Tips for authenticating Coach:

Coach Cs:

SYMMETRY! Symmetry is very important in most Coach bags (I say most because some bags – like certain hobos – purposely have mismatched Cs). The Cs should always be symmetrical from the center of the bag to the outside seams. If the bag has a center seam, the Cs should be symmetrical along the seam.

REAL. Cs are centered both on front and bottom of bag.

REAL. Cs are centered along center seam.

REAL. Cs should be centered not just around seams, but also along the zipper, like on this bag.

FAKE. Look at the creed on the front. The Cs should be symmetrical around it, and they are not.

FAKE. Check out the bad quality of the fabric here. Also, the Cs are not symmetrical — check out how crooked the bottom line of fabric is!

FAKE. Again, lack of symmetry. Check out the bottom of the bag, as well as the middle. Cs should be centered within the rectangular stitching in the middle.

FAKE. The pattern around the center seam is completely off. No symmetry!

FAKE. Make sure you get pics of the bag from angles. On this one, the front of the bag was symmetrical, but on the bottom, the Cs are off-center.

Coach Creed:

The creed should always be centered and easy-to-read. Most bags have a stamped creed on the inside. The creed should not be “puffy” and the stitching around it should be evenly spaced, with the same amount of stitches on all sides. The leather should also be thick – not wrinkled and cracked. Some newer bags have an embossed creed with gold font. For this creed, the font should be centered on each line. Coach is no longer being made in the U.S.A., as its production has been shipped to other countries. The most common country where Coach is manufactured is China, but I have also seen some creeds with Turkey as the country of manufacture.

REAL. Creeds are stamped firmly and easy to read. Font is centered. Stitching is bold and intact.

FAKE. The font on the serial number is incorrect — too widely spaced and the letters are all different sizes.

FAKE. This creed it barely legible. It is too lightly stamped.

FAKE. That’s real leather? Only if real leather wrinkles!

Stitching:

Stitching is a vital part of authenticity. Stitches should always be even and consistent. The number of stitches should always be the same around the hangtag, and stitches are not doubled up.

REAL. If the bag has “feet”, they should have stitching around the feet.

REAL. The stitches are all the same size, even, and straight.

FAKE. Bad/uneven stitching here. Also, the Coach stamp is crooked!

Interior/Lining:

The type of lining a bag will have is determined by the exterior of the bag. Signature bags will never have a signature lining. Signature lining should only be found on leather and suede bags. Signature bags will have a twill or silk-like solid lining. Some of the newer bags will have a rainbow colored lining.

REAL. Signature lining on red leather bag.

REAL. Signature lining on Hamptons Weekend bag.

REAL. Mini signature lining on blue leather bag.

FAKE. Signature lining on a signature bag? Big no-no. Also, check out the horrible stitching around the creed. You should be able to make out each individual stitch on an authentic bag.

FAKE. Another bad signature/signature combo.

Coach Hangtag:

The Coach hangtag should match the bag. For example, if the bag is pink signature, hangtag should be pink, etc. The size of the hangtag should also match. For clutches, wristlets, small bags, etc., the hangtag should be a small size. For larger bags, there should be a larger hangtag. The color of the chain should match the rivet on the hangtag as well (silver with silver, gold with gold, etc.) In addition to the traditional leather hangtag, they are also produced in brass, stitchless leather, silver, and gold. Like the creed, the hangtag should be nicely stamped, evenly stitched, and not overly puffy. The Coach stamp should have a border around it and the font should be the correct.

REAL. A stitchless leather tag. Stamp is evenly centered and not stamped too lightly.

REAL. Black patent leather hangtag. The leather matches the patent detailing and the keychain/hangtag hole matches the brass hardware on the buckle.

REAL. Gold hangtag on gold lurex bag (left) and metal hangtag (right)

FAKE. The hangtag on the left is too “puffy.” The stamp should be indented into the leather. Also, the price tag has the wrong font and the stitching is sloppy/crooked. The hangtag on the right is the opposite — too flat. Font on the price tag is also wrong.

FAKE. Corner stitches are rounded, not straight. Coach stamp is crooked and off-center.

Coach Stamp:

All Coach items contain the Coach stamp – whether it’s on the hangtag, the side of the bag, a button, a rivet, a buckle, the inside of a wallet, a keyring, etc. See above for details about the hangtag – the same rules apply to the Coach Stamp.

REAL. Coach stamp on Carryall clasp.

REAL. Coach insignia on a button. Font is centered all around and evenly spaced.

REAL. Coach insignia on buckle.

FAKE. The stamp on the buckle here is the incorrect font. Also, the Cs aren’t symmetrical!

FAKE. Lots of things wrong here — but one of them is the Coach stamp on the clasp.

