Michael Kors is a popular luxury brand. As with many designer brands, items are commonly replicated and attempted to be passed off as authentic.
So when it comes to authenticating your Michael Kors purse, one important question comes to mind. Where is Michael Kors Made?
Knowing where Michael Kors is made can be one vital method to verify the authenticity of your bag. In this post, we will go over where Michael Kors is commonly made, along with other strategies to ensure your handbag or wallet is the real deal.
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Where Is Michael Kors Made?
Michael Kors purses and wallets are predominantly made in China. However, just because your Michael Kors Purse tag says something other than China does not mean it’s fake.
Some Michael Kors purses are also made in India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, and Turkey. Older purses were once made in Italy.
Different bags are made in different regions due to cost considerations. It is well known that the cost of labor is generally more affordable overseas, which is why many brands take their business there.
Plus, due to the high quality of Michael Kors purses, the manufacturing location must have a high level of skill and specialized techniques.
How to Verify Your Michael Kors Purse
Outside of the country of origin, there are other places to look to ensure the authenticity of your Michael Kors purse. But before we get to that, why should you trust me on this?
Of note, I am a former Plato’s Closet employee. If you are not already familiar, Plato’s Closet is a buy-sell-trade store that purchases items from its customers to resell.
During my four years of employment, I was trained to authenticate many brands of designer purses. One of the most common brands that I saw and authenticated was Michael Kors.
I had to be able to assess each part of the purse in order to ensure the bag was real. Otherwise, there are some serious legal implications for businesses attempting to sell counterfeit Michael Kors.
Therefore I have had much practice over the years when it comes to spotting real from fake Michael Kors.
Importance Of Authenticating A Michael Kors Purse
As mentioned, there are legal implications when it comes to the replication of an item. Simply put, it is ripping off the idea, logo, trademark, and likeness of the brand.
Those concerns are mostly for those wanting to buy and resell Michael Kors purses. For example, online sellers can face consequences if they attempt to resell fake Michael Kors on a resale platform like eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari.
As a consumer, it is important to be informed and know exactly what you invested your money into. After all, designer purses are not cheap!
So, if you are spending money on a Michael Kors purse, you want to make sure you are getting your hard-earned money’s worth. After all, Michael Kors purses are crafted with the utmost quality and skill, making the bags last up to a lifetime!
Key Indicators Of An Authentic Michael Kors Purse
Serial Number
After checking the country of origin, the next place to look is for the serial number. This will be located near the tag where it states the country of origin.
In the following picture, you can see an example of finding a Michael Kors purse serial number. Find the transparent, rubbery tab that states the country of origin.
Behind that tag, you should see a white tag with a feel similar to a clothing item tag. There will be a combination of letters and numbers, which is what makes up the serial number.
The next step is to type this serial number into a Google search. For my purse example, I typed Michael Kors 32S4STVC3L. From the Google results, I was able to find out that my purse is the Michael Kors Jet Set Crossbody.
Zipper
When you are inspecting the zipper of a Michael Kors bag, there are a couple of things to check. First, look to see if it is a YKK zipper. This is another confirming sign of authenticity.
Next, evaluate the quality. Does the zipper have a mirror-like finish? If so, this is a confirming sign of authenticity.
Additionally, the zipper line will always be metal, not plastic.
Another aspect to investigate is the branding of the zipper. Most Michael Kors zippers are branded with the Michael Kors name.
However, not all zippers on authentic purses have imprinted branding. Therefore, don’t count out your purse quite yet. Use these other strategies to confirm the legitimacy of your purse.
Stitching
One of the best and easiest ways to determine the authenticity of your Michael Kors purse is by inspecting the stitching. Look closely at the stitching, paying attention to the quality.
Is the stitching uniform and straight? Are there any inconsistencies or imperfections within the stitching?
Michael Kors purses have impeccable, near-perfect, and straight stitching. With the high price of these designer purses, consumers can expect nothing but quality and durability.
In addition, the stitching color will be the same color as the outer material. For example, my gray purse has gray stitching. A gray purse would never have orange stitching.
In general, there will be no contrasting color stitching. If there stitching color or uniformity is off and has imperfections, I would be concerned about the authenticity of the bag.
Outer Material
Just like with the stitching, you can feel and see the quality of the material of your Michael Kors purse. The outer material should feel durable.
Most Michael Kors purses are made with Saffiano leather. This type of leather gives the purses their signature rigid feel. The outer material will feel generally smooth with an underlying graininess.
You can test this by attempting to stand the purse up. It should be able to stand up on its own without flopping over.
Lining
The lining of the Michael Kors purse can be another determining factor. Although, the trend and pattern may vary.
The purse lining typically includes pockets on both sides. One side consists of dual pockets that resemble cell phone pockets. The other side is usually a larger pocket that runs the length of the inside of the purse.
