I Bought a Fake Burberry Bag: 6 Clues I Missed (So You Don’t Have To)
⏱️ Reading Time: 5 minutes
Burberry is one of the most counterfeited designer brands in the world. From the iconic plaid pattern to the sleek leather details, fakes are getting harder to spot—especially if you're sourcing pre-loved items or reselling.
I consider myself pretty good at catching dupes, but one slipped through—and I want to share the six red flags I missed so that you don’t have to learn the hard way.
Can a Fake Be Mistaken for Vintage?
Yes—and that’s part of what threw me off.
This bag had some vintage-looking traits: older font embossing, a retro plaid print, and worn hardware that felt aged. At first, I thought I’d scored a rare, early-2000s or even 1990s Burberry piece. But even vintage Burberry bags follow certain quality standards—and once I looked closer, things didn’t add up.
Keep in mind: Just because something looks aged doesn’t mean it’s vintage. A lot of counterfeit bags are intentionally designed to look like older models to avoid detection.
1. The Plaid Pattern Didn’t Align
Burberry’s Nova Check (aka House Check) is famous for its symmetry. On an authentic bag, the horizontal and vertical stripes should match perfectly at the seams, corners, and panels. On the bag I bought, the pattern was crooked and uneven—especially along the base and sides.
2. The Handles Looked Glossy and Cheap
At first glance, the red patent leather handles seemed cute—but when I looked closer, they felt plastic-like. Real Burberry leather is firm yet supple. My bag’s handles were overly shiny, had visible glue residue, and the stitching was inconsistent. That high-gloss shine was a dead giveaway.
3. The Logo Embossing Was Too Shallow
Inside the bag was a red leather patch with the word “BURBERRY” embossed on it. But the font looked a bit off, and the letters were pressed unevenly. On authentic bags, the logo is deeply embossed, clean, and consistent. Mine looked like it was barely stamped—more like it was printed than engraved.
4. Fabric Tags Raised Suspicion
Luxury brands are subtle. Burberry’s interior tags are normally clean and minimal, including a serial or style number. But this bag had multiple tags, one of which said: “KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE.” That alone was strange. It also had extra material content tags that looked cheaply made and poorly stitched. These are not things you’d typically find in high-end designer bags.
5. The Dust Bag Wasn’t Right
This one really blew my mind. The dust bag was flimsy and poorly printed. It featured the equestrian knight logo and “BURBERRY ESTABLISHED 1856”—but the flag in the logo said “PROSUM” instead of the correct “PRORSUM.” If the dust bag itself can’t get the branding right, you know something’s wrong.
6. A Third-Party Authentication Still “Passed” It
To make things worse, I submitted the bag to a third-party authentication app. It came back with a “PASS.” The truth? These apps often rely on photos and automation, not physical inspection. So a well-made fake can absolutely slip through the cracks.
That false sense of security almost convinced me—until I took a closer look at all the flaws.
Final Thoughts: Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off, it probably is. Even experienced resellers and collectors can get fooled—and that’s okay. What matters is learning and sharing so others don’t make the same mistake.
This bag taught me to slow down, double-check the details, and never rely solely on digital authentication.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Alejandra—founder of My_LabelHaven. I curate stylish, timeless pieces and share my reselling journey to help others spot gems (and avoid mistakes like this one).
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