KoreaToday Fake vs. Real: Lowdown on Counterfeit Fashion
A Quick Guide to Determine the Authenticity of Luxury Goods
By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Yoon Sang-hee should've known that a 300,000-won ($235) Louis Vuitton bag is too good to be true. But she didn't when she first saw the all-new monogram roses Speedy online and instantly fell in love.
The 27-year-old naively believed every word of the description as written and thought that she was getting a hot deal on the bag that typically retails for more than 1 million won.
Weeks later, in an embarrassing situation, she found out that the bag was fake, but the online shopping mall's no-refund policy has her stuck with a knock-off with messy stitching.
``I felt stupid for getting ripped off so easily,'' said Yoon, who doesn't consider herself someone who usually goes wild over designer bags. She blamed her lack of knowledge for getting duped.
But the truth, regulators say, is that even the smartest and savviest shoppers are fooled nowadays as counterfeit goods look more and more real.
According to the Korea Customs Service (KCS), a total of 746 cases of fake goods imports and exports were reported last year, which is up more than two-fold from the 323 cases in 2001.
Some of the most popularly counterfeited luxury brands include Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Cartier and Fendi.
``Knock off items are a huge problem because it hurts people's trust in the consumer market,'' said Kim Hae-woo, a customs service official.
He explained that having a rampant local counterfeit market also leads overseas companies to assume that South Korea's protection of intellectual property rights is weak and undeveloped.
``The bottom line is that fake goods should be neither bought nor sold,'' he said, stressing that consumers should raise their awareness on determining the difference between fake and real.
Here's a general guide to spotting imitations:
Do your research.
Don't believe everything sellers say. Take a cautious approach and make sure that a particular design really does exist. If you've never seen a neon green Prada bag before, that's probably because Prada doesn't make any.
Inspect the product.
Don't rush into buying anything. Carefully examine the bag inside out to make sure that the craftsmanship is superb. This is why online shopping can be dangerous since consumers have to make an expensive decision after a few clicks.
Details, details, details.
Everything from the zipper and handles to the tiniest stitches shouldn't look clumsy. More attention to detail is needed nowadays because fakers have become a lot cannier than before. It's no longer about telling the difference between Prada and Prado, but checking whether the spacing between each letter measures the same.
Check for extras.
Luxury goods makers know better than to package their expensive products in a plastic bag. When shopping for goods online, make sure that the dust bags, boxes and authentication cards are all included. Don't trust whatever is given, though, because even the identity cards can be made up.
``Trust your instincts,'' says Kim Ji-yeon, a luxury goods expert who runs a second hand store in southern Seoul. ``If something about the bag just `doesn't look right,' it's probably fake. Why take a chance?''
Rules by the Brands
Louis Vuitton.
This brand is arguably one of the most popularly counterfeited in South Korea.
Experts say the most important thing to look for in a Louis Vuitton bag is the quality of the leather. If the leather is too shiny, cracked or discolored, the bag is probably fake. The handles should be smooth and come in a light beige color. If the stitching is crooked, unaligned or overlapping in any way, shoppers should be wary.
Some affirming traits to look out for are solid, straight and bright yellow stitching and an indented embossed line along the stitching. The leather should look matte and smooth, and the canvas should have continuity. This means the hems should be lined up perfectly so that the signature LV monogram continues without an abrupt stop.
Gucci.
Because counterfeit artists have been rampantly churning out all sorts of Gucci counterfeits, check whether the design you're considering to buy really exists.
Examine the overall craftsmanship of the bag and check for any spots of loose threads, uneven seams and rough-looking ornaments.
All authentic Gucci bags have the logo stamped on the bag's hardware, including zippers and clasps, so be sure to check for these.
Prada.
For professional counterfeiters, Prada's signature nylon is easy to imitate, so experts advise that shoppers should pay more attention to details such as zippers, lining and the logo.
The bag is likely a fake if the inside lining of the bag has any other color or pattern from the outside.
A weak and faint logo, rough finishing and leather trimmings, and a frail and fickle quality of fabric are all signals that the product isn't real.
Etro.
Authentic Etro bags have a clean print condition and tone of color, with the brand's signature paisley pattern given a coating treatment after the weaving procedure. So be wary if the bag does not show sharpness.
Make sure that either the Etro logo or the lettering ``ykk'' is embossed on the zippers, instead of ``Italy.''
Hermes.
Authentic Hermes Kelly bags have a saddle stitching using two threats in a diagonal direction, while the counterfeit version has stitching in one direction.
Knockoffs don’t show a logo inside the shoulder strap, has an inferior quality key and the bag and the lining is often in different color.
Burberry.
The Burberry check designed is widely used in everything from counterfeit handkerchiefs and umbrellas to T-shirts.
But experts point out that Burberry does not produce and recklessly sell such a wide range of goods in random stores.
To distinguish between rel and fake, consumers are advised to check that a dark-blue swing ticket is attached by a heavy dark navy threat, with silver lettering reading Burberry London.
Kim, who examines dozens of products ― both real and fake ― daily, encourages shoppers to buy luxury goods after personally checking the product.
“Online malls can be cheaper, but you end up taking a lot of chance by not checking the item inside out,’’ she said.