When inspecting the inside stitching, you should notice a triangle stitching pattern by the inside cell phone pockets. This pattern is used to reinforce the stitching and is a staple of authentic Michael Kors bags.
Many times replicas will have the dual cell phone pocket setup on both sides of the purse, and will not use the triangle stitch pattern.
Some Michael Kors purses have the logo print on the lining and some do not. Generally, Michael Kors purses that have a plain exterior have the logo print on the inside of the purse lining.
The opposite is typically true for Michael Kors purses with the logo print on the outside. These purses, many times, have a plain lining without the Michael Kors logo print.
Again, this is one of those either-or aspects of authenticating a Michael Kors purse. Because of that, be sure to take the sum of the results of your entire investigation of all of the parts of the purse.
Hardware
Besides the zipper, some Michael Kors purses have a hanging logo charm or other hardware on the outside. These logo charms typically have the initials “MK” inside of a circle with the brand written on the outside of the circle.
The engraved “Michael Kors” text will have uniform sizing of the letters, along with uniform spacing between the letters. The letters will be in all capitals. The logo will look clean, clear, and not sloppy.
In addition to the logo keychain, you will notice the rings connecting the strap to the purse. Michael Kors purses use D rings for this attachment, not O rings.
All hardware should be clean, polished, and not easily chipped. Additionally, all hardware, including the zippers, should have a metal feel and should not be plastic.
Where To Buy Authentic Michael Kors
Michael Kors Retailers
If you are wanting to ensure the authenticity of your Michael Kors purse with 100% certainty, the best way is to purchase from a trusted retailer.
This includes Michael Kors itself, whether in-store or online. This also includes popular department stores like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue, just to name a few.
Purchasing Secondhand
By purchasing Michael Kors items secondhand, you are promoting the circularity of fashion. Overall this has a large impact on the environment, increasing the sustainability of our shopping choices.
Plus, you'll be able to save some money by not purchasing the item at retail price!
Michael Kors Pre-Loved
Michael Kors is making strides to reduce their environmental impact. One way is through their Kors Loves program and the launch of Michael Kors Pre-Loved.
This brand has created an online marketplace on its website where buyers can go to shop for pre-loved Michael Kors items. The inventory is all from independent sellers who are finished with their Michael Kors item and are wanting to give it a second life.
All listings are quality approved and authenticated by the Michael Kors team, so you can rest easy knowing you are buying a real Michel Kors item, saving money, and also saving the environment by doing so.
Poshmark, Mercari, eBay
In addition to Michael Kors Pre-Loved, buyers can also shop on secondhand online marketplaces like Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay. The caveat with this method is that the items are not quality inspected or authenticated by the platform.
That means you, as the consumer, will need to inspect the item yourself to see if it is authentic. If you purchase the item and it arrives and you can tell that it is not authentic, you can open a case in order to get your money back.
Many times you can find the best deals on these sites, so the risk may be worth the reward depending on how confident you feel with authenticating.
Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective is another online marketplace, however, I put it in a different category when compared to the aforementioned platforms. This marketplace specializes in luxury and designer fashion.
In addition, there is an option for buyers to purchase authentication from Vestiaire themselves to ensure the authenticity of their Michael Kors item. Vestiaire offers a global marketplace for Michael Kors lovers, so browse around and see what you can find!
Buy-Sell-Trade or Consignment
As mentioned earlier, buy-sell-trade stores like Plato’s Closet also sell Michael Kors items. Additionally, this brand is sold at a more targeted secondhand luxury store, Clothes Mentor.
At Plato’s Closet, items are authenticated by trained buyers. At Clothes Mentor, items are authenticated with a third-party service, Entrupy. Because of that, I would generally trust a Michael Kors purse from Clothes Mentor over Plato’s Closet.
There may also be other consignment stores local to you. Although you may not be able to find a specific Michael Kors handbag that you’re looking for, you may find a gem that you end up falling in love with.
Professional Authentication
If you find a Michael Kors item for a good price at a thrift, buy-sell-trade, or consignment store, congratulations! Whether you are wanting to resell the item for a profit or keep it for yourself, you may want authentication proof.
For The Love Of Luxury
For The Love Of Luxury is a company that specializes in the authentication of designer items. It is run by a seasoned luxury authenticator and reseller, so you know you are in good hands.
They offer an authentication method that yields results within 24 hours during normal business hours. The cost for one authentication is $20, which is generally a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Conclusion:
So now we’ve answered the question of "Where is Michael Kors Made?" along with going over how to authenticate your Michael Kors items yourself. Plus, now you know who to turn to when you want extra piece of mind.
We also discussed the best places to buy Michael Kors items, with my favorite being on the secondhand marketplace. Hopefully you’re walking away with excitement to go authenticate your Michael Kors item!
Check back with us and let us know how it went by commenting below.
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