From the Speedy Bag to the Neverfull Tote to the Petite Boite Chapeau, Louis Vuitton has created some of the world’s most iconic bags over the years, and this fashion brand is revered by women everywhere. Louis Vuitton bags are well known for their impeccable design and quality, and every bag created by the brand is individually handmade by the best of the best craftsmen. Unfortunately, Louis Vuitton has also earned a reputation for being the most counterfeited brand of all luxury brands, and many people have fallen prey to purchasing a purse they thought was real. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of features that’ll help you identify if a Louis Vuitton purse is authentic.
1. The Pattern
Some of the most highly sought after Louis Vuitton purses feature their infamous LV pattern, and this print is a telltale indication of whether a bag is real or fake. Genuine Louis Vuitton bags with this pattern feature mirror images of the logo and LV’s that are perfectly aligned and look identical to one another. If you notice the LV logo is cut off, flipped upside down and/or misaligned, you have a knockoff on your hands.
2. Lining
Authentic Louis Vuitton bags are lined with either brown canvas material or red microfiber, depending on the collection. You should always do your research before you buy an LV bag so that you know what lining to look for. Counterfeit bags tend to feature polyester, cross-grain leather, and microfiber suede that are either brown or tan in colour.
3. Zipper and Hardware
The hardware and zippers on a bag are also a good indication of whether it is real or fake. Louis Vuitton’s zippers and hardware are made of real metal with gold coating. They appear shiny and bright, don’t get discoloured, and are imprinted with the notorious LV logo. Knockoff Louis Vuitton bags, on the other hand, may have hollow, flimsy, or plastic hardware that is painted gold.
4. The Stamp
Louis Vuitton takes their stamping very seriously, and all of their bags contain a stamp that states “Louis Vuitton” and the country it was made in underneath. The imprinted stamps on Louis Vuitton bags also typically have the following features:
- Lettering that is clear, crisp, and thin.
- A font that is aligned
- L’s with a short tail.
- O’s that are round and appear larger than the L.
- T’s that are so close, they may appear as if they are touching each other.
If you notice that the O’s on the stamp are oval, the T’s are too far apart, or the imprint is overall too wide, it’s more likely than not that you have a fake bag.
5. Stitching
Only highly experienced craftsmen are permitted to make genuine Louis Vuitton bags, and the stitching on these pieces is always even and neat. Anything less than perfection is a sign of a knockoff. You should also look out for the five mustard-yellow stitches that are placed across the top of each handle on Louis Vuitton Bags. If there are less than five stitches or the colour of the thread is not yellow, the bag isn’t real.
6. Date Codes
All Louis Vuitton bags made after 1980 contain a date code that identifies where and when the bag was made. These codes include two letters that indicate the country code, two numbers that indicate the week of the year, and two numbers that indicate the year. The date codes on LV bags are usually stamped on a leather tag on the interior of the bag or put on it’s actual lining. Date codes that identify a different country than the one specified on the “made in” stamp are a sign of a knockoff bag.
Using these six identifying features, you’ll be much more likely to take home a real Louis Vuitton bag and get your money’s worth. And if you need to get your purse cleaned and repaired after getting your fair share of use out of it, Love Your Purse can help with that!
At Love Your Purse, we offer industry-leading purse cleaning and purse repair services across Southern Ontario. Our team specializes in servicing brand name handbags, and they know how to make bags in all conditions look as good as new. Contact us today to get a free quote on our services!
