I recently stumbled across a post online about the neverfull monogram bag. It started out as a casual search for a new bag, but I quickly found myself caught up in a debate that encompassed style, craftsmanship and even morality. Fake versus real – that was the question.
Having little to no fashion knowledge – or at least, what I thought was little to no fashion knowledge – I had no idea what to make of the two items that I saw side-by-side. One was the bag I had identified; the Neverfull Monogram tote by Louis Vuitton. The other was a replica that had been made with just enough differences to avoid legal action, such as some of the interior construction and placement of small logo stamps. Upon further examination, it felt almost wrong that such an item existed – how could someone call it ‘original’ when it was so obviously a knockoff?
I had heard in the past that this sort of thing was a grey area, but the fact that it was so much cheaper than the real thing made me wonder. It felt almost like a moral dilemma: on the one hand, the original was impossibly beautiful and so much better in quality – one that could last years upon years. On the other hand, the replica seemed to perfectly avenge the same quality and had a one-time cost that was way more economical than the real.
And then I thought about the creator, the person or the team that helped bring the original to life and how they worked so hard to perfect their product. If it wasn’t for them and the heart and soul they injected in their work, us shoppers would never have an original worth buying. However, on the flip side, I thought about the people whom the replica created, it was a job for them, a source of employment. They made replicas for a living the same way a carpenter or any other craftsman did.
I know it might still seem wrong, but I truly believe that the creator should be the one deciding whether or not faux products should be allowed. It’s their artistic work at stake, and the final verdict should be theirs alone. Maybe they view it as wrong, and if so, they should definitely do something about it. On the other hand, if they don’t mind, then it’s totally understandable why some people may opt for replicas, as long as they aren’t getting tricked into thinking the original is what they were getting.
It truly was eye-opening to see the differences between the real Neverfull Monogram bag and its replica counterparts. It just shows how intricate the fashion industry can be, and it’s a great reminder that if you ever even think about buying something ‘original’, be sure to double check the markets since there are some funny cases of mislabeled bags that happen once in a blue moon. After all, you don’t want another person profiting from another’s brilliance.
At the end of the day, I think any work of art should be respected and appreciated, regardless of whether it’s an original or a replica. Everyone has their personal opinions and preferences on this matter, but I know that when it comes to my own style, I still stick with the tried-and-true: original designers and limited edition pieces keep me satisfied. That’s just me though!
Moving on to the practical basket, it was quite interesting to see the differences between the fake neverfull monogram bag and the real one. Traditionally, the neverfull bags come with two options – the first is structured and made with hardier materials, while the second is a soft and canvas-esque unicorne. Other differences when it comes to material include the zipper colour embracing more earthly tones in the non-authentic pieces, while the brand’s original will have shinier elements and brighter shades on handle buckles.
Furthermore, upon further inspection, there is often a huge difference in terms of construction. True neverfull monogram bags are made in such a way that they normally come with a certain ‘kit’. This kit includes an interior pocket, – big enough for small items such as the phone and wallet – and a dust bag if stored properly. I noticed that often times with replicas, the interior isn’t designed in a way that can hold this ‘kit’, almost like the designers had a second thought when designing with regard to the functionality.
The same can be said when we get on the topic of attention to detail and quality. If you take the time to notice, you’ll see that authentic vuittons have perfectly aligned seemings -as they use a special ‘Tuck box’ technique for impact strength in the handbags. This is difficult to replicate, and hence the difference in quality becomes quite visible when it comes to the details.
The same thing can be said for signature hardware. Most counterfeit versions will have different finishes to the original signature hardware, which can be quite blatant once you take a closer look. For example, with the neverfull monogram bags, the original has a shiny buckle while the replica version can oftenly come with a matt finish. Where other details, such as handles and lettering can remain quite subtle, this difference in hardware leaves no room for confusion.
In terms of pricing, authenticity can have a huge effect. Authentic neverfull monogram bags usually come with a hefty price tag of somewhere around 2000 dollars, while falsified versions come in a much lower price range of about 40 to 50 bucks. While this can seem like the smarter buy, it’s important to remember that often times cheap substitutes come with a cheap quality product, and theirs no telling when your bag might fall apart after months of use.
Overall, it’s easy to be overwhelmed when dealing with the neverfull monogram bag, especially when you hear all the chatter around authenticity and quality. I believe that with some research and a general overlook of the product, even the newest of shoppers can tell the difference between an authentic piece and a replica. It’s important to be realistic in terms of expecting the original neverfull monogram bags prices to be drastically high, and do your research into how to spot imitations.
Exploring the secondhand market is probably the wisest decision here, as it not only saves you money but it also helps you get a bag that’s been tested for quality and time. A lot of second-hand handbags in the market tend to hold up to wear and tear, so it’s worth a shot if you have some cash saved up.
It’s also important to remember that you don’t need to have an original to look fashionable. A lot of the replicas these days come with light years of quality when it comes to construction and aesthetics, and they may even age and wear better than their more expensive counterparts. So don’t worry your head too much over the question of real vs fake, just trust your gut feeling and get a designer bag that’s worth the money!