How to Tell a Real Fendi Bag From a Fake

Fendi is a designer brand, with prices ranging from $375 to $6000 for its high-profile handbags. The bags are sold at high-end department stores like Bloomingdale's or Neiman Marcus, although knockoff bags can sometimes be found for sale by street vendors. Before you buy, how do you tell if the bag is a genuine Fendi or nothing more than a fake? There are a few steps you can follow to check the authenticity of your bag.

Instructions

1. Check the pattern of the bag and make sure that it matches the Fendi logo. A real Fendi symbol is two letter F's, one facing forward and the other reversed and upside down. Fake bags will often use the letter L instead of F.

2. Inspect the hardware. Look at the buckles, snaps, and zippers to make sure that they are all engraved with the Fendi logo. A fake bag is unlikely to have the engraving.

3. Make sure the inside lining is brown. Real Fendi bags always have brown linings, while fake bags may be tan or dark green.

4. Feel the fabric. Fendi uses zuccajaquard, a durable combination of silk and canvas. Fake Fendis are usually more flexible and made from cheaper materials.

5. Find the flaws in the bag's construction. Fake bags might have linings that are glued on, or uneven stitching. Real Fendi bags have stitched-in, near-perfect threading.

Tips & Warnings

• Fendi bags are made in Italy. If the bag has a label saying that it was made elsewhere, it is probably fake.

• Buying and selling counterfeit bags are illegal activities. You won't be arrested for buying a fake bag, but it might be confiscated from you.

References

• NYC24: How to Tell Fake from Phony
• Hilary.com: Fake or Fendi?
• Fendi