A woman who has sold over $65 million worth of designer bags has revealed how people can spot a knock-off as purchasing on social media becomes more popular than ever.
Emily Abraham is well-known for being the co-owner of a luxury pre-loved fashion boutique, Love Luxyry.
The 45-year-old, along with her husband, Adam, 38, hit television screens with their expertise on the ITV show, Million Pound Pawns, which sparked their popularity online.
Now, they boast over 4.3 million followers on TikTok, where they sell exclusive items – including the world’s rarest designer handbags.
They work with some of the richest people in the world, selling and sourcing high-end designer items, through their company.
But with ‘knock-offs’ becoming more frequent, especially on social media sites, how can you tell if your item is the real deal?
‘Counterfeit designer goods are increasingly becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot,’ Emily, who lives between Dubai and London, told Absolutely Business recently.
Emily explained that the best way to be sure your item is legit is to take it to a trusted professional.
A woman who has sold over $65 million worth of designer bags has revealed how people can spot a knock-off as purchasing on social media becomes more popular than ever
Emily Abraham works with some of the richest people in the world, selling and sourcing high-end designer items, through her company, Love Luxury
But there are some red flags to look out for that usually mean you’re purchasing a fake.
‘If the seller is too eager, or the price is suspiciously low, then think again,’ she said.
‘Is it from a trusted store that you can visit in person? If not, and it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.’
Emily also recommended checking the smell, as there should be no odor of glue or plastic, which a lot of fakes have.
She added: ‘Check the shine of the hardware and the font. Is there accuracy of the stitching?
‘There should be no out of line stitches or anything that doesn’t look of the most high quality perfection. Even the packaging can be a tell-tale sign.’
‘I have come across so many people who have been scammed and there’s unfortunately a lot of people who are making a lot of money in doing so.’
Many people turn to resale sites to get hot items that are hard to get in stores, but according to Emily, many people take advantage of trends to sell knock-offs.
Emily said there are some red flags to look out for that usually mean you’re purchasing a fake
She recommended checking the smell, as there should be no odor of glue or plastic, which a lot of fakes have
She added: ‘Check the shine of the hardware and the font. Is there accuracy of the stitching? There should be no out of line stitches’
In the end, Emily said learning to authenticate an item can’t be taught in a few sentences – it requires years of hands-on training – but she hopes her advice can help people
She explained: ‘I’m seeing accessories that were once only accessible to the rich and connected through years of building portfolios available to the general public scrolling on social media.
‘Trends can really impact the value of an item – but this can also mean that fakes will be circulating – so hold off until the phase has passed.
‘You’ll be more likely to find an authentic version; and for less.’
In the end, Emily said learning to authenticate an item can’t be taught in a few sentences – it requires years of hands-on training – but she hopes her advice can help as many people as possible.
