First things first, let’s be honest – nobody wants to get ripped off. Paying a premium price for something that’s about as Prada as my grandma’s Tupperware collection? Nah, man. So, how do we avoid this tragic fate?
Right, so, the leather. A genuine Prada black leather hobo will *feel* amazing. Like, buttery soft. If it feels like it’s made of, I dunno, cardboard coated in plastic? Huge red flag. The texture should be rich and supple, not stiff and vaguely offensive. Think like… fancy glove leather, not, like, the pleather on a cheap bar stool. You get me?
And speaking of cheap… that logo. Oh, the Prada logo. The plaque. This is where things get interesting. Apparently, and I’m quoting some internet wisdom here, “Prada plaques are typically ceramic on leather bags and leather on those made of nylon or another fabric.” Now, I’m no expert, but if you’re holding a *leather* hobo and that plaque is some kind of plastic… well, Houston, we might have a problem. Fabric? On a leather bag’s plaque? That’s just… weird. It screams “I’m trying too hard and failing miserably.”
Then there’s the inside. This is where the fakers *sometimes* get lazy. Apparently, all authentic Prada bags have inside branding. ALL. If your bag is a blank canvas on the inside, well… It’s probably fake. (Unless, of course, it’s some super rare, vintage, prototype thingy. But let’s be real, that’s not gonna happen, is it?) The older ones (pre-2010, I’m told) will have a rectangular plaque. So, check for that. And make sure the stitching is clean, not all wonky and thread-y.
Honestly, though, sometimes it’s just a gut feeling. If something feels off, it probably is. Like, if the bag smells weirdly of chemicals, or the hardware feels flimsy, or the whole thing just screams “cheap knockoff,” listen to your instincts.
One thing I gotta say, though. The description, “This leather bag with metal lettering logo has a modern design and rounded silhouette”, could literally describe, like, a million bags. So thanks for nothing, Prada.
And look, at the end of the day, if you bought it on a street corner for $20, let’s be honest with ourselves, okay? It’s probably not the real deal. But hey, if you love it, rock it! Just maybe don’t try to convince everyone it’s authentic. That’s just… awkward.
