Louis Vuitton bags: how to distinguish a fake from a real masterpiece? How to distinguish real Louis Vuitton from a fake - methods and tips Are there discounts 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 world's most popular brand producing exclusive handmade bags and leather accessories. 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.

In 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.

Bags from a brand like Louis Vuitton cost a lot of money, so many people wonder - how to distinguish Louis Vuitton from a fake. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

Name

First of all, take a close look at the “Louis Vuitton” inscription. Many manufacturers who make fakes change the letters or completely get rid of some of them. Because of this, the product takes on a completely different name.

Appearance

You need to carefully study the appearance of the model you will buy. For example, the Vernis bag has never been produced in black, but fakes can be found in many places.

You need to remember that:

— CB Speedy, Cabas tote, Cerises, Alma, Pegase were not produced in the Cherry Blossom colorway.

Louis Vuitton BLossom bag (fake)

— Ellipse, Mezzo, Papillon, Alto, Cabas Piano were not produced in Cerises colors.

Louis Vuitton Cerises bag (fake)

To distinguish vintage models from fakes, use the official website or special official catalogs. It is important to remember that Louis Vuitton always uses only high-quality natural cowhide, which after some time, due to oxygen and slight oxidation, acquires a dark golden hue. Therefore, you need to carefully look at the leather and the color of the bag itself.

Louis Vuitton bag - original

Price

Louis Vuitton never has sales and they never have discounts. Go to their official website and compare prices, here you need to understand that a real bag will never cost 100 dollars, etc. This brand is quite expensive and the price in different countries may differ slightly, but no more than 40-50 Euros.

Clasps

Look closely at all the accessories on the bag, especially the clasps. Original bags use gold or copper; counterfeit manufacturers most often use plastic, which is coated with a layer of gold paint on top.

Pay attention to details

1. Sewn-on labels in most cases indicate a fake, since official Louis Vuitton bags practically do not sew on labels; they most often put the label in the pocket of the bag. Also pay attention to the seam; if there are a lot of seam lines, then you need to think about it.

2. The inner stitching of many fakes is usually lined with plastic or cheap suede. Original bags can be lined with different fabrics, but usually these are high-quality textiles with micromonograms, canvas, leather, microfiber suede or polyester.

3. Find the LV logo that is printed on the lock.

4. Check the "Made in" label carefully. Everyone knows that Louis Vuitton bags were made only in France. But now they are also made in Spain, Italy, the USA and Germany.

• Also read - How to distinguish original Vans from fakes?

Salesman

1. You need to be confident in the seller, so you need to look at reviews or reputation first.
2. Avoid sellers who refuse to accept returns.
3. Look at the product photos, the more the better. Generally look at the photo of the front rear view, inside, "Louis Vuitton Made in" stamp, code and trim.
4. Do not buy “New bag models” that are not yet even on the official website or in stores.

How to distinguish Louis Vuitton bags from fakes - video

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The famous Canva Monogram was created in 1896 by Georges Vuitton as a defense against the creators of counterfeits, who were already attracted by the status of the brand. Louis Vuitton is still one of the most popular and most counterfeited brands in the world. And one of the most desirable!

Whatever your motivation - searching for a rare vintage model on eBay or simply doubting the authenticity of a colleague's bag, with our tips you can independently try to distinguish an original Louis Vuitton from a fake.

Popular

Look at everything in detail

The first thing you should do before purchasing is to ask the seller to send additional photos of the product. Refusal is a sure sign that you are being offered a replica.

If you are new to a brand or a specific bag model, find original photos on the official Louis Vuitton website. As a rule, scammers are too lazy to completely copy exactly even the external design.

Let's say the seller sent a photo of the bag from different angles. Carefully read the common differences and compare them with the images sent.

Check the quality of workmanship

A question of quality. The brand’s craftsmen never sew a bag so that the “LV” monogram on the ornament goes into the seams. Other details - yes, monogram - never.

All joints, seams, material, finishing at Louis Vuitton are perfect. Always. The number of stitches is symmetrical on all sides, there are no overly pressed inscriptions, the fonts are barely noticeable, the cut of the belt is made lengthwise and is almost invisible to the eye. Zippers and seams do not violate the unity of the pattern of the fabric from which the bag is made; the details of the pattern are always symmetrical.

