While brands across the world purchase trademarks to prevent copycat products, unfortunately, there are still many producers who create fakes and sell them off as real. Though this is illegal and fraudulent, many of these products continue to circulate due to poorly regulated physical and digital markets, especially those such as eBay and Etsy. If you have one of these products on hand, whether you purchased it new or second-hand, you run the risk of fines.
But, with these copycats getting better and better, you may find it complex to identify if they're the real deal or not.
Across my time identifying various scarves, it's become clear that Hermès scarves are beyond the most copied on the market. So, when I'm sourcing them for my headbands and scrunchies, how do I tell the difference?
Here are just some ways I differentiate the reals from the fakes:
There is ALWAYS a grave accent over the E
Not commonly used in British English, accents can completely change the pronunciation of a word. In the word Hermès, this accent opens the E and ensures that it is not read silently. While it may not seem important for us English speakers, this accent is vital in French linguistics. Without it, it completely changes the name of the brand.
So, if you ever see a scarf missing this accent, you can automatically assume it is a fake.
All scarves after 1939 have the copyright logo (©)
To protect their property rights, in 1939, Hermès registered for a trademark. The copyright logo can be found on all their scarves produced since this date and will always be beside their logo.
Though many copycats may copy this logo onto their print, you can usually still determine if it's real or fake. If the copyright logo seems blurry, unclear or deformed, you can assume that the scarf is a fake.
The fabric is textured
Many people who haven't held a Hermès scarf before will automatically assume that their silk scarves are soft to the touch. However, as these scarves are woven by hand, they have fine ridges, meaning they can be slightly coarse to the touch. If it feels like polyester, it probably is, which is never a good sign.
Above this, all of the hems on Hermès scarves are hand-rolled. This means the stitches fold toward the face.
There will always be a name
Sometimes it may be difficult to spot, but Hermès scarves will almost always have their name printed on them. You may have to look deeply into the pattern to find this. For more popular scarves, a quick Google search will tell you where to find the name. In my range, you can see the scarf names easiest on my cushions.
The care tag will remain attached
This rule flows on for all designer scarves. The care tag is a sign of authenticity. If the scarf doesn't have a tag, it's always best to assume it is a fake.
At Piggi International, I have spent years perfecting the art of authenticating scarves. I am passionate about creating designer accessories out of products which are real. In this, I will NEVER sell a fake to increase profits.
If you suspect that an accessory from another designer is made from a fake, it's always best to check all of the above points, ask the producer to prove it's real and consult the help of an expert.
