STANDING in a train carriage surrounded by strangers I noticed something that would unite two random people together, their fake bag.
Knock offs, not to be confused with dupes, are on the rise.
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Despite social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram trying to sensor the knock off world, a quick search of “dupe” in either app will feed you users showing off their hauls of products that are fakes of the real thing.
This can be anything from trainers, to jewellery to bags.
A dupe is an imitation of a product that isn’t claiming to be said product, think Primark’s new £12 woven bag that is a nod to a £360 Dragon Diffusion tote that is hugely trendy this season.
The two bags have wide differences but the Primark one is clearly made to look like the more expensive one.
A knock off would be the bag being exactly the same.
Whilst TikTok are trying to crack down on the tips and hacks being shared on their platform there’s enormous amounts still circulating.
TikTok say: “We are committed to ensuring that you enjoy content the right way.
“Unauthorised streaming of digital content and the promotion of counterfeit goods are not allowed on our platform and violate our policies and Community Guidelines.”
But savvy social media users have bleeped out using certain words and phrases, and sometimes don’t name the sites they’re using to buy the counterfeit goods but heavily allude to them.
For example, content creators will say ‘the yellow app’ which refers to DH Gate.
There are over 15 million searches relating to that, all showing fake Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Chanel and designer brands similar are available on there.
The same goes for Temu and Chinese website, AliExpress.
If you search for ‘monogram bag’ on their website you can see a Prada bag that should cost you £2,600 for just £19.
But the brand that seems to have swept the knock off world is Goyard.
Worn by celebrities from Rihanna, Bella Hadid and even Jude Bellingham carry the designer gear.
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The Parisian brand uses printed cloth that looks and feels like leather, Goyardine, has its own signature monogram of the name and a chevron weave intertwined all over their products.
Their products are luxury and made with expert craftsmanship and they make a limited number a year, and therefore have hefty price tags.
The website doesn’t even have prices available on their website but on average their tote will set you back £1,620.
So when you see a twenty-something carrying a nearly £2,000 the bag, that has an exclusive waitlist, paired with a Brand Melville top – the likelihood is that it’s fake.
But there are also some other big clues on the items themselves that show they are fake.
STITCHING
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These bags are made to last and are stitched perfectly.
This isn’t some Primark bag that has the odd loop that’s out of line or loose, they are all precise and won’t be a millimetre out of place.
THICK LETTERS
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The branding of Goyard on the bags are all consistent.
If a letter is too thick it screams that it’s been poorly made and isn’t real.
WORDING
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The Goyard logo will be neatly lined up with the rest of the print, the ‘Y’ will be straight and follow the pattern of the chevron design.
While most fakes get the wording right, the impressions made in the leather are far too thick, deep, and heavy.
THE ‘G’ SPOT
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The bags have a silver button on the pouch that comes attached to the bag on the inside, this will have a Goyard ‘G’ on it.
The ‘G’ will be straight and vertical, if it isn’t then it’s not real.
CONNECT THE DOTS
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The dotted pattern that creates the bag’s famous print isn’t a circle, it’s an oval.
They are always straight and upright and the perfect distance apart.
THE INSIDE
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Just having the inside of your bag as cream isn’t enough to pass as a fake.
The inside is beige and it’s the other side of their Goyardine fabric which is made up of linen and cotton and should look natural and soft.
Spotting Fake Designer Goods
SPOTTING the real deal from a knock off is harder than ever.
These days fake clothes, bags and jewellery are almost identical to the real thing making it harder to spot the difference.
Here, Clemmie Fieldsend gives you tips on how to spot if your buys are counterfeit or legit.
Bags:
- Real designer bags do not come with authenticity cards
- Tags should not be attached to the bag, these usually come with the receipt or are tucked into the packaging
- Designer bags usually have a serial number
- The bag should look and feel high-quality. Check for even stitching, tidy material, no frayed edges and clear colour matching
Watches:
- A genuine high end watch will feel heavy due to high quality materials
- The second hand movement on the watch should not be rigid
- The model name and serial number on a fake may be used across all of their pieces rather than individual ones
- Check for the official branding and compare with a genuine model if you can
- The fine details won’t be as refined, including placement and spacing etc
Sunglasses:
- The lenses on designer shades should be of superior quality. Know what you’re buying. Classic Ray-Ban designs, for instance, are made from glass.
- Fake frames feel lighter than real ones
- Watch out for stiff or loose hinges