Where there is luxury there are fakes, and Louis Vuitton bags are no exception. Since the brand was founded in the late 1800’s, Louis Vuitton bags and trunks have been counterfeited. To avoid being conned, here are some telltale signs that the bag you might be looking to buy is a fake.
Logo
One of Louis Vuitton’s most prized assets is their logo, and they treat it with the utmost respect. You will never see a genuine Louis Vuitton bag with a smudged logo or blurred edges. Also, if the piece you are considering has an “LV” pattern on it, there will be no tilting - it should be perfectly horizontal.
However, on some pre-owned or vintage Louis Vuitton bags the logos are turned upside down. This does not indicate a fake, in fact it’s the opposite. It means the bag has been made from one piece of fabric and is therefore actually a sign of authenticity.
Stitching
As you can imagine, Louis Vuitton take great pride in each and every one of their bags and would not allow their stitching to be anything short of perfect. Any missed stitches or deviation from straight is a clear indication of a counterfeit bag. It simply would not make it through quality control, let alone on to a shop floor.
Patina
Much like a precious metal, a good leather will develop a patina as it ages and becomes exposed to different weather conditions. Many Louis Vuitton bags are made from canvas so this can be hard to judge. However, even if a bag is predominantly canvas, most have leather bottoms, straps and cornering.
If a Louis Vuitton bag is described as vintage or pre-owned and these areas of the leather remain shiny and new, then it is likely to be a fake. Like a good wine, the leather should mature as it ages.
Price
This is very simple. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Louis Vuitton bags do not suffer from rapid depreciation. Even pieces in moderate condition from the 1980s still command prices of £400 - £500.
If a piece you are looking to buy is extremely cheap, it’s probably counterfeit.
Pattern
If you are looking to buy a bag with a pattern, you need to make sure that this matches up at the edges and corners.
Louis Vuitton go to great lengths to make sure each of their bags is perfect. If a pattern is mismatching or slightly off at the corners, this is a sure sign of a fake.
Louis Vuitton have collaborated with many designers and artists to produce limited edition bags. These bags usually have a print, such as the Takashi Murakami “Cherry Blossom” bags.
If you are buying a limited-edition bag with a print, examine the print closely. Much like their logo, it should be perfect and without blurred lines or edging.
The print will be high quality and you should not be able to see the Louis Vuitton branded canvas underneath it. It should be completely opaque.
Origin
When buying a pre-owned or vintage Louis Vuitton bag, do your research on where the bag was made. Counterfeiters will often mark each bag as “Made in France”, however this is not always the case.
Taking the aforementioned Takashi Murakami “Cherry Blossom” bags as an example, these were actually produced in Spain not France. If you’re looking at one purporting to have been made in France, it’s a fake.
Hardware
All hardware on Louis Vuitton bags should be heavy and high quality. If a zipper or padlock appears to be hollow or made from a light, low quality material, then this is a good indication of a fake.
Additionally, any Louis Vuitton logo or branding stamped on hardware will be crystal clear. Anything that looks less than perfect should be a warning signal.
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