Jen Shah Had Fake Designer Bags and Jewelry Found During Home Raid

As high-end luxury brands including Hermes, Chanel, and Prada have boosted their prices in recent years, many consumers turned to deceivingly high-quality replicas for a fraction of the price. Between her return trips to the aforementioned retailer and Neiman Marcus, the stores endured a $400,000 loss due to fake merchandise. Customers on the former preschool teacher’s Instagram page were also sold false items where she raked in thousands of dollars in profits.
Consumers should exercise caution when purchasing from unofficial sources or unfamiliar websites. Genuine luxury items are accompanied by premium-quality packaging. Any deviations, such as missing or substandard packaging, can signal a counterfeit product.
The picture at the top of this article is a real version of the bag, and the Christian Dior video below shows some of the craftsmanship that goes into the making of the Toile de Jouy bag. The employees I met were open about having copywriters doing the authenticating, and I saw it myself. They do it by dividing products into what they consider to be “high-risk” or “low-risk” categories. Products that are known to attract forgers–either because they are very desirable, very popular, very expensive or some combination of the three–are sent to high-risk authenticators, who have more training and knowledge. The verdict was unanimous for all the questions of the trial, including “Did WGACA act willfully, with reckless disregard, or with willful blindness in its use of the hashtags? But a number of those questions bring up some real ship-of-Theseus questions about the blurred lines between a “real” purse and a “fake” one.
BUT these were all pretty subtle imperfections (besides the inside bag color). Like I said, the bag totally looked legit on the surface. At this point, that change in attitude is only a trickle.
There are bags with actual snake-skin, crocodile-skin and various other rare materials. Unlike the eastern-Asia counterfeits, Turkey uses real leather, this does not just involve the use of using any other leather, they will go out of their way to find that particular leather. Naturally, the people who’ve worked for these companies grasp the technique(s), details and finesse of the art. They often venture off into creating their own brand retaining all of the quality, if not improving it. Prosecutors said they took in around €2 million a year by selling the fakes for €20,000 to €30,000 (US$22,000 to US$33,000) each.
According to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), counterfeits help fund terrorism and corrupt regimes worldwide. Hermès uses the finest leather, so the bag shouldn't smell of plastic or have an overpowering chemical smell. The rest of the code consists of identifiers placed in a certain location in the bag with certain spacing.
A 2022 police investigation found Naples street market sellers paid the mafia up to €200 weekly to operate their stands, or were forced to buy their merchandise. The mafia also controls distribution, either through its own sales channels or by pressuring shop owners to sell fake goods among their genuine items. As top brands like Gucci and Prada prepare to report billions in sales this month, luxury fakes on the streets of Naples, Italy, are also yielding a jaw-dropping cash stream – for the mafia.
In August and September 2021, UK Border Force sent warning letters to Krueanarong after they intercepted packages addressed to her arriving from Thailand, which contained more counterfeit handbags. A recent investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald and A Current Affair uncovered that the Australian luxury retailer Cosette had sold handbags to a number of customers who allege they are fake. This is particularly true given the rise, prevalence, and relatively easy access to fake handbags. Last time I visited Shanghai, I visited the fake market in West Nanjing.
Alastair Gray, expert counterfeit investigator, claims that the attacks that occurred in Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015 were funded by the counterfeit handbag business. These findings are likely to be enough to make the vast majority of consumers shudder at the thought of buying a counterfeit handbag if they are made aware of this direct link. She draws the line at buying fakes of New Zealand and Australian brands, but doesn't have much sympathy for the big luxury brands. Last week sellers went to ground as raids on counterfeit operations ramped up again in China. The activity follows the Pandabuy raid in April by Chinese authorities after reported legal action by 16 brands over copyright infringement. At the time many sellers halted operations, fearing repercussions.
I had seen a few pop up but I wasn’t ready to buy at the time. The letter “A” in the name Christian Dior has a smaller center triangle on the fake one (left) than on the real one (right). That is likely how I came to spend over $3,600 for a fake Christian Dior bag on The RealReal. I’m referring to a bag called the Toile de Jouy Dior Book Tote.