Price Tag:

All Coach price tags are attached with a small plastic loop. The price tag should be a small, white, folded tag with the price perforated for easy removal. The tag has “Coach” written on the outside and the inside contains the style number, style name, color combination, and bar code. The price tag is always placed in a position where it can be tucked into the bag. If you’ve ever been to a Coach store or retailer, you’ll notice that the price tag is never visible – you always have to unzip the bag to see how much it is! Yes, this is done on purpose. The price tag should never be attached to a part of the bag where it cannot be hidden and the plastic loop should never hang down more than an inch or so.

FAKE. Among the many things wrong with this bag — the “price tag” is incorrect and is in the wrong place. The Cs are also horribly off-center.

Factory Items:

All Coach Factory items have a stamp on the creed. Most of the time, the stamp looks like a bullseye, or “Target” symbol. However, there are some creeds with an “X” stamp (if anyone has a picture, please PM it to me). Both kinds of stamps indicate a Factory item and are authentic.

Please note that Factory items are not seconds. They are first-quality and discontinued items that are produced specially for the Outlet.

REAL. The creeds above are all from Coach Factory handbags. __________________
Proud Member of the 10 Whore Entourage

The Jeans in pictures below are fake / counterfeit True Religion Jeans from China. Dont buy it!

I will post more pictures of other brand i found on that site soon. The guy has Rock Republic, Gucci, LV… anything you name it.

Hopefully it will help you guys to spot fake stuff.

The 8-8-2008 collection also features an unlikely accessory in form of a bicycle. The bike is built for leisure and sports bold red double GG leather details such as the seat and the handle bar grips. On a personal note: Being somewhat of a bike fetishist myself, I feel like the Holland-style bike defies the whole concept of the campaign. If the collection is conveying a sporty spirit, why not collaborate with a real competitive race bike maker such as Specialized and give Gucci lovers a real sport toy for their money’s worth? I suppose my perception of “sports” are quite a bit different than the creative department at Gucci envisions. Judging their frail Chinese campaign model, his stature and lack of sporty appearance, entirely justifies my criticism of the nature of the campaign. In my humble opinion, this collection’s ties to competitive sports should have been dropped for the sake of real athletes around the globe.

Moving on from an athlete’s rant, the limited collection also features two pieces of luggage in the bold red “La Pelle Guccissima”. The first is a study leather duffel bag and the other a soft-leather messenger bag with Gucci’s Green-Red-Green web on its shoulder strap.

You can view the full limited edition here, while this page offers an exclusive video, giving insights into the shooting and creation of the campaign pictures. As mentioned, most items will only be available through Gucci boutiques in HK and China, the I-Gucci watch will be available globally.

part 1:

Part 2:

What do you think? Pretty cool eh

Michael Ball: CEO/Designer

Rebellious. Rambunctious. Rocker. Rider. Michael Ball is anything but your average CEO. Passionate and determined, strong willed and confident Michael launched Rock & Republic and in just four short years, has made it the most successful luxury denim brand in the world.

Michael grew up in Southern California. The child of divorced parents, he was always on the move, always in trouble, and always hustling to make a buck. With no real focus, he spent his time and money on fast cars, fast girls, and rock ‘n roll.

Recognizing that Michael needed structure, his mother got him involved in sports. It proved to be the perfect place for him to channel his rebellious. Cycling became his sport of choice, and the key to adding structure, focus and direction to his life.

Cycling taught Michael team skills and the rewards of competition. But it was the bright colors and bold graphics of the team’s uniforms that inspired his sense of design. He taught himself the technique of sublimation, a highly technical process that digitally screen-prints fabric, and he began making all of the team’s race-day wear.

By the late ’80s, Michael was considered one of the fastest, smartest and most aggressive cyclists on the circuit. The avid athlete had discovered he had the stamina to succeed at any task he took on. Michael won the LA Tri-Sprint Series and then went on to the national track rankings where he conquered the Velodrome. But an unfortunate racing crash forced him to put his racing aspirations on hold.

Always the entrepreneur Michael approached Xerox with a business idea. The two forged a partnership called Xerox Colorgraphics, DS Division. Overnight it put the technology giant into the fashion business. Michael’s vision and technical skills built a successful financial model for the company but he was unchallenged creatively. His flare for fashion and affinity for rock music turned his thoughts from process to product and he one again started designing.

Michael, never shy with his opinions, felt his girlfriend’s jeans didn’t properly flatter her figure. “They didn’t hug her curves. They were tight where they should have been eased, and gapped where they should have been tight. They just didn’t show off her…assets.” So, he decided to design a pair of jeans for her. Everywhere the couple went, people asked who designed the jeans, to which he always responded, “I don’t know, but they sure rock!”

Anyway, opinions on the two-toned Chanel shoes, anyone?

What about the bags that look like clamshells to me?