How to Spot If Your Designer Wear is Fake

Counterfeit goods are everywhere. Some fakes are outright dangerous to the consumer in obvious ways. Who knows what is actually in that fake Viagra. Toys are another prominent danger zone. They don’t meet the high standards and undergo the rigorous testing required for something to be on the market.

Counterfeit fashion can be just as dangerous as handing your child a Tickle Me Almo. Versace sunglasses won’t offer the same UV protection as Versace sunglasses. The paints and dyes in the clothing can give the consumer a nasty rash and trigger worse responses requiring medical attention. 

It Hurts

Fake fashion hurts. It hurts the fashion houses. It hurts the economy. It hurts students hoping to break into the industry and the models on the catwalk. It hurts the sweatshop workers supplying fake designer goods. Black market fashion trickles into funding for organised crime, such as drugs and terrorism. It is intellectual theft.

The Gucci handbag might seem a funny and harmless purchase at the time, but it is possible to get an authentic Gucci handbag without the Gucci price at online retailers such as Hush Style. Why put money into the hands of criminals when you can pay the actual artists who design the handbag, the craftspeople who make it and everyone along the supply chain? 

Spellings

Up until now, this article has contained spelling mistakes. Tickle Me Almo is glaringly obvious, but Vercase is less so. The “c” and “s” have been switched. Some people may notice, but most won’t.

All the letters are there so eyes are less likely to pick it up. Spelling mistakes, particularly when they’re part of authentic-looking packaging or labels are less noticeable, but they are one of the most obvious mistakes fashion bootleggers make. 

Stitching 

Counterfeiters have started to employ spell check. Vercase was flagged with Versace as the correction while writing this. Authentic fashion is of the highest quality and built to last. Poor stitching is a dead giveaway.

There won’t always be a little tearing sound when it is tugged upon and this test is impossible when purchasing online. Look for stitching that isn’t straight or in colours that don’t match. Sloppy stitching is another giveaway. Fashion houses have top quality control on their products before allowing them out for consumer sale. 

Research 

Research the brand you are buying and familiarise yourself with their logos, stitching, pattern practices and engravings. Anything that a bootlegger will try to copy. Some brands have a serial number attached to each item. If purchasing a handbag, look inside. There should be a tag with the logo, which matches the one on the outside and a serial number. A lot of fakes will only include an authenticity tag on the outside. 

There’s a lot of pressure to wear the latest designer fashion. Don’t risk your health or hurt others. It isn’t worth it, especially when designer fashion can be affordable.