What are the best ways to identify a fake or genuine Longchamp bag? Our guide outlines the clues to avoid buying a fake Longchamp bag.
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The classic Longchamp bag definitely divides fashion lovers into two camps: some love them and others simply can’t do anything with a Longchamp bag. Which side do you belong to? Love or Hate: Are you for or against the Longchamp bag? Regardless of whether you think the bag is super cool or rather wrong – you should generally not catch a fake – and unfortunately that can happen pretty quickly. Longchamp bags are simply totally practical – I hardly know any other bag that can be stowed away so easily (we’re talking about the Le Pliage model here) and still offers enough space for the important things.
Even a MacBook can easily find enough space in the bag for university or the office. And should you go to the supermarket again after work, there is even space for your grocery shopping in a Longchamp bag. The minimalist cult bag from Longchamp is a real space saver. And the best thing is: Should you ever have a little coffee to go mishap, the bag can be easily washed in the machine at 20 to 30 degrees on the gentle cycle. It couldn’t be better!
The demand for Longchamp bags is correspondingly huge – because they are so super practical and simply timeless – the more coounterfeiters are on the go and copy what they can. They do not produce any “bad” fakes that can be seen from 300 meters away. No, the plagiarisms are really well done and can usually hardly be distinguished from the original. But a trained fashion eye should always be alert and recognize a real Longchamp bag immediately. Today we will show you what you should look out for the next time you buy a Longchamp Le Pliage bag, so that you don’t fall into the fake trap!
Good to know: Did you know that Longchamp’s Le Pliage model was inspired by the Far Eastern art of folding origami? Depending on the season, the minimalist model is available in up to 12 different colors and designs.
Best ways to tell a fake or genuine Longchamp bag
THE MATERIAL
This is one of the top ways to identify a fake or genuine Longchamp bag. The signature Le Pliage model by Longchamp consists of two materials: the foldable bag and the smaller inner bag are made of super-light nylon. The pocket flap and the handle are made of leather. Make sure that the material doesn’t smell unpleasant like chemicals or glue. This is never the case with an original Longchamp bag.
In addition, it is advisable to take a close look at the leather sample. Because: With the original Longchamp bag, the pattern in the leather resembles the diamond look – the lines are relatively straight and diagonal to each other. In the case of a fake, the texture of the leather pattern is rather uneven or even completely devoid of structure.
THE HANDLES
Yes, you should also first carefully inspect the handles of a Longchamp bag if you are not sure whether it is an original. With a real Longchamp bag, the handles are relatively flat and the diamond pattern, which can already be found in the leather flap, should appear here as well.
An important feature of a real Longchamp — and one of the top ways to tell a fake or genuine Longchamp bag — is the color of the side edge of the handle. In the case of an original, this is always black or dark brown, but never light brown or any other color. You can also recognize a fake by the fact that the handles are rather rounded.
THE LEATHER FLAP
As already mentioned, there is a diamond pattern on the leather flap of an original Longchamp bag. In addition, you should also pay attention to the back of the flap, because you can quickly find a fake Longchamp bag on it. If the bag is faked, the back of the leather flap is usually completely smooth or very, very frayed. That would be really unthinkable with a real Longchamp bag – here the leather on the back of the flap is slightly roughened, almost smooth and has a soft grip. You should also push the Jockey logo through slightly from the front of the leather flap.
If you now take a look at the back of the fastener, you should immediately notice a golden button on a real Longchamp bag with the letters “Original Prym 6 / 4B” embossed on it.
Good to know: Le Pliage bags by Longchamp that were manufactured after 2013 are labeled “Longchamp Longchamp”.
THE LOGO
Now we come to the heart of every designer bag: the logo. With a real Longchamp bag, it is unmistakably the jockey on the leather flap. This is centered over the (mostly) golden locking button in three dimensions. If you run your finger over the logo, you can feel the embossing – it was not just printed on the leather.
Very important: the jockey and the horse both point to the left! Don’t be surprised if you hold a Longchamp model in your hands that has a line-shaped embossing below the logo. This is of course also a real Longchamp bag, just an older model. This embossing can no longer be seen in the newer creations. In addition to the logo on the leather flap,
SIZE AND EMBOSSING
Although Longchamp’s Le Pliage model has been kept very minimalist, you shouldn’t forget the back of the bag. Because here, too, a fake can quickly differ from a real Longchamp bag. Because: The back of the leather flap of the Le Pliage model is embossed differently depending on the size and model.
On the one hand there are the following sizes of the Le Pliage by Longchamp
Type S: Short handles and small bags Type M: Short handles and medium bags Type L: Short handles and large bags (also suitable as travel bags) Type XL: Short handles and very large bags (also suitable as travel bags) Type Shopping: Long handles as well as small (S) or medium (M) pocket
These sizes of Le Pliage just mentioned should either be marked as “LONGCHAMP E PLIAGE” SHOPPING “- MODÈLE DÉPOSE” or as “LONGCHAMP E PLIAGE TYPE” M “- MODÈLE DÉPOSÉ” – depending on the variant (and size) of the Bag. You should also absolutely pay attention to the correct spelling, because especially with the tie rope or the accents “mistakes” can creep in with fakes. Make sure to check whether the first accent above the “E” points to the lower right and the second and third accent points above the “E” to the upper right. Older versions of the Le Pliage model may be modified. The following embossing stand for the authenticity of the Longchamp bag: “PLIAGES LONGCHAMP – TYPE” S “MODÈLE DÉPOSÉ – MADE IN FRANCE” or “LE PLIAGE LONGCHAMP – TYPE” L “MODÈLE DÉPOSÉ – MADE IN FRANCE” or also, ,
THE HARDWARE
The Le Pliage from Longchamp is not bristling with hardware like other models, but the zipper in particular is extremely popular with the Copy Cats because it allows them to incorporate small – but subtle – differences from the original. You can always recognize a real Longchamp bag by the fact that the zipper (always in the same color as the bag except for the zipper) is marked with YKK, T and a 45.
On the zipper itself there is also the jockey’s logo plus a “Longchamp” embossing and the year 1948. Here, too, there is a small difference in the older models: Instead of the year 1948, the coinage “Paris” and “France” can be found here. In addition, the zippers on the older models are not from YKK!
Good to know: Did you know that YKK is one of the leading developers and manufacturers of zippers in the world? YKK was originally founded in Japan and the name stands for (Y) Yoshida, (K) Kogyo – Industrie, (K) Kabushikigaisha – AG.
THE DEALER
If you are looking for a Longchamp bag in some dubious online shop, then it can only go wrong. Keep your eyes open when buying bags! There is absolutely nothing against online shopping, but you should know where and how. Because a fake can be bought really quickly online, because you cannot look at the more or less good piece and test the feel.
If you want to buy a Longchamp bag online, then browse through shops that are trustworthy and specialize in designer (bags). You don’t take any chances with that. Longchamp also has its own online shop, but you’re really on the safe side. Alternatively, you can also shop classic ones in the store.
A little tip: always keep an eye on the price. A real Longchamp bag is by no means as expensive as other designer bags, but a new model is still not available for little money. So if the price is too much of a bargain for you, then fake alarm is the order of the day!
Don’t panic if you should fall into the fake trap. You learn from this and are just more careful next time. When it comes to designer bags, a healthy dose of mistrust is particularly valuable in the internet! With our little fake check for the Longchamp bag, you shouldn’t get any more fakes anytime soon!
