, the numbers indicated the month and year.
- From 2007 to the present, bags have been stamped with two-letter codes followed by four numbers. The letters represent the place where the bag was made, and the numbers represent the year.
What items are most often counterfeited?
The Louis Vuitton collection has a lot different styles. Some are more likely to be counterfeited than others. These include, but are not limited to:
- The most popular template is Canvas Monogram Signature. This model features the LV logo on a rich dark brown background. The pattern is permanent, the color and details never change.
- The Takashi Murakami collection, on which designer Takashi Murakami worked, is often counterfeited. In 2003, Murakami collaborated with Marc Jacobs and released this unique collection. The bags were made of white leather and featured 33 different colors of the LV logo. Another option was the Cherry Blossom bag with the addition of a red cherry in the center. A small face is in the center of each flower. You will not see other colors or designs on real handbags.
- Speedy is Louis Vuitton's most popular bag. It is a simple design with two rounded handles and a zipper closure. This bag is carried in the hands. Sewn in gold zipper. There is one small pocket inside the bag. The Speedy comes in several sizes: 25, 30, 35 and 40. You won't find it in any other size.
- Neverfull is one of the most functional models in the collection. It is available in MM, PM and GM versions. Each version is different in size, but the design is the same. Neverfull is a spacious bag with a thin leather handle. There is a textile upper and one spacious internal pocket. All snakes are gold in color. Another feature is the two straps, one on each side, which can be tightened or loosened depending on your style.
Louis Vuitton Shopping Store
Where you buy the bag is also an indicator of whether it is fake or not. If you can shop in person, Louis Vuitton bags can be purchased at Louis Vuitton stores and boutiques. Those who prefer to shop online should check out the official website.
If you have a bag that you don't know is genuine, you can take it and go to the store and ask the seller to determine whether it is fake or not. All Louis Vuitton technicians are trained and will be able to spot a fake without hesitation. You can also use a handbag authentication service to determine authenticity, but do your research carefully to make sure you're using a legitimate service.
Do your research
As the old saying goes, if it's too good to be true, it probably is. This also applies to Louis Vuitton bags. Authentic Louis Vuitton is made from high quality materials, and the price shows it. Don't be fooled by buying fakes. Do your research and be well informed on what to look for when purchasing a designer bag. This information, of course, is intended for lovers and connoisseurs of designer items, as well as for those who can afford such expensive accessories. And if you don't have enough funds, don't worry. At least, knowing all these secrets and recommendations, you can at least buy a fake that is very similar to original product, and knowledge of these subtleties can be useful in life.
Barcode verification
ATTENTION! The correct barcode does not provide a 100% guarantee of the originality of the product. However, an incorrect barcode is a clear sign of counterfeit.To verify the authenticity of the barcode, you can use the form below.
Enter 13 digit barcode:Check
The Louis Vuitton brand is originally from France, however, it has open production facilities in Italy, Spain, Germany and America. Therefore, all these countries can be indicated on the bag's patches as the manufacturer.
A bag with a discount is always a fake!
Surprisingly, the brand does not fundamentally reduce the prices of its products. This is probably the only fashion house where they don’t know what discounts and sales are. Moreover, Louis Vuitton does not reduce the purchase price even for wholesale buyers. Therefore, if you hear something like this from a seller, run!
Check out the price of your chosen model on the official Louis Vuitton website. The difference between the store price and the price on the website cannot be more than 40 euros. In general, the brand does not have products at low prices, because it is a luxury brand!
Both bags are fakes of different quality
Don't neglect to inspect the packaging
The manufacturer packs these bags in dark brown bags. The brand is attentive to the production of even such small details, so the material for them will be dense, slightly rough.
Also, the original packaging bags are distinguished by handles with a special branded weave, spiral-shaped. It should be noted that they always have the inscription “LOUIS VUITTON – Maison Fonde’e en 1854 – Paris”.
If only the name of the manufacturer is written on it, or nothing at all, this is a fake.
A distinctive feature of the brand is special font. Therefore, carefully examine the letter ABOUT in the inscription, for a genuine Louis Vuitton it should be very round.
Louis Vuitton is the most counterfeited fashion brand in the world. But no matter how much things are faked and no matter how well the fakes are made, every self-respecting girl wants to own an original thing. If you bought the item yourself in a boutique, the question of authenticity is irrelevant. If you were given an item as a gift, or you dared to buy it not in a boutique of a French house, then it is still worth checking the authenticity. How to distinguish a fake Louis Vuitton from a real one?
The variety of Louis Vuitton products: bags, wallets, belts, accessories, etc., creates a variety of details that distinguish an original item. In clothing lines these differences are even greater. It would take too long to talk about all the Louis Vuitton models and lines, so this time I’ll talk about bags and accessories from the most common lines: classic monogram, damier and multicolore.
The logo is very important to the House, so you will almost never see the letters LV cut off or top-stitched, positioned crookedly or sideways on an original item. In rare cases, the metal patch may overlap the logo. The monogram is never upside down, except on bags and wallets made from a single piece of canvas. For example, Papillon bag, Keepall, Speedy (however, Speedys made in France are not made from one piece, so be careful), Zippy wallets and organizers, Insolite wallets, Tresor, Alexandra, etc. The bags from the Multicolore Monogram line do not have the red LV logo. In total, these bags use 33 colors, 9 multi-colored LVs and 24 multi-colored flowers and emblems. In items from the Damier line, the square in which Louis Vuitton is written cannot be cut off.