Photographs of the storage facility released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office show storage units within the facility piled with handbags and shoes. Authorities also released a photo of boxes of counterfeit goods they seized from the storage facility. Small details such as the stitching, zips and product tags are clear signs of the quality of a bag. Genuine Kånkens have double-stitched seams that are straight, use YKK zips with the Fjällräven logo on one side and the Fox logo on the other, and product tags are made from thick card that show the bag colour and barcode.
At the end of the day, wearing a fake designer bag will still not raise your class. You’re better off wearing a good quality non-designer bag than wasting your hard earned money in a counterfeit version of a designer bag. Visit esinakan.com for affordable leather handbags for modern women. The accessibility of the internet has made more people aware of the reality of fake designer bags.
If the font looks dull or blurry or has spelling mistakes, it's likely a fake. Since logos can be copied relatively easily, relying on the logo alone isn’t enough to confirm authenticity. It’s best to use additional methods from this guide to distinguish accurately between a genuine and fake Tory Burch bag.
This was part of my tactic as I wanted to see for how much you could buy fake high quality items, without any bias. I didn’t want these sellers to see that I wear the real stuff plus that I can afford higher prices. Purchasing counterfeit goods not only harms a brand's reputation and sales but also perpetuates unsafe working conditions in rogue manufacturing facilities. Moreover, counterfeit products may contain harmful substances and lack quality assurance, compromising consumer safety and longevity.
Handbag Clinic will always source metal work as close as possible to the original to ensure a high-quality repair. However, it’s important to note that in the pre-owned market, people with larger collections may misplace the authentication card or muddle the wrong card with the wrong item. Therefore, verification can’t solely rely on serial numbers and authentication cards alone. That’s why they’re here, and we do all we can to earn that trust. We have spent literally decades building FASHIONPHILE University, where our own team of brand experts are trained in an apprentice-style program on specific brand authentication. There is no academic institution where one can be trained in these skills.
At FASHIONPHILE, our number one value is, “we believe in authenticity.” This is not just a cute slogan we have up on the wall of our kitchen (although you will find it there). We have an absolute zero tolerance for the selling of fakes. The counterfeit industry is estimated to be a trillion-dollar underground market, fueling the behavior of both organized and disorganized criminals worldwide. Counterfeits are directly linked to human trafficking, child labor, prostitution, firearms and narcotics trade, extremist groups, terrorism, and more. The reality is that your unwary transaction funds atrocious ventures and groups that have alarming agendas.
Firstly, authentic designer bags are typically constructed from high-quality materials, such as supple leather, durable canvas, or glossy patent leather. Secondly, the stitching on an authentic designer bag will be precise and even, with no loose threads or fraying. Finally, the logos and serial numbers on an authentic designer bag will match the brand's official specifications. Savvy consumers can easily spot fake designer handbags even if they've never seen a true designer bag. The quality of workmanship and other factors stand out on fake bags, and when designers are highly renowned for the exquisite work of their products, fakes are easy to notice.
Upstairs, police found rooms stuffed with counterfeit goods – Gucci, Prada and Fendi – with an estimated street value of more than $1.5 million. In another room, scales and bags for concealing the smell of drugs from sniffer dogs were found. Blackwood suspects the counterfeiters were using them to ship out drugs. It's a topic the fashion industry has been reluctant to talk about, according to Ben Gallagher. "When you sell glamorous products you only really want to be talking about glamorous things." A few years ago, Ben decided to break that taboo.
“It does not bother me,” said Caterina, 17, who bought a fake YSL wallet from a market seller for €11. A 2023 survey found one-third of EU citizens would consider buying fakes if the originals are too expensive, rising to half of young people. “In Naples, counterfeiting represents a real parallel economic sector” run by local and foreign mafias, wrote a 2021 government report. While less lucrative than selling drugs, counterfeiting generates cash, helps launder drug money and is relatively low-risk, with jail sentences far below those for more violent crimes.