Look inside

Lining. The color scheme of the interior trim of the pocket, straps with rings for keys and wallets, as well as other details of the interior decoration must fully match the color scheme of the handles and leather trim of the product.

You can compare the interior design of the bag with images from the official website.

Pay attention to the fittings

The bag fittings are made of brass and cannot be made of plastic. On the zipper tongues there is an LV engraving, made in a characteristic font: the left edge of the letters will be slightly thicker compared to the right, where they are thin. Manufacturers of counterfeits have not yet learned how to engrave the immortal emblem correctly and do it in a regular font with the same width of letters.

Check the stamps

Some models have the letters LV pressed into the front. If you have chosen just such a model, carefully examine the pin - it should be inconspicuous, the style of the monogram letters should be the same as those located on the fittings.

All Louis Vuitton bags have a stamp on the leather tag of the product. It indicates the country of production (there are only five options: France, Italy, Spain, USA, Germany). Each bag also has a special code - two letters and four numbers. The letters are another pointer to the place of manufacture (which in fakes often does not coincide with what is written on the external element), the first and third numbers are the week (until 2007 - the month), the second and fourth are the year the product was created. The code allows you to calculate how long the bag was in use and whether this period corresponds to its condition.

Analyze the price

The last marker is the price. You should understand the pricing policy of the Louis Vuitton brand and soberly assess the size of the discount offered. The brand never organizes sales of its bag collections. If the reason for setting a too attractive price is “purchasing a large quantity of goods at a low price,” stop the correspondence immediately. For example, a discontinued bag in perfect condition cannot cost 20,000 rubles.

The Louis Vuitton fashion house has a huge history. One of the most influential brands was founded in 1854 by a French journeyman who made travel trunks. The flat suitcases Louis proposed, as well as round bags for drivers, made an incredible impression on the society of those times. The children carefully continued the work of their father, observing traditions.

Now the brand's monogram: the initials LV, a diamond in the form of a four-pointed star, made in normal and negative colors and a flower with four petals placed in a circle is the most recognizable in the world!

Every fashionista has at least one Louis Vuitton bag in her wardrobe. The brand includes many different types: these are travel bags, clutches, and backpacks. Let's take a closer look at them.

Types of bags

Short handles

Models are designed to be carried in the hands. They have a compact form and impeccable functionality. The bags are equipped with internal pockets and pockets for smartphones. This type of bag will perfectly complement your everyday look.

Long handles

Suitable for business and energetic people. If you need to store a huge number of books and folders, then feel free to choose spacious bags with long handles. The brand offers a huge number of models of various colors and textures.

Over shoulder

Hold a glass of coffee in one hand and write in your diary with the other? Crossbody bags are designed specifically for active people. This lightweight and practical bag allows you to conveniently organize your personal belongings and go about your business.

Clutches

An ideal choice for going to the cinema during the day with friends or for an evening promenade. The bag can be worn in the hand as a clutch or on the shoulder. The functional organization of the internal space will allow you to place in it everything that may be required during your appearance.

Backpacks

The models are suitable for both study and travel. Choose backpacks with a sporty or more classic feminine shape. Conquer the world with designs from Louis Vuitton!

Baggage

Various luggage from a famous brand will help you stay stylish while traveling. Suitcases on wheels - for long trips. For short trips, hard or soft luggage, similar to a bag and carry-on suitcase, is an ideal choice.

Model options

When entering a Louis Vuitton store, every woman finds herself at a loss. And it’s no coincidence, because there are a great many bags there! The Fashion House offers its clients a bag for every occasion. More and more new models appear from year to year. Some of them become classics and an all-time must-have item.

Speedy bag is the most versatile model. With it you can visit exhibitions, have romantic dates, and also go to meet your family. The first multifunctional city bag, Louis Vuitton Speedy, is an indispensable, stylish, roomy accessory for any fashionista.

Alma bag– A delightful compact bag that fits your phone, wallet and keys. Thanks to its ideal size, it is suitable for everyday life. The model is equipped with a removable strap, so the handbag can be worn over or over the shoulder. The designers took a fresh look and showed the world the legendary model in several bright and colorful colors.

Iconic Keepall bag, introduced in 1930, epitomizes the spirit of modern travel. Travel easily and in style! Experts in the art of packaging say that the Keepall 55 - 60 model can pack a wardrobe for a week. Some models are equipped with shoulder straps, which add additional convenience to the bag.

