{"id":406787,"date":"2023-04-07T16:38:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T20:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=406787"},"modified":"2026-03-13T16:25:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T20:25:46","slug":"fake-burberry-bag-coat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/fake-burberry-bag-coat\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Tell If Your Burberry Coat or Bag Is Authentic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Burberry<\/a>
Burberry Kensington trench coat, 21st century<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Any fashion brand as storied and desirable as Burberry<\/a> \u2014 one of the most expensive purse brands<\/a> on the market today \u2014 is sure to attract counterfeiters who prey on unsuspecting handbag lovers and deal shoppers. Counterfeiting is big business<\/a>, and while some knockoffs look suspicious right off the bat, others are very convincing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do you reduce your chances of getting swindled? The best way to determine what\u2019s real and what\u2019s not is to know the many ways in which fakes differ from the real thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve created this guide to help you discern a genuine Burberry item from a knockoff so you don\u2019t end up investing in counterfeit wares. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The History and Revival of Burberry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The company was founded as \u201cBurberrys\u201d in 1856 by a draper\u2019s assistant named Thomas Burberry, who enjoyed experimenting with fabrics used for hunting and sporting clothes. He ended up inventing gabardine, a durable fabric woven from worsted wool and cotton strands that had been weatherproofed with lanolin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lighter and more comfortable than the rubberized fabric that was standard for the outerwear of the day, gabardine revolutionized outdoor clothing. Among its fans were famed explorers Ernest Shackleton<\/a> and Roald Amundsen. During World War I, Burberry reimagined the trench coat<\/a>, adapting it to meet the needs of British officers fighting on the front lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the mid-20th century, the company licensed its famous trademarks to multiple manufacturers, boosting its popularity and profits. The famous Burberry check<\/a> was everywhere! Market saturation and extensive counterfeiting pushed down the price of the clothing. And in the early 2000s, it became associated with lower-class \u201cchav\u201d culture and hooliganism in the UK. Some sports venues even banned the distinctive plaid to head off trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burberry had gone public in the late 1990s, and in 2006, new leadership sought to restore the brand\u2019s image and exclusivity. The company removed the plaid pattern from all but 10 percent of the goods it produced and bought back franchises to stop the dilution of the brand and improve quality control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy worked. Its cachet and appeal now revived, Burberry returned to the luxury market. By 2012, it was worth more than $7 billion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Spot a Fake Burberry Bag<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/a>
Burberry small Lola crossbody bag, 2010-<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

To a designer handbag<\/a> aficionado, few things are as exciting as an exquisite piece<\/a>. It\u2019s important to keep your excitement in check, however, so you can focus on quality and workmanship and make sure you\u2019re spending your money on the real thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a list of elements to examine and what to look for to determine whether a bag is the real thing or a knockoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cMade in\u201d Tag<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although a \u201cMade in China\u201d tag was once a dead giveaway that a Burberry bag<\/a> was counterfeit, that\u2019s no longer the case. Today, the company manufactures items around the world, including in China, Italy, Poland and England. The only \u201cmade in\u201d tag that probably won\u2019t change any time soon is the one on Burberry\u2019s famous cashmere plaid scarf<\/a>, which is produced only in Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Price Tag<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major factor in the cost of a Burberry bag is the era in which it was made. Bags made in the 1990s and early 2000s are less expensive than those produced after the mid-2000s. Although the company committed to ban the use of exotic leathers in 2022<\/a>, the resale value of its alligator bags<\/a> remains high. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern Burberry bags made under enhanced quality standards \u2014 especially the styles in high demand \u2014 will fetch much more than their earlier counterparts. Prices of vintage Burberry handbags<\/a> vary, but savvy shoppers can find excellent values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stitching<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quality of stitching on a Burberry bag is another clue to authenticity. On legitimate Burberry bags, it will be neat and even. It should also follow the line of the bag, whether curved or straight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay careful attention to seams, handles and other interconnecting areas. Look for flawless stitches on the interior and exterior of the bag. If it\u2019s a new model, check for loose threads, which may indicate the bag isn\u2019t an authentic Burberry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Label or Metal Plaque<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Burberry bag will have either a metal plaque or a leather label inside. On an authentic piece, this will never be crooked or off-centered. The Burberry name will be perfectly centered, stamped or engraved. The metal of the plaque should match the metal of the bag hardware, and the engraving will be clean and crisp. If it’s blurry or uneven, the bag may not be authentic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Burberry Logo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Burberry font is distinctive, and once you know what to look for, it becomes easy to spot inconsistencies. The company has used several fonts over the years, with the latest update in 2018. But no matter when the bag was made, the logo will be crisp and even on a real Burberry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mounted knight logo Burberry is famous for<\/a> was developed in 1901, when the company was known as Burberrys. In 1999, it dropped the “s.” In bags made between 1999 and 2018, the \u201cR\u201d of the name has a slight tail. The left stem of the \u201cU\u201d and the left arm of the \u201cY\u201d are wider than the right stem and arm, and the bottom of the \u201cB\u201d is larger than the top. The bottom branch of the \u201cE\u201d is longer than the middle and the top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a Burberry shoulder bag<\/a>, top-handled bag<\/a>, purse or coat<\/a> is purported to be vintage but the tag says \u201cBurberry,\u201d something may not be right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing the various incarnations of the Burberry logo over the past 166 years can help you vet the authenticity of any Burberry item \u2014 but it\u2019s only one piece of the larger puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Folded Bag Tag<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The folded bag tag on a new Burberry bag<\/a> bears the latest logo and contains details like the style, color and barcode. These should match up with the bag. If they don\u2019t, the purse may not be authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Check Pattern and Knight Image<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Haymarket check<\/a> is perhaps Burberry\u2019s most famous pattern \u2014 and the only one that includes the brand’s distinctive knight image. On the Haymarket check pattern, the image is placed where the red lines intersect. It should be crisp, not blurry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burberry makes several plaid patterns, each with distinctive colored stripes and backgrounds. The common denominator is that on authentic Burberry pieces, the plaids are perfectly straight and flawlessly printed and match up perfectly at the seams. Any deviations or imperfections in a Burberry check may indicate a fake bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping track of the numerous manifestations and variations of Burberry plaids is a monumental task; it has even been the subject of a doctoral thesis. The most common Burberry plaids currently in play include<\/p>\n\n\n\n