From now through September, The RealReal will hold regular activations on the top floor of the pop-up. For example, one day per month, customers can turn in a fake bag to be entered into a raffle to win a real copy of the same bag. The top floor will also host discussions with experts from within the industries of handbags, leatherworking and authentication.
It could be in an item that you don’t check often, like a jacket pocket, the outer compartment of a bag, or your vehicle. If you can't find the device and if you feel your safety is at risk, go to a safe public location and contact law enforcement. The shipments, which originated in China and Hong Kong, contained a wide variety of counterfeit goods, including handbags, wallets, and jewelry. Allen was notified of these seizures, but never petitioned to have the goods in the shipments released. An analysis of shipping records revealed that between September 2021 and March 2022, approximately 46 shipments from China and Hong Kong had been sent to the Ferndale warehouse where ‘Keepin Up With Kara’ operated. However, you'll find street vendors selling them in any of the larger tourist centres.
Although they look pretty good at first glance, on closer inspection you will find many flaws. The interiors are almost always cheap flimsy fabric, the stitching is often crooked and they are sometimes glued together. Also note that the little identifying name brand tag is often crooked. At first I thought it would be kind of a fun accessory, but now that I realize how obvious it is that its a fake, I have never used it. In one of the stalls, there are a handful of non-Thai foreigners, all male, bartering over a large sum of counterfeit handbags. Considering the prices that I've seen these bags sell for online, there's a good chance that these guys were con-artists.
Although these bags are predominantly made of canvas, they all feature Vachetta leather, which when purchased new will be extremely light and all exposed areas will darken over time. Fake Louis Vuitton bags will not be made of the same quality as genuine ones – and potentially not leather at all. A tell-tale sign of an imitation piece is that all the exposed leather does not darken at the same rate or does not darken at all. Kristen Naiman, chief creative officer at The RealReal, said fakes are an inevitable problem in the luxury industry. However, analyzing the bags and the way they’re made can be valuable learning tools for authenticators and consumers alike, she said.
You aren't breaking the law if you only purchase a counterfeit handbag or a knockoff designer handbag. However, if you attempt to resell a counterfeit handbag, you can legally be charged. Before purchasing a counterfeit designer handbag or cheap knockoff, you should consider who you are supporting with such purchases.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt a rush of excitement when I hold a genuine piece (even if it’s not designer). It’s an experience that a knock-off just can’t replicate. So, when you buy a fake designer bag, you’re indirectly contributing to these unethical practices.
The leather was so soft and unbelievably high-end, the details were incredibly accurate and branding was on point. At the end of the day, selling counterfeit bags and accessories is risky business. The potential profits usually don’t outweigh the legal consequences if caught. Once upon a time, counterfeit luxury goods were considered a fashion faux pas.
Brandon and I followed Mom to a department store one weekend while Dad was mowing the lawn. Designer bags sat in open air atop wooden pedestals, secured only by a metal coil around the handle. Mom gingerly picked up a Fendi tote from its base as if it could sense her touch. “Feel the weight,” she said as she let it fall into my outstretched hands.
In Shah's sentencing submission requesting a short stint behind bars, the reality star's attorneys argued in part that the police presence at her home negatively affected her family. Her legal team claimed that one of her sons is "having nightmares" over the events of the day. Dawn Lawson from Herefordshire bought a fake Prada backpack for a fraction of the cost of a real one. "Counterfeits may also appeal to those people who want to demonstrate their status, but don't have the funds to do so with genuine products". Research suggests about three million consumers every year buy counterfeit goods carrying one of the top designer labels, such as Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry or Gucci. "After all, we buy fake items for different reasons. Many of us indulge in ironic consumption - such as a Breitling watch for a dollar. It's clear it's not real, it's just quite amusing.