Papillon bag resembles a small cylinder with two long handles. They are designed to be worn comfortably on the shoulder and will be appropriate in any circumstances.

And completes the list of the most popular women's models Twist bag. A small but incredibly spacious handbag will be convenient for any event. There is a huge palette of colors for this model: from coffee tones to bright colors decorated with embroidery.

The fashion house did not ignore men's bags. In the modern world, men need to carry a huge amount of things with them. Louis Vuitton offers its solution.

Compact and lightweight Mick bag will be an excellent choice for everyday life. It holds all the essentials: wallet, smartphone, documents and keys.

Josh bag suitable for lovers of an active lifestyle. At the same time sporty and elegant, the style of the bag is combined with unrivaled functionality thanks to many internal pockets.

Briefcase for documents Porte-Documents will amaze all your colleagues. This extremely practical style for the urban man can be worn in a variety of ways. There is a convenient zippered pocket on the front, and inside you can easily fit a 15-inch laptop.

Bag colors

The color palette of bags from the famous Fashion House is striking in its scope. Of course, most often the models are made in the traditional coffee color with the brand’s monogram. However, every season designers offer their fans and admirers new color solutions. So we can see models in rich muted colors - blue and cherry.

Spring-summer collections include bags in bright and cheerful colors. Hot pink, amaranth, green, caramel, gold and silver are just a few of the delicious warm season flowers. Designers come to new unusual solutions and express their ideas in feminine, delicate pale peach and mastic shades.

Materials

All brand models are made of high quality. Most bags are made from a signature material, canvas, invented and patented by Louis Vuitton in the late 19th century. The material has become the trademark of the Fashion House. It is enough just to touch the thing to feel whether the bag is made of canvas or another material.

The line of the famous brand consists of models made from the skin of various animals, for example, python and alligator. All materials have a smooth and soft structure, while the fake is hard. The company uses exclusively high-quality materials. The bags are made by hand, a process that takes quite a lot of time. In return, you receive a product with an absolute guarantee of the best quality.

How much does the bag cost?

The high cost of bags from a well-known brand is due to the fact that high quality material is used in the manufacture of bags. Bags are also made by hand, which is known to be a difficult and time-consuming process. The price range of Louis Vuitton bags in Russia starts from 70,000 rubles. The brand does not include such terms as “wholesale” and “liquidation” price. There are also no discounts or sales.

The low price should alert you, because this is a Fashion House with a high pricing policy. However, a Louis Vuitton bag is a worthwhile investment in your style. If you use the bag carefully, it will serve you for decades.

How to distinguish an original from a copy?

• The golden rule for a successful purchase is to purchase bags in the official boutiques of the brand! Addresses can be found at www.louisvuitton.com. It’s also the only place where you can order your bag online.
• A Louis Vuitton bag is expensive. Forget about discounts, sales, wholesale prices, low cost. These are all tricks of scammers. The brand does not have any promotions or “special” offers that reduce the price of the product.
• The package in which the goods are wrapped is dark brown in color. It is made of dense, rough material with wicker handles. It is important to note on the package the inscription “LOUIS VUITTON – Maison Fonde’e en 1854 – Paris”. This is the only order, and only these words. The brand has its own special font, in which the letter O is quite rounded.
• The stitching of bags must be done neatly, and the number of stitches must be the same on all elements of the bag.
• It is worth remembering that the location of the monogram is symmetrical on all sides. However, inverted drawings are not an indicator of a fake. The bag is made from a single piece of leather, so an inverted monogram on one side is allowed.
• Please note that the leather parts appear to be beige in color on the actual bag. They will begin to darken in the future due to humidity and sun.
• Each metal detail in the models is marked Louis Vuitton or the initials LV.
• And most importantly, each model has a tag with its own personal code inside the bag. If after careful inspection you do not find it, then this model is probably a fake.

After you get burned by buying a fake, you become more discerning when choosing a bag. Especially when it comes to expensive models from Louis Vuitton. It is these bags that go on sale in a huge number of counterfeits. Some of them can be easily distinguished without even looking closely at the photographs (for example, by price). Others will require a more detailed inspection (the main thing is that the product page has large-scale images of the model or the ability to zoom in).

If you follow certain tips, even a fashion novice can easily spot a fake Louis Vuitton bag or wallet.

