“Gimme your bag….it’s a baguette” Carrie Bradshaw

“Having the Fendi Baguette was a very big deal, and the gateway to everything else.” Sarah Jessica Parker

Read my full, detailed, honest review of the Fendi Sequin Baguette here

Let’s Get Authenticating

The Fendi Baguette is a heavily, heavily replicated bag. Super fakes are just one stitch away from being identical to the real deal. It’s very, very hard. But, here are a few things I’ve learnt to help me.

This will not help you with all Fendi’s! It will help you with Fendi Baguettes from 2020 onwards.

Interior

Counterfeiters never pay close attention to the interior. This is because you can’t see it whilst carrying it so lots of details get missed. It’s a great place to start!

SERIAL NUMBER & RFID

OK, so Fendi has a few things going on.

RFID

In 2010 Fendi introduced RFID – this is a scannable chip they placed in their bags. It has all the information about where the bag was made and when. This is helpful to Fendi – but not the resale market as we don’t have a device to read it! But, neither do the counterfeiters (hurrah).

This is located in the interior zip pocket on the right hand side.

It is sewn into a black fabric tag that measures 3.5cm (h) x 3cm wide.

The tag reads:

FENDI

ROMA

This is stitched onto the tag using a cream (not bright white) thread. There is a line of stitches running along the bottom.

If you run your fingers over the FENDI stitching you’ll feel a very pliable but still firm piece of something inside – that’s the chip!

The back of the tag reads

RFID LABEL

ETICHETTA RFID

Then an eight digit number is stitched into it upside down.

A barcode is then stitched directly above that – NOTE. This is a big tell-tale sign – which dupes will skip. The barcode is a different colour thread and is a brighter white to the rest of the stitching.

Serial Number

Now scoot over to the other side of the bag.

You will find a leather tab measuring 6cm (h) x 1.4cm (w).

This piece of leather has been folded over and finished at either end. Therefore the back is the same smooth purple leather as the front. (not rough!)

The edges are pointed but not overly sharp.

This has an embossed 17 digit code – separated by dashes.

The first 6 characters followed by a dash, then four characters match the product code on the Fendi Website. They change the middle four characters depending on the season. (it will match the bags store tag if yours came with it)

Then the pattern is three numbers dash then four numbers.

8BR600-A9X2-248-0540

8BR600 = the classic baguette model
A9X2 = special sequin + satin material combo
228 = the signature purple colour code
0501 = production batch

The Interior Logo Hardware

This is a rectangular piece of gold toned hardware.

This is located 1cm down from the zipped pocket – dead centre.

It reads:

BAGUETTE (letters 2mm high)

FENDI (letters 4mm high)

MADE IT ITALY (letters 1mm high)

Its 3cm wide x 1.8cm high.

It has a high shine finish, but the letters have a mottled matte finish. (very similar to the Lady Dior Zip pulls and the engraved CD)

Zip

The back of the zip features the raised FF logo but additionally it has an engraved circle bottom right.

All zips from mid 2000 will have the FF engraving.

The zip pull is hard leather. Puffy on one side and flat on the other.

It is kite shaped and symmetrical. The point shape has 2 stitches either side.

The zip closure has the Fendi logo in a tiny square on the right hand side. The F’s almost look hand painted on.

Interior pocket

Again, this is a small detail – but please look at it. It’s the biggest giveaway.

The stitching and craftsmanship of the interior pocket is stunning.

The bags lining stitching is invisible .But, if you turn the interior pocket inside out. LOOK AT HOW NEAT THOSE STITCHES ARE AND HOW MUCH OF THE ZIP FABRIC IS COVERED. They have only left the bare minimum of zip fabric required so the teeth don’t get stuck when the zip is pulled. The thread is gold. NO DUPE DOES THIS. It’s perfect stitching.

The interior fabric is satin

Exterior

The Signature FF Logo Hardware Magnetic Clasp

Counterfeiters have got pretty good at this to be honest.

The FF hardware sits on a leather rectangle.

This is 9.3cm (h) x 4.7cm (w)

It is deeply stitched and puffy in the middle.

It is 3 stitches to 1cm.

I have not taken off my hardware protector yet! i cannot bring myself to do it.

There are two things counterfeiters rarely do:

1) There is a doubled over single stitch that runs horizontally - 6 stitches down to hold the leather more securely. They don’t do this.

2) If you pull the leather tab back on itself you’ll see the leather underneath it sewn onto the bag. Not just the exposed handbag material which the rest of the bag comprises of.

The F’s are not directly on top of each other in a square. They are staggered.

The double F logo is 6cm wide by 3.6cm high.

It is 4mm thick.

The middle line of the F kicks out by 2cm.

This is the smallest detail. The FF hardware is ever so slightly curved. It is not flat.

The back of the plate has Fendi engraved on the left bottom corner.

It is held in place by 4 screws. These need a flat headed screw driver to removed. The screws don’t lie flat however, they are domed.

The screws are 5mm wide. (larger that most designer hardware screws)

The magnet in the magnetic closure is strong. It isn’t flimsy – you have to give it a tug to pull it open.

The bottom magnet is sat on a leather square 2.6cm x 2.7cm. 7 stitches along each side. The top and bottom is adorned by a row of beads.

Fendi is lightly engraved into this on the bottom right corner.

The purple sequin and beadwork

Three rows of beads outline the bag

A single row of