Hai, i am going to go to europe for 3 weeks and will go to germany netherlands belgia paris swiss and going to go home from italia. I have a plan to use my fake branded bag that i bought from my country and i will be bring one .. My first airpot is frankfurt and going back home from venice. Added by Karl Lagerfeld in 1984, the ‘CC’ logo lock is the most recognizable feature on a Chanel Flap Bag. The right ‘C’ should always overlap the left ‘C’ at the top, and the left ‘C’ should always overlap the right ‘C’ at the bottom. Unless the bag is a special edition, the end of each ‘C’ should be flat.
While knockoff purses are also most often made with lower-quality materials than the original name-brand bags, in most instances, they are not intended to be exact copies of the original brand. Instead, they are considered a more affordable look-alike than the original designer handbags. Hermès uses the highest quality materials, and the bags are made by master craftspeople who have been trained for years. If the bag looks like it's been made with cheaper materials or hardware or has been sloppily put together, it's not an authentic Hermès bag. Sometimes the grain on the leather is wrong, the bag feels lighter than a real Hermès bag, or the hardware is too thin.
The lock and the keys have matching numbers, but some numbers have been consistent with counterfeits. The engraving on the lock must be smooth and not chiseled or dotted. If it's not smooth, the lock is fake, and the handbag likely is also. There is another stamp on the inside of the bag, on the suede lining that says “The Row” and “Made in Italy.” Those stamps should be very clear with crisp edges. On the fake bag the inner stamps are hard to see because the inferior leather is shaggier and less smooth. This applies mostly to non-black Park totes because the black Park totes have a black inner suede where it’s hard to see the stamping in the first place.
Saint Laurent’s genuine leather has a satin sheen, while the fake handbags have a shiny plastic look. They usually employ a “Y8L” logo instead of the classic “YSL” logo. They get away with this because eBay is not very aware of knock-off listings. A handbag similar to the one pictured above can be found on eBay for as low as $10.
However, for me, the reasons against buying fake designer bags carry much more weight. Counterfeit luxury handbags have become a social media phenomenon. Instead of cheaply made knockoffs, the latest crop of counterfeit handbags, known as "superfakes," looks very similar to the authentic luxury item. “We are glad to partner with Gatekeeper Global to help protect the brand integrity of these companies. If you see a name-brand purse, handbag, or accessory that’s for sale online and the price is too good to be true, it’s probably a counterfeit item that is manufactured in a sweatshop in a foreign country. If you buy high-end handbags or other items, please make sure you go to a reputable store to make that purchase,” Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in a statement.
I joined the hype, sharing a variety of dupes of popular designer handbags and shoes to help everyone save money while looking fashion-forward. Because of this, I no longer feel comfortable buying secondhand online. My recommendation would be to save your money and spend a little extra to buy a designer bag new in store. That way you get to take advantage of the designer warranty. You can also get discounts on designer bags when you are shopping in Europe or even Hawaii!
True, they'll have a hard time telling it the bags are fake or real. 🙂 But, there were also a fair number of fakes, including accessories, makeup, shoes, clothing and so much more. Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors. These items are required to be placed in checked bags with or without blades. Federal authorities shared an inventory of her items from the home raid after she agreed to forfeit $6 million and pay restitution of $9 million. As TMZ reports, actual designer products are also included in her items — potentially bringing down the extent of what she owes.
Customs and Border Protection officials announced that they had experienced a 50 percent increase in seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods at the Los Angeles-Long Beach seaport complex in the preceding year. Altogether, CBP officials intercepted 357 shipments of fake goods worth $71.4 million at the seaport. Among the articles seized were Christmas lights that could catch fire, food items that may have contained harmful ingredients, and handbags and shoes. "No one should think of piracy and counterfeiting as minor crimes," said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge of the U.S.
Officers provided advice to the defendant, who claimed that she had sold her own personal items. Ms Krueanarong pleaded guilty to 15 counts of being in possession of counterfeit designer handbags in the course of a business. A woman who possessed 344 counterfeit designer handbags as part of a Facebook business has been fined almost £13k. In short, there are a lot of limiting factors given the vague wordage that could have California quite unwittingly banning backpacks and others like it.
