Is it Real, Is it Fake?

A lot of people email me asking for help verifying the authenticity of stuff they want to buy. Sometimes even about an eBay auction. I've never understood that. If you have doubts about something on eBay, don't bid, don't go emailing random website owners asking if you should buy a Louis Vuitton bag that normally sells for $1200 but for some reason is selling on eBay for $300. Chances are, it is fake.

People wonder why he designers don't publish information on authenticating handbags and apparel and such. Simple: it's not their business to educate counterfeitters on being better at it by telling them what not to do. Also they don't want to encourage you to buy outside of their normal distribution channels.

Anyhow, this comes up often when people want to buy something "wholesale." How do you know if it's real?

First and foremost, you must be able to trust the person who is selling you the merchandise. There are some jobbers I trust so much that I don't have to think about what they are selling because I KNOW them to be ethical and honest.

But a lot of problems can be avoided by knowing where something is made. There are people on the internet selling Diesel Jeans made by some special "South American" factory. Diesel Jeans are made in Italy. Show me a pair that you bought in a Diesel store or reputable retailer that has a country of origin label showing that it is made in South American and I will recant.

A friend once had someone call her about a deal on Seven Jeans made in China. Seven Jeans are made in the US. End of story. In fact, many of the hotter contemporary denim brands are made in the US. Blue Cult, Seven, Paper Denim and Cloth, Chip & Pepper, Von Dutch, Citizens of Humanity, yada, yada, all made in the good old USA.

Knowing where something is made saves you a lot of headache. So next time someone in India tells you they make Blue Cult, kiss em goodbye!