I love designer bags and always looked up to the timeless classic designs of Saint Laurent. But I’ve always been a little leery of purchasing a knock-off copy of the designer’s handbag. You know what I mean: those super cheap looking ones with the peeling “YSL” logo plastered on the corner of the purse – yikes! I have a huge appreciation for the true artistry and craftsmanship that goes into creating an original piece and all the details that goes into making it, from the stitching to the fabrics, nevermind the iconic “YSL” logo!
Whenever I’d come across these fakes, I’d get a bit sad thinking of how most of these poor made fakers do not really care about creating a copy of the authentic original. It’s not just a waste of money, it’s a crime against all things nice. It wasn’t until I started researching more about counterfeiting that I began to understand how companies like Saint Laurent are suffering from the millions of dollars they are losing to fake bags.
When it comes to cultivating the savvy and considered purchases, it’s all about making sure that if I do choose to purchase a Saint Laurent bag, that it’s the real deal. How does one know, that underside of the strap or the plastic bag the dustbag came in, these are small details most people do not think about when “blindly buying”, but these are the signals that determine if it’s a good ‘clone’ of the original bag or a merely mediocre faux bag. So if you’re considering buying a “Saint Laurent” bag, among the many things to look for, the most important is to make sure it’s not only a clone of the original bag, but also, that it’s one of the best, the original.
But it’s not only designer bags that are copied. To be honest, there’s a whole world of knock-off items out there, from bags to shoes and even clothes, so it’s really important for anyone looking to buy something nice to be very aware of all the signs and details that signal if what they’re buying is an imitation, or even worse – a fake. It’s not just an ethical issue, it’s an insurancce issue: if you buy something fake, you’re not protecting your investment. Not to mention, it’s quite dangerous in some cases.
Yet so many people fall for the trap of buying fakes and copies – they think they’re getting a good deal, but in fact, they are most likely being cheated out of a good quality product. For example, many people assume that they will find a very good “Saint Laurent” replica bag at a discounted price, however all too often it’s discovered that they are paying more for a low quality version of the real thing… with tricks such as double stitching every seam and adding extra weight to make the bag feel more expensive, but these are merely illusions.
The best way to protect yourself from getting swindled when buying a designer bag is to be very mindful when shopping and remember that, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is! Of course, if you do purchase an imitation of a designer bag, there are ways to spot the difference and one handy way to do so is to look at the logo placement. Usually, the real bags will have the logo on the inside, whereas fakes will have the logo on the outside. It might sound like a small detail, but it could just help you avoid buying a fake bag; so be sure to pay attention to these small details if you want to make sure you’re not being duped.
It’s obvious that it’s never a good idea to purchase someone’s knock-off because of the potential dangers these counterfeit bags pose. There are countless reports out there, in which consumers are sending in their expensive bags for repairs only to discover that it’s a fake. So if you’re interested in buying one of these lovely Saint Laurent bags, my best advice would be to buy only from authorized dealers that will provide the proper paperwork, such as a copy of a certificate of authenticity, to guarantee that it is indeed true to it’s name.