To think many designer bags I see are actually fakes

further proof that money does not buy taste or class

I have a lot of designer bags and they’re all real, inc chanel but most of those are at least 10 years old because the price hikes are ridiculous.

I always see people on here saying they assume they’re fakes but the only time I’ve seen anyone sell fakes is at a stall at a boot fair, they were quite expensive too and imo they looked fake, wrong material/lining/logos/stamping, but that’s it. Is there somewhere that sells them that I don’t know about? I’d like to see what they look like irl!

In my time, I've had about a dozen real designer bags, not all at the same time. I've sold on, when I've had enough. I've probably now got 4, 2 mulberry, 1 Gucci, 1 Paul Smith.

I'm using Fairfax and Favor mostly now, I have 2 and thinking of getting the Tetbury next. F & F are know where near designer prices, I choose them because I like them, not for perceived prestige and I couldn't imagine anyone being interested.

I couldn't care less if people think they are fakes.

I know a lady who has a huge collection of fake birkins they look good quality but coupled with farah fawcett style wigs and ridiculous eyelashes, overall it doesn't scream wealth, as she thinks it does.

There is a lot of tat but if you tell them that you wanted something more special they have others that are not on display! I didn't buy but a friend who lives in Istanbul was in the know and asked for some to be brought out.

I bet I could tell the difference between real Chanel and fake. It’s more difficult with LV monogram. However if you covet the real thing, nothing else comes close! The buying experience for a start.

I agree that ones like Mulberry are generally likely to be real in that they are actually affordable. However ones like Chanel are so far out of people's affordability they are more likely to be. Half the other names mentioned on the thread I haven't heard of so I wouldn't even know I was supposed to be impressed anyway. But again I subscribe to the belief you buy one for you to make you happy not others and if its the fake that makes you happy or a real one then that's OK too

I actually count on the fact people think my chanel bag is fake. Less likely to be stolen!
My friend has the most beautiful fake designer bag, you would never be able to tell.

I'm sure a few are real. There is a market for those products and people who have the money to pay for them.

Anyone who has ever been to southern Europe though will have seen the fakes being sold for 20 euros on market stalls or from blankets on the pavement. I volunteer in a charity shop and we see a LOT of those sort of fakes. They might look great when you walk past someone on the street carrying one, but as soon as you start to take a closer look most are cheaply made and poor quality.

@TurquoiseBear same here.

I was given a fake Birkin bag as a gift, it was bought in China and was real leather and very well made. This was a good few years ago and cost about £50. They cost about 30k so I was never going to have a real one.

My colleague had lots of designer bags, her job as an academic was for pin money as her DH was a property developer.

Completely derailing the thread, but has anyone read Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen?

It's a story about two women who go into business selling counterfeit designer bags.

We went in to a shop in Feythie in Turkey last month, just for a look as it was a lovely shop, but was still in the centre of a strip in Turkey. The bags looked great but I presume they were fake. When I asked about the price of a little chanel quilted one he said it was 350 euros. We left but he didn't even try to stop to try barter with us. Who pays £350 for a fake bag.

I had a friend who bought a fake Gucci bag, knowing it was fake but just like the shape and colour and it looked perfectly fine quality. Until she was caught out in the rain one day and the bag shed dye and stain all over her genuinely expensive pale coloured coat.

I suspect you are right OP, I think there are a lot of fakes out there. Love your name

Where’s the envy?

I have two Dior, one LV and one Gucci bag, I can’t say I’ve ever thought about other people’s bags being fake or not.

Who cares?

I’m talking about bags which cost 30k plus. The owners already own a real one but carry replicas.

I wear clothes from thrift shops & Vinted and look a bit hippy dippy but I have a real Chanel 2.55 & a Birkin & a fendi baguette from a previous time in my life - I wear them all together happily.

Envy is the theif of joy. Who cares?

Go for something non branded. Most designer brands are tacky looking anyway

I have a two real designer bags and wear Primark/charity shop clothes. I don't tend to buy fake designer bags as from experience they break easily.

i have a few designer bags and a couple really good fakes which I use primarily when travel and want to have a nice bag but don’t want to worry if it’ll get damaged during travel or stolen from a hotel etc. I also only use travel (ie fake) jewellery for travel.

This.

I collect pieces from various designers and have amassed a rather large collection over the years.

Some fakes come close to looking “real”, especially if you’re willing to pay 00’s for a super fake.

But, to the discerning/trained eye, you can just tell.

The structure, the materials, the hardware, he placement of design/print, the way it holds its shape…

Granted, most people wouldn’t be examining your bag that closely, but some fakes are easy to spot from the other side of the room.

I would take zero pleasure in owning a fake/replica bag, as I genuinely appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a real one…it’s nothing to do with what it costs, as I’d also be perfectly happy to carry around a nice bag from Zara/Next etc.

i know that there are shops in Turkey that openly sell fake designer clothing and bags. Plus on social media I’ve seen people get hauls from Chinese companies to send fake designer bags, shoes and clothing.

I think that some people make the mistake of opening too many “designer” bags so people will know that they must be fakes because the owners aren’t multi millionaires with that kind of budget.

To be fair even genuine Goyard's look fake

I would be surprised.

Most women I know have designer handbags. I genuinely don’t know anyone who would buy a fake so they don’t have to use their real ones. That it very odd behaviour.