Selecting Designer Bags

What do you get from designer bags and are they worth the extra money?

Soft, sensual, supple Italian leather. Burnished brass hardware. Sumptuous satin lining. The unmatched extravagance of a designer handbag is finally in your hands. You can just feel the quality and value of this bag – the smell of the leather, the gleam of the hardware, the logo, the fabric, the design. Wearing the bag makes you feel fabulous, especially since it was such a bargain?

Bargains aren’t always what they seem to be, especially in the fashion world.

Discount designer handbags are highly sought after fashion accessories. For that reason, such bags are often counterfeited and knockoffs flood the market. Women who want an upscale image or who can’t afford a designer original scoop up these “bargains,” only to be disappointed later when one of these fake designer handbags falls apart. So how do you protect yourself from being ripped off? In this article we’ll talk about how to spot a true quality designer bag and why they’re worth their price.

But first let’s look at the concepts that underlie the presence of designer bags:

• Quality
• Value
• Status, perception, exclusivity

Quality: what sets designer bags apart from others

Designers like Gucci and others make products with an attention to detail unlike that of other mass-market items. Designer bags will last longer and wear better because of superior construction and better manufacturing processes. Materials that go into these bags are better; quality control standards are higher while the handbags are being made – fewer defects are allowed. Knockoff handbags are generally inferior in their execution of the design. Many designers own or control the factories where their products are made – knockoffs can come from anywhere.

Value: Getting the Most for Your Dollar

At first glance, designer purses may seem overpriced. Some consumers resist paying full price for “true” designer bags, preferring replicas instead. You should remember, however, that a bricks-and-mortar company and a flesh-and-blood designer willing to put their name on the line generally back a designer item. If your name were on a product, would you want it to be intentionally inferior? Designer bags will wear well and often last for years with their classic styling and superior construction and designs.

Status, Perception, Exclusivity: The Intangibles

Consumers feel differently when they carry designer bags. Nothing compares to the knowledge that you’re wearing a luxurious designer original and not a cheap replica. There’s something a little bit dishonest about letting people think your purse is a designer bag when in really it’s a knockoff. Designer bags are often more expensive because there are fewer of them on the market – a simple matter of good old supply and demand that accounts for their exclusivity.

How to Spot Counterfeit Designer Bags:

The best way to determine whether or not your bag is a designer exclusive is to compare it to something similar that you know to be authentic. Designer knockoffs simply won’t stand up to a side-by-side comparison. Here are some specific things to check or ask about:

• Stitching
• Hardware
• Materials
• Authenticity card
• Serial number

Stitching

The stitching on a designer bag should be straight, tight and even, with no stray loops or broken stitches. Critical stress points should be bar tacked or reinforced with extra stitching. Look at both sides of the stitching if you can. There should be even tension on both sides of the leather or material. An inferior bag may have uneven or baggy stitching on one side of a seam. Even if the other side of the seam looks OK, this manufacturing defect can lead to premature seam failure. Designer purses come from factories with good quality control procedures.

Hardware

Your designer bag should have beautiful, high-quality hardware. Bags designed to stand upright should have feet on the bottom to protect the material of the purse. Zippers should be smooth to operate. Clasps should close securely and stay closed. Look for embossed designer logos on the hardware. Some times zipper fobs also bear a logo. Hardware should be free of scratches and is often protected by a protective plastic shield that you remove after purchasing the item. Stress points are often reinforced with decorative rivets. Knockoff bags can have mismatched, scratched and cheaply plated hardware.

Materials

Many quality designer bags are made from leather. The best designer leather handbags are made from vat dyed leather. Vat dyed leather has the color all through the leather, not just on the surface. A replica bag is likely to be just surface dyed. Surface dyed leather will show scratches more readily than vat dyed. The leather pieces that compose the bag should match in texture and color. Accents should be leather, not plastic. The lining of your bag should be made with the same attention to detail as the exterior. You’ll often find the designer’s logo on the fabric. Interior features like pockets and zippers should be sturdy, functional and reinforced at key stress points. Replica designer handbags often skimp on leather and lining.

Authenticity card

Designer bags sometimes come with an authenticity card that would be difficult for an imitator to duplicate. Authenticity cards can have special bar codes, embossed logos, magnetic strips or holograms. Be sure to ask if your bag has an authenticity card.
Serial number

Some manufacturers provide a serial number with their designer bags. The serial number is usually on a tag sewn into the body of the bag. There may even be a card for you to fill out and send to the designer, so your purse is registered.

Conclusion:

Designers try to stay a step ahead of those who counterfeit their products, but it’s usually up to the buyer to make an informed purchase. Knockoffs are easy enough to spot if you take a minute to look closely at the item, whether it’s a handbag, wallet, designer clothing or accessories. Designer purses with their sensuous leathers and fabrics are a luxury for many buyers – make your dollars count and check that bag closely before purchasing it.