Fashion PR division of Pierce Mattie Public Relations, A Fashion Public Relations. Fashion publicity, promotion marketing firm

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of all the knock-off handbags running amuck these days. You know there’s a problem when someone comes up to you and says, “I love your handbag, is it real?” I saved for months to be able to buy my large black Gucci hobo. I love that bag, and I worked hard to get it. Its real. You just hurt my feelings. You hurt my handbag’s feelings. Same thing goes for my friend and her Louis Vuitton obsession. She actually got in an argument over the legitimacy of her LV Damier Alma bag at a party the other night.

The source of the problem comes from two main places in Southern California. The Orange County Market Place (better known as the OC Swap Meet) and the Fashion District of LA . Both places are a fountain of phony designer items. From supposed Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, to Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermes, and Gucci handbags. A fake Birkin bag goes for $80.00. It even has a Hermes tag on the inside. Blasphemy!

There are many ways to tell a fake though. Louis Vuitton fakes are the easiest to spot at a glance. Louis Vuitton will NEVER cut off their logo. This means that a real LV bag will not have the logo cut by a seam of the bag. Fake Gucci bags are harder to tell… but the quality of the leather is usually the dead give away. The serial number underneath the leather tab on the inside of the bag is usually a sign too. Also, some of the cheaper fakes will have the G’s look more like C’s. Fake Pradas are easy because of the lining. The real Prada lining is very intricate, and the fakes don’t have it. Fendi has a gold metal plate on the inside of the bag. It is very hard to duplicate, and usually a decent tell-tale sign of a fake.

Counterfeiting is a real serious crime. The law punishes not only the counterfeiters, but the people that purchase those items too. This can include not only fines, but other legal actions. Counterfeiting of designer items can be associated with child labor and even money laundering. So even if you don’t mind wearing a phony bag… don’t do it. Even if just for the kids.