I asked my friend if she had done her research and cross-checked reviews before she purchased the bag. She hadn’t, and she was about to purchase it without confirmation! Being the watchful friend I am, I quickly suggested that we take a few moments to pick apart this bag.
It’s easy to be fooled by a poorly made fake, especially when you’re expecting a luxury item. I asked her to let me search through the bag first since I had a knack for spotting quality items. Taking the bag from her hands, I searched every inch and examined all the finer details like material, texture, weight, stitching, zippers, lining, buckles, hardware, logo and size.
The first thing I noticed was the brand logo. Usually, authentic bags have the company logo visibly stitched all around the bag, while fake ones only have faint outlines of the logo. The bag we looked at had visible logo and stitching, which seemed to pass what I thought was the authenticity test.
However, the brand tag was still a mystery to me. I had heard about hidden details in tags that fake ones usually don’t have, so to double-check I ran my hand through the tag details to confirm the authenticity. The tag had all the necessary details, and even had a golden seal with the brand’s name embossed on it.
The lining of the bag was another tell-tale sign. Fake bags usually have ugly, poorly stitched inner linings that cover part of the logo. However, this lining was different; it was microscopically stitched, and the edges were perfectly aligned.
I also checked the straps. Authentic bags would usually have engraved curves or patterns, while fakes don’t pay attention to this small details. The bag had the engraved curves with perfect details, and it fitted perfectly in my friend’s arm.
But the true test of a bag’s authenticity is its weight. Fakes usually feel light and flimsy, while authentic bags are weighty, and this bag was no different. Its weight made the authenticity unquestionable.
We couldn’t believe it – it turned out the diaper bag was authentically designer. I was relieved that my friend had not been duped, and she was naturally ecstatic when she heard the news.
Now that the authenticity of this bag was established, we were both quite satisfied. But I soon started to wonder what other people should look for before buying a designer diaper bag. When you are buying ANYTHING, ensure to cross-check reviews, examine finer details and always carry out a thorough examination before purchase.
Feeling informed and inspired to help others avoid buying fake designer items, I started to do my own research. I found out there are tell tale marks of fakes that one can look out for before purchasing. One of them was the manufacturing quality. Authentic designer bags are usually made with superior materials that are often water or stain-resistant, while fakes usually fall apart easily with time.
Since fakes are often mass-produced, they usually lack the unique and sophisticated details that come with authentic designer bags. Things like branding on even small elements, such as the zippers, handles, straps and buckles, all contribute to the bag’s intricate and luxurious design. Authentic bags can usually also be identified by their strong stitching, well aligned edges, strong handles and supporting straps.
Going by for the physical looks is often not enough, so I also conducted a quick internet search for the pricing structure and discounts for the maker of the bag I found, and came up with some surprising information. Even though the price tag said it was expensive, I found out it was way cheaper than authentic designer bags, which made us believe it was a fake!
The last pointer I have on identifying a fake designer bag is the return policy. Authentic designer bags have very strict return policies. For instance, if the branded outer label was removed, the bag cannot be returned which means if closing the bag, taking it out of the store, or removing the logo invalidates the warranty of the product, it is probably a knock-off. Fakes usually escape this kind of scrutiny and may not offer any return policy at all.
After doing this research, I was able to learn a lot more about fake designer diaper bags that will come in handy for my own shopping, and also what tips to share with my friends when they face similar dilemmas.
Now that the maternity bags are taken care of, I think it’s time to do some research and find her the perfect baby stroller!