How to tell if your Prada bag is authentic?

We all love Prada. Prada clothes, Prada shoes, Prada boots, Prada sneakers, Prada sunglasses, a Prada purse, the Prada bucket hat, but above all: the Prada bag. Prada handbag, Prada shoulder bag, Prada crossbody bag, anything with 'Prada' in it, is great. 
Your sweet sweet Prada bag, probably your greatest love ever. The bag that completes every outfit. Did you buy such a pearl second-hand? Nothing more important than to know if you have scored an authentic bag.
We tell you everything about the Prada authenticity check of your Prada bag.

1. Dust bag and authenticity card

Prada bags come in a white soft flannel or silky dustbag with the Prada logo printed on the front, although there are a few exceptions. Older bags may have a navy dustbag with the Prada logo printed in gold. The font printed on the dust bag should be consistent with the Prada fonts used throughout the bag. Your bag should also come with care booklets and a sealed Prada authenticity card which contains the bag's serial number and style information. Always do a Google Search to make sure the serial number and style information corresponds with the bag. Some counterfeiters can also replicate the dust bag and authenticity card, but fake replicas typically have low-quality prints with uneven spacing and discoloration. What does a Prada authenticity card look like? See the picture below for a reference!

Look for a small white tag inside the bag with a number on it as well. It's a tiny square label, and the number represents the factory number of the bag. However, just because the bag has this tiny label, it doesn't mean it's an original bag.

2. The logo 

The Prada logo, including the inverted triangle, is one of the most distinctive designer logos ever. Genuine Prada bags should have logo plaques that are clearly legible, applied evenly to the leather and attached. The logo plaque always mentions Prada, Milano and Dal 1913. The color of the plaque must match the color of the leather of the bag. Some styles don't have the inverted triangle logo, but instead include a rectangular plaque with the words 'Prada Milano' displayed. How to distinguish a real Prada bag from a fake? Pay close attention to the stitching of the logo plaque and the font of the authentic Prada logo. On the left, you see an original Prada logo. On the right, you see double stitching in the left corner of the triangle. Next to this, the R in Prada is off. This characteristic is a close call when it comes to authenticating your Prada bag. If the R doesn't have a small notch opening in between, it's most often a fake.

Source: Pinterest and wondermika.com

3. Interior plaque

Apart from the logo plaque on the outside, Prada bags also have an inner plaque, the design of which may differ depending on the style of the bag. Older styles show 'Prada Milano Made in Italy' in three lines. However, newer styles only have two lines that say 'Prada Made in Italy'. Some non-leather styles have the leather patch on the inside instead of the ceramic plate. If you're dealing with a plastic or fabric tag, alarm bells may go off. The color of the inside plaque must always correspond with the interior fabric. If not, it's probably a fake.

4. Hardware and zippers 

The hardware and zippers are always of high quality. The hardware is critical in determining the authenticity of a Prada bag. Some counterfeit bags use inexpensive zippers and hardware that are prone to discoloration. Real bags showcase high-quality hardware that can be gold-plated or stainless steel. These must have crisp brand name engravings that are spaced apart and clearly legible. Make sure the hardware is all either gold or silver. Prada never mixes colors on a bag when it comes to hardware.

The engraved Prada brand name, always in bold and in capital letters, is on hardware such as buckles, zippers, metal feet, locks and buttons. Authentic Prada zippers used on bags are from the brands Lampo, YKK, Riri, Opti and Ipi. These marks should be engraved either on the back of the hardware zipper or on the side. Open and close the zipper to see if it runs smoothly.

Source: Pinterest

5. The lining 

The lining has to be made of embossed jacquard fabric or genuine leather. The inside of a real Prada bag usually has as much detail as the outside. The jacquard lining of the bag also shows a line of rope motif and the word Prada is repeated. Every other line, the Prada logo will be printed upside down. An important detail here is the wide and narrow letter A in the Prada logo. The A should be wide and both should be consistent. pattern that depicts the name Prada horizontally. The color of the printed lining must match or be complementary to the outer color of the bag. However, not all styles have this printed lining. Some bags have a nappa leather lining, which shows a more modern finish.

6. The stitching 

The stitching on a Prada bag should be neat and even. One of the telltale signs of a counterfeit Prada bag is messy with uneven stitching. Original Prada bags show perfect small, even stitches made with a sturdy thread that must be the same color as the leather of the bag. Please make sure you don't see any glued stitching on the bag.

7. Luxurious feel of the leather 

Authentic Pradas are made of the highest quality calf leather, which should feel soft. Fake leather may look real from a distance, but it feels stiff. Regardless of the style: classic, ruched, printed or studded, the leather used is clearly rich and smooth. Pay close attention to the colors in printed styles. Fake Prada bags will show extraordinarily bright and shiny hues, while original bags would have a very smooth color. 

Source: Pinterest

We hope this guide has given you the insights to authenticate your (vintage) Prada bag. If you have any further questions about the authentication of your Prada bag, or you would like us to check the authenticity of your Prada bag, feel free to get in touch. Looking for your next vintage Prada bag? We got you!. See our Prada collection via this link and start shopping!

With love, Nermien and Millie

Sources:
Etoile
Pinterest
LoveThatBagEtc