The canvas material from which Louis Vuitton makes most of its luggage, bags, wallets and accessories is unique and almost impossible to counterfeit. Today, other houses have patented analogues, for example, Burberry or Etro, but everyone has their own technology and keeps it strictly secret. LV canvas was invented and created in its original form at the end of the 19th century. Since then, this material has become a trademark of Louis Vuitton, and just touching a thing is enough to understand whether it is made of canvas or some other unknown material. All metal parts on the products are marked Louis Vuitton or LV. If you take a Zippy wallet, the outer lock will have the Louis Vuitton wordmark embossed in a circle, and the inner lock will have the LV branding embossed on both sides of the “tab.” On metal bag parts, the bolts on the reverse side will be shaped like a 6-pointed star (except on items that use round bolts). Louis Vuitton's monogrammed pieces primarily use calfskin. True, Louis Vuitton produces products from various leathers. For example, bags from the Suhali line, which use goat leather; Lockit and Alma bags, which are also available in alligator leather; bags released in 2009, which contain python leather elements; as well as the Galliera bag, which, in addition to the classic canvas models, also comes in python leather. On classic bags, the leather elements are light caramel in color, the edges are painted red and stitched with yellow threads. In the original bag, during use, the leather will acquire a darker honey shade (this effect does not occur in fakes).
Vintage bags often have a round leather patch on the outside to indicate the name on the bag. On modern bags you can find a leather patch only on the inside. The country of origin is indicated on all products: either on the markings or on a leather or metal patch. Bags, wallets, belts, etc. made in France, Spain and the USA. Accordingly, the products are marked: “Made in France”, “Made in Spain”, “Made in USA”. The latter are sold only in the United States, and have their own characteristic differences. The markings on the products are as follows: at the top is the registered trademark “R”, then Louis Vuitton, below Paris, and only then where “Made in Spain” is made. The metal tablet on the outside of bags, for example Galliera bags, must contain the following inscription: “DEPOSE en FRANCE et A L’ETRANGER Louis VUITTON - inventeur - 101, avenue des Champs Elysees, Paris.”
The lining of most bags is beige-gray, reminiscent of suede, but is not made from suede. Most white bags from the Multicolore line have a red lining, while black bags have a grey-beige lining.
The Neverfull bag, made in the classic monogram, has a beige cotton lining with brown stripes, if this bag is from the Damier line, then the lining will be red with brown stripes. The Speedy or Batignolles bags with the classic monogram have a cotton lining and are ALWAYS brown, the Speedy Damier Azur line has a beige lining, and the Speedy Damier Ebony is red.
The seams are always small and very neat; a bag with a crooked seam will never appear in a boutique. In some bags, the top stitching is replaced by a bolt with the Louis Vuitton marking. Some models have a solid handle and are sewn directly to the base of the bag itself, such as the Neverfull bag: its distinctive feature is a corner stitching on the leather petal of the handle, sewn to the base of the bag. The total number of stitches on the corner is 10. If you still buy a bag from someone other than a Louis Vuitton boutique, then pay attention to the leather triangle located on one side of the lock. On the reverse side of the leather triangle of the Speedy bag, sizes 30, 45, 55 are always listed. Pay attention to the location of the inscription on the triangle with the key. On the original the inscription is located at the bottom close to the edge. The hole for the key is deep with a metal pin inside, in the middle. Louis Vuitton engraved under the hole. The loop connecting the handles to the base of the bag always has 5 stitches; on other bags the number of stitches may vary. Also note that the Speedy bag was never released in the Cherry Blossom line. Likewise, the Multicolore line never released the Backpack, Ellipse and Papillon bags.
In general, we can talk about the differences endlessly, because fakes will never resemble the original either in quality or design, which is good news. In conclusion, I can say that you will never be able to put your initials on a fake item using the “hot stamping” technology, as they do at Louis Vuitton.
Are there many women in the world who do not dream of a Louis Vuitton bag? For more than a century, the fashion house has been making women's hearts beat faster.
Louis Vuitton has long gained the status of the most popular global brand producing exclusive bags and leather accessories self made. The number of people wishing to purchase a hit item has long exceeded not only the financial capabilities of many fashionistas, but also the number of products produced by the brand itself.
Demand creates supply - Louis Vuitton has become the most counterfeited fashion brand in the world. Inexorable statistics say: of the 100% Louis Vuitton sold around the world, 99% are fake! No matter how the company’s representatives try to fight counterfeit products, pirated production continues to increase in momentum.
Have you decided to buy a Louis Vuitton branded bag? Then be sure to read the tips on how to avoid getting into trouble by spending a considerable amount of money on a pirated copy.
How to distinguish an original from a fake
A real Louis Vuitton bag can only be bought in branded stores - not in duty-free or multi-brand departments. This brand is fundamentally not adjacent to others.
A Louis Vuitton bag is sure to be expensive (several hundred dollars). There are no discounts - the company does not participate in sales.
In the production of these bags, exclusively expensive high-quality leather is used: cowhide, calf, goat, and reptile leather. That's why the originals are soft to the touch.
Most original models the lining has a beige, golden brown (less often red) color and is made of natural soft materials.
The seams must be perfect - no protruding threads! Well-fixed metal fittings are branded. In its production, copper and gilding are used, and in fakes, ordinary plastic painted “gold” is used.
The LV logo on fake bags can be uneven, unclear, indistinguishable against the general background, cut off, or skewed. But an inverted logo on bags made from a single piece of leather is quite acceptable.
Louis Vuitton does not place brand tags on the outside of the bag, only on the inside.
All real LV bags have their own code, which matches the numbers on various parts of the product. Typically the code consists of 2 letters and 4 numbers (unless you are planning to buy a vintage bag made before 1995).
If the brand label does not say “Made in France”, but the names: Italy, Spain, Germany and the USA, do not worry - official production is also established in these countries.