I did some internet sleuthing and found the very bag I had purchased being exhibited in a 'hall of shame' as a fake on a purse blog! I did more research and reluctantly concluded they were correct. 😔 I only have a couple of pictures but they are of the obvious problems.
At temple, we ran into families we barely knew and handed their kids red envelopes with fifty-dollar bills—money we pinched and hoarded when left to our own devices but in front of others we threw away magnanimously. Terrorists responsible for the 2015 terror attack in France on employees of the magazine Charlie Hebdo financed their weapons partly by selling fake Nike sneakers, according to authorities. As an organization, our goal is to create a first-class experience for our fans on event days, and ensuring the safety and security of our guests is top priority. Small clutch bags, 4.5” x 6.5” x 2” can be taken into the stadium in addition to one of the approved clear bags described above.
“We want to make sure nothing falls through the cracks,” Erkel explained. In addition to taking care of translations and customs, LePrix inspects every item that enters the process. If retailers are working with unknown sources, say on eBay, they’re engaged in a risky business, Erkel said. Pre-owned items can be in a multitude of conditions, from “like new” to obviously well-used; they’re just not direct from the brand.
In LuxuryTastic , he wrote, "Dear God, Trump next, please!" six times with a middle finger at the end. The chances of you having problems depend on whether the country concerned is having a crackdown on counterfeit goods when you visit. But it will be very difficult.....and probably impossible... For you to prove that you did not buy your fake bag from within the EU, especially when you leave for home. See post #6 from Peter - apparently it can be a problem.
And I still love these bloggers and trust their opinions! I had also gotten a collab email from the Tradesy team in the past asking me if I wanted to participate in their designer bag exchange program for bloggers. I passed on the offer because I don’t usually do collaborations for trade. BUT the email was legit and my contact was professional and easy to talk to. Tradesy is based out of Santa Monica, California so it definitely didn’t seem like a scammy foreign site or business.
So far, brands have not been encouraging about resale because they want to sell more new stuff and resale inhibits that. But over time, as consumers demand it and sustainability becomes an increasingly popular commercial proposition, brands will think about it again. I contacted The RealReal about these authentication concerns, and the company invited me to tour its center in Secaucus, New Jersey, where it receives, authenticates, prices, posts and ships products. I accepted the invitation and was given a tour by the senior director of merchandising, who is responsible for all of the company’s facilities. The company took me through the authentication process, and I talked to both experts and copywriters, all of whom showed me how they do their authenticating work.
The factories disguise the contents of containers with foodstuffs or other consumer products like lingerie. For those brave enough to risk it, it’s a spectacular investment, with as much as a 1,000% return–better than drug trafficking. Container filled with fake bags can turn a profit of $2 million to $4 million. And counterfeiters save roughly 50% of that revenue that luxury houses would invest in innovation and marketing.
My second mistake was not looking at the pictures closely. There were signs that the bag wasn’t authentic but I didn’t really think about it. I just trusted that there wouldn’t be fake bags being sold on the site. I also did some more research and found the exact same pictures of the bag on another website. AND I found a fake bag listing that looked exactly like the bag I bought – black interior and all.
Even though Birkins are so highly regarded, they are not counterfeited as often as other handbags. Most people would assume that only the super-rich can afford them. Birkin bags owned by regular people would normally be assumed to be fake. Most people cannot afford to buy a Birkin bag that costs as much as a car or a small house. The sheriff’s office searched a home off Adelene Way in Dallas on Oct. 4, reportedly finding more than 12,000 fake handbags, wallets and other accessories.
Louis Vuitton denies that they made a multi-color backpack as a market test and all colored Louis Vuitton backpacks should be considered fake and destroyed. Louis Vuitton (LVMH) is by far the most counterfeited handbag company in the world. Perhaps it is the easy to replicate pattern, or perhaps it is the recognizeability of the design. The price tags on the real bags typically range from $1,000 to $10,000. The Monogram Canvas material is typically the most counterfeited, but the Multicolored Monogram pattern is often copied as well.
