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How to Identify a Real Louis Vuitton Handbag

Mar 4, 2011 / By Joshua Duvauchelle

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Careful inspection can help you spot a Vuitton wannabe.

Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Few things add more snazz to a wardrobe than a high-fashion designer handbag. And when it comes to designer bags, King Louis -- Louis Vuitton, that is -- is one of the reigning champs of recognizable brands. Due to the brand's high-fashion status, some unscrupulous dealers sell fake Louis Vuitton handbags. And while some fake things are growing in popularity -- fake noses and, well, you know -- you don't want a fake LV bag. Fakes cheat you out of owning a high-quality fashion investment, and Louis Vuitton even warns that the counterfeiting of its products often supports child labor and money laundering. Careful inspection can help you determine whether the bag you hold in your hands is the real Vuitton.

Buy the bag only through Louis Vuitton stores, through the Louis Vuitton website or by calling the manufacturer (see Resources). Only bags sold through these authorized outlets are guaranteed to be genuine. Buying the handbags from any other outlet increases your chances of getting a counterfeit bag.

Check the label for the country in which it was manufactured. All Louis Vuitton bags are made in the United States, Spain or France. If a different country is listed on the label, it's a fake bag.

Search for the bag's product number, found on its inside label, on the Louis Vuitton website or call the company and provide the product number. If the number doesn't show up on the site or in the company's databases, it's either a counterfeit item or a vintage product that may no longer be listed with the company.

Inspect the handbag's enclosure snaps. Genuine Louis Vuitton bags bear the company's iconic "LV" logo. Many counterfeit bags don't have this, reports "Hilary" fashion magazine.

Pull the stitching of the bag gently, both where the handles attach to the handbag's body and where the inside lining meets the outer edge of the bag. Real Louis Vuitton bags use high-quality stitching, while fake bags are often simply glued together to lower the cost of manufacturing.