How To Spot A Fake Louis Vuitton Bag.

Fake fashion is a $450 billion dollar business. The bigger the brand name, the bigger the payoff for counterfeiters such as fake Louis Vuitton bags. Its signature series of canvas monogram bags is a prime target for knock-off artists and manufacturers. Many of these counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags are so convincing, they easily fool the average consumer. If you are in the market for the real deal, here's how to make sure you're not getting gypped

Step 1: The Price Is Wrong

Louis Vuitton monogram canvas bags run from $375 and up, with the majority of the bags selling for over $1000. If you're buying a brand new Louis Vuitton bag for less than $300, you're not getting a deal, you're getting a fake.

Step 2: What's In A Name?

If there is an "LV" anywhere on the bag that is crooked or on a stitch or seam, it is not the real thing. The "LV" on a real Louis Vuitton purse will be carefully placed on the bag so that it's not cut off by a seam or snap. Besides the famous initials being monogrammed onto the bag itself, the zipper pull and purse snaps will all be branded as well. The zipper pull should also be brass hardware and heavy to the touch. Many imitators pay attention to the details so make sure you're paying even closer attention. If the seams are uneven or the monogram is the slightest bit off, it's a fake. Louis Vuitton bags are all hand crafted and each one is perfectly assembled. Spend some time on the manufacturer's website to study the details that make the bag authentic.

Step 3: Material Matters

The Louis Vuitton monogram bags are made of canvas but the handles and piping are natural cowhide leather. The color of the leather should be a light tan, with the edge dyed red and the stitching in yellow. After a few weeks of handling your bag, the leather handles will oxidize and fade to a darker brown. If your leather handles don't change color, it's a fake.

Step 4: Location

Louis Vuitton doesn't have any authorized street resellers so resist these so called "deals" they are trying to sell you. Also be careful when buying bags online, although you can find authentic Louis Vuitton bags, there are also a plethora of fakes. Pay attention to the seller credibility and ask about buyer protection, bag repair warranty and the return policy.

Step 5: Trust Your Gut

When it comes down to it, go with your gut. If you feel funny about where or how much you're paying, walk away. For more information about how to tell the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton bag, visit a Louis Vuitton Boutique.

I'm going to teach you how to look at Louis Vuitton patch!

Notice the subtle differences. The authentic Louis Vuitton Judy Blame Limited Edition Denim Cabas Raye Pleaty patch pictured above has:
really rounded, even embossed font- the o's, a's and e's are circular, not oval in shape
even and regular stitching. The same stitch count on every bag: thirteen stitches across the top and bottom and eight stitches down each side!

• tall "d" in the word "Edition"- it's slightly taller than the capital E
• tall "l" in the word "Blame- it's slightly taller than the capital B
• notice that in this font, the letter "u" has no tail

Compare these features to the patch in a replica Judy Blame Cabas Raye Pleaty:

It differs from the authentic patch in that:
the font is too large on a patch that is too small for the bag
the o's, a's and e's are too oval in shape- should be circular
the stitch count is off... ten stitches by seven instead of thirteen by eight
the "itt" in Vuitton should be closer together
the spacing is off, and uneven- see "Louis"- the "Lou" are spaced wider than the "uis", the "P" in "Paris" is too far from the "aris"
the "u"s should have no tail- the font in this patch has a tail on the u
the R in ® should be larger in relation to the circle.