Furthermore, billions of dollars of counterfeits are seized annually by law enforcement. This contraband is most often destroyed through incineration, which has harmful environmental implications. The consequences of purchasing counterfeit accessories have a far-reaching ripple effect throughout our entire ecosystem. "The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in US history." Photographs showed shelves stacked with counterfeit wallets and bags in one location.
"I think it is because it's so accessible these days and there's so much pressure where one person's got it, then the next person's going to go in. It's a vicious cycle." Once in the Campania region surrounding Naples, final finishing takes place in workshops using cheap illegal labour. Labels are frequently shipped separately and sewn on last, making it more difficult for customs to spot fakes. Hardware seems to be a giveaway for a lot of fakes I've seen, even when it comes to other high-end bag brands. Sometimes I can spot a fake just by looking at its clips and clasps. I knew about it because I saw a TV show where they busted the seller of the fake bags in NY, and obviously the OP did too.
Arguably, the same goes for goods that violate the intellectual property rights of the designer. Most punters wouldn't see it as their moral obligation to look after the brands of the big fashion houses. We're not talking about alcohol, tobacco or medications - buying such items clearly poses a health risk. The same can be said for toys which aren't up to safety standards, and sunglasses which don't have the recommended UV protection. Nor are we talking about people who genuinely believe the goods they buy are the real thing. But is there any harm in nabbing a pair of "Louboutins" from a market, or a "Chanel" handbag from a chap selling them on a foreign beach?
"Anything that can be brought in blank is being brought in blank," says Heather McDonald, a partner in the intellectual-property group at the law firm of Baker Hostetler in New York. "They can attach a Prada tag or interlocking GG on demand. And they are very indiscriminate. It doesn't matter if the design is from the brand or not. They put the logo on whatever they think will sell." The IOC’s anti-counterfeiting programme includes advanced authentication and traceability technological measures, allowing buyers to easily verify the authenticity of Olympic and Paralympic-branded merchandise. It notes that these measures are designed to be “consumer-friendly, ensuring that every purchase supports athletes and upholds the high standards of the Olympic movement”. As part of that investigations, police overheard conversations revealing the existence of a “secret atelier” making the fake handbags.
Unfortunately, many vulnerable women and children are affected. It is estimated that 168 million children ages 5 to 14 are forced to work in such environments. This would be a perfect fall outfit for a casual night out or even a romantic date! The orange handbag would add a pop of color and personality to the outfit. Ivan J. Arvelo, the special agent-in-charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New York, used the arrest to illustrate the potential harm that comes from buying luxury brand knockoffs. At the top, it displays the official Tory Burch logo—a double T.
While the existence of a QAT does not guarantee the bag is real, the absence of one does prove it is not. With the exception of wallets and wallet purses, every Prada bag has a QAT (also referred to as a Factory Tag). A white, square-shaped tag, it is most commonly found along the bottom seam of the bag’s interior pocket. In black thread, it should be stitched with two or three digits. This number designates the factory the bag was produced in and ensures that it has passed rigorous quality testing.
Rolex came in a close second with 11.7 million views, followed by Louis Vuitton with 2 million and Dior at 280,000. But I sent the bag back (it was free shipping) and the Tradesy team took a look at it. They decided that it was a fake and refunded me my money. I never actually paid anything for the bag in the first place because my first payment wasn’t due until a month after I’d purchased it. In the monkey image, the face on the fake bag (left) is less detailed than the real one, which has finer hair and distinct eyes (right).
The one on the right (real) offers flawless stitching that their premium materials can handle. Checking the quality of the stitching is also one of the authentication basics you need to remember. Luxury bags have perfect stitching because they're handmade by the best artisans in high fashion.