1. Lining color.

The inner fabric (lining) of the bag looks different depending on the model chosen. Thus, brown Louis Vuitton bags from the Monogram line usually have the same color lining. But at the same time, brown material must certainly be made from cotton canvas (similar to suede). Even in vintage collections.

White Multicolore bags usually have a crimson lining, while black bags have a grey-beige lining. The Neverfull model, 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-brown. The Speedy or Batignolles bags with the classic monogram always have brown cotton fabric, the Speedy Damier Azur line has a beige inner lining, and the Speedy Damier Ebony is red.

If you have any questions, you can always look at high-quality images of bags from different angles on the official website.

2. Cropped or reversed LV monograms.

The LV monogram itself and its placement on the leather of the bag is one of the surest and easiest ways to determine the authenticity of a product. Namely, their symmetry. Monograms must be positioned absolutely symmetrically on all sides of the bag

The placement of LV monograms usually (with the exception of old series) runs symmetrically across the fabric of the bag along a horizontal line.

Monograms are never cut at the seams. If the seam goes through the LV logo, then the monogram always has a correct, symmetrical continuation on the other side of the seam. The logos must match perfectly on both sides of each seam.

Some models, such as Papillon or Speedy, are made from a single piece of leather without a seam in the middle of the bottom.

3. Red LV monogram.

Bags from the Multicolore series have never been released with red LV monograms. Manufacturers of cheap or expensive counterfeits rely on the fact that buyers do not understand such small details.

4. Brand fonts.

The French fashion house uses a certain type of font. Any authentic Louis Vuitton bag has a special distinction - the name indicates a very round "O".

The canvas material from which Louis Vuitton makes most of its bags and accessories is unique, and it is almost impossible to make something “similar”. Today, analogues are officially produced by houses such as Burberry or, but the technology is different for everyone and is unknown to anyone.

By the way, besides France, branded bags are also produced in other countries:

Monogrammed LV bags typically use calf leather. But the fashion house creates products from various leathers. For example, the Suhali line bags are made of goat leather, the Lockit and Alma bags are made of alligator leather, and the 2009 bags are made of python leather. In addition, the Galliera series can also include products made from both canvas and python skin.

On classic models, the leather elements are light caramel in color, the edges are painted red and stitched with yellow threads. IMPORTANT: In a real branded bag, over time, the leather becomes darker, acquiring a honey tint (fake ones do not have this effect). This is normal, as fair skin “tans” over the years.

5. Perfect stitching.

On any expensive branded bag, the stitching is done extremely carefully. Identical elements of the product must have the same number of stitches. For example, if there are 5 stitches stitched on the right side of the leather insert holding the metal ring, then the same number should be on the left side. Moreover, this insert for fastening rings on LV bags is usually stitched on five sides - also on the top.

Any defect or change in stitching is an indirect sign that the bag is fake. These are luxurious and expensive bags, so attention is paid to even the smallest details.

6. The right combination of colors.

The color combinations of the monograms have not changed in the Multicolore series bags for many years. If you have doubts about a particular model, it is better to go to the official Louis Vuitton website for a color comparison. Multicolore bags have the following set of shades: fuchsia, white, green/dark yellow, dark pink, dark purple/dark blue, greenish yellow, light blue.

7. Discounts and sales.

There are no factory sales, discounts or wholesale prices for branded bags. A buyer will never find a new authentic Louis Vuitton at a discounted price. This is why a fashion house retains such high value over the years. When choosing a bag on eBay at a discounted price, you should definitely check whether the product is new and whether it is second-hand. There is another way to check the price - go to the official website. The entire model range is presented there, and if the advertised price of a bag is $5,000, then it cannot possibly cost $2,000, for example. The difference from the prices posted on the website in different countries is small - a maximum of $ 7-35.

8. Packaging.

Sellers on eBay rarely display packaging, but you can always ask for an additional photo. Wallets, bags, belts are packed in boxes. Chinese designers also produce boxes that look identical, but there are a number of differences. Thus, branded boxes are dark brown on the outside with a beige sliding part. They are usually tied with a rope made of a rubberized material similar to leather. Each box has a special “tab” that helps you open the box. The product itself is wrapped in white paper, onto which the following is glued:

• "Louis Vuitton" rectangular sticker
• round sticker with the LV logo.