We handle all of the work for consignors, including authenticating, using AI and machine learning to determine optimal pricing, photographing and listing their items, as well as shipping and customer service. NEW YORK, June 13, (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, The RealReal, the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods, unveils an installation of fake handbags at 301 Canal Street. One of the main attractions of buying a fake designer bag is the serious cost savings.
Typically customs won't confiscate a single item brought home by a tourist although in a strict sense they could. They regularly confiscate shipments of fake goods coming into ports. We saw a group of street vendors running at top speed carrying their wares in blankets, presumably being chased by the police.
While cigar cutters are generally permitted, we recommend that you pack them in your checked baggage. TSA officers have the discretion to prohibit any item through the screening checkpoint if they believe it poses a security threat. The Birkin bag may be distinguished from the similar Hermès Kelly bag by the number of its handles. The single-handle handbag is the Kelly, but the Birkin has two handles. If it's  not made by the manufacturer of the brand name on the item then  it's not authentic and not allowed. Please email  and a member of our guest services team will be back to you in about 3 business days.
Even if they seem identical initially, they tend to age poorly over time. In November 2023, federal agents executed the largest seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history. Authorities announced the seizure of around 219,000 counterfeit bags, clothes, shoes, luxury products, and other items. The total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of these items was approximately $1.03 billion.
And since the purchase, this bag has risen by almost $800 in price. Carrying a bag with a huge logo plastered across its strap or fabric seems to be the easiest way to signal 'high end' – far more than opting for designer jeans or a cashmere cardigan. No 'outfit of the day' or now more commonly known as, 'fit check', is complete without the addition, or in some cases central focus, of a luxury purse. I say 'very obvious' to emphasise these were not subtle bags, like you might shop from minimalist (albeit also very popular) labels like The Row or Khaite. I attended a social event over the weekend, and rather than take notice of everyone's minimal makeup, white leather sneakers or gold jewellery, something else caught my eye.
Mom pointed out a woman wearing a Louis Vuitton crossbody. “Let’s see if it’s real,” she whispered to me, and we crept over to her vicinity. I still loved that Mom and I shared a secret skill we could bond over, though I now wondered how long we’d keep it up. All I saw were the broken red shells on the table, an army of crabs obliterated by us, and Mom’s new purse dangling on the chair next to her, its chain a fresh gold glimmer and the leather a calm, unbroken surface. Dad placed his hands behind his head with a content smile plastered on his face.
People who scored low on this test and were accordingly less likely to support social hierarchies were more likely to get a higher sense of egalitarian value from purchasing counterfeit goods. Researchers also looked at a person’s “social dominance orientation,” or the extent to which people support hierarchical structures in society based on things like wealth. In January, LVMH-owned Benefit Cosmetics was reportedly in talks to team up with TikTok parent ByteDance to stop a surge of counterfeits popping up on the platform. France, the final resting place of Marie Antoinette, is also home to some of the world’s largest fashion houses, including Bernard Arnault’s behemoth LVMH and Gucci-owner Kering. This issue is more on the psychological aspect of a person. Other people might not be able to tell if it is fake or not.
Among them were Birkin bags, the most famous and sought after of the company’s handbags. Notice on the picture how the label of the one on the right (fake) is slightly tilted, compared to the label on the left (authentic). This wouldn't have passed the quality control of luxury brands. Check the photo above, and notice that the stitching on the left (fake) has a little tearing. This detail also gives away the cheap materials they used on the bag because the stitching has caused bumps.
Throughout my time with Coach, I've encountered a few fakes, and spotting them is easier than you might think. The absence of such labels suggests a potential fake or pre-owned item. Fashion is not just about owning a label—it's about expressing yourself authentically and responsibly. So, before you click “add to cart,” think about what you’re really getting—and whether it’s worth it. In the end, the choice is yours, but it is crucial to consider the broader implications and long-term consequences. By choosing to invest in authentic products or supporting ethical alternatives, you can positively influence the fashion industry all while curating a stylish, long-lasting wardrobe.
His imitation Celine calfskin and Saint Laurent quilted leather handbags “are of the same quality as the originals, but five to 10 times cheaper”, the vendor promised. Kemal made his living selling “made in Turkiye” counterfeits for 15 years, before luxury fakes began taking over each of the bazaar’s hallowed shop windows one by one. The 219,000 counterfeit bags, clothes, shoes and other luxury products seized were worth more than $1 billion, prosecutors said.
We rode into Midtown in a stretch limo, splayed out on squeaky leather interiors, pointing through tinted windows at landmarks we had seen in films. We were mesmerized by the flashing neon signs and the ant mounds of people and the Naked Cowboy. We couldn’t fathom that other neighborhoods belonged to Manhattan too, that not every inch of the city was covered in a shocking glow. We bought the clothes during our second trip to New York City. When we first visited a few years prior, right before I started high school and Brandon middle school, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. At the airport, a heavyset man with an unidentifiable accent convinced us to follow him to the parking lot in lieu of calling a taxi.
"And the Balenciaga label is bolder here compared to the real one. It's the little details that give it away." … cheap knock-offs like this one could be funding organised crime, people trafficking, even terrorism. “This has to be a multidisciplinary approach because counterfeiters are becoming more and more expert,” said Shehu. Local businessmen in Naples also established a “Museum of the Real and Fake” to educate consumers. Police seizures are frequent and on the rise, including the discovery of a factory producing thousands of counterfeit Napoli soccer banners, jerseys and caps in February. Authorities said Sow and Jalloh allegedly ran large-scale counterfeit goods trafficking operations out of a storage facility located in Manhattan between January 2023 and Oct. 20, 2023.
In this article from the Wall Street Journal, Elizabeth Bernstein, who works with second-hand luxury retailer Portero, offers advice on how to tell a fraud from the real deal. According to Dr Haider Ali from the Open University, it's "people who have relatively little regard for the law" and "people who have negative attitudes towards big business". But despite the action taken by the fashion house, it's still pretty easy to get your hands on a replica. "The real issue is when people think they're getting the real thing and they're not. Those people need to be protected. But the vast majority of consumers know exactly what they're getting".
We get rare bags because we've spent many years cultivating relationships with clients and VIPs, and they know we're discreet. For around $200, I procured a Gucci Jackie Mini, which retails for $2,500. It came in an apple-green Gucci box complete with tags, a dust bag, and Gucci-branded desiccant packs.
If you're trying to determine whether your Marc Jacobs Snapshot Bag is real or fake, look at how it appears overall. Real Snapshot Bags are 7 inches long, 2 inches wide (depth), and 4 inches tall. They're made from saffiano leather, like what the Prada Galleria Bag uses. The special wax treatment on saffiano leather makes the bag tough against water, strong, and able to keep its boxy shape. Fake Snapshot Bags are usually bigger than the real ones and are made from cheaper materials. That's why they often lose shape and can easily get scratched or damaged.
Split your order into 4 interest-freepayments over 6 weeks. CancelingAfter placing your order, you will have up until a shopper is assigned to cancel your order. Your order details page, accessible from your confirmation email or your account for signed in customers, will have a "Cancel order" button if this option is still available. You will not be able to modify your order after placement. Dumas instructed his workers to make a bag with pockets for her and the Birkin was born.
If they find that it’s a fake they will refund your money. I was confident that my bag was a fake and I’d get my money back BUT I’d heard horror stories online about how people were sent fakes and Tradesy still said that the fake item was real. When I read the prospectus, the chart above and The RealReal website, I get the clear impression that the authenticators and the copywriters are different people. There is no mention of having two tiers of authenticators.
Typically, this means comparing the sneakers you are thinking of buying to the official website. Check to see if the sneakers you are going to buy are commonly faked. If so, be sure to read on to find out how to spot a fake. This is usually located on the inside of the temple of the sunglasses. You can look this number up online to verify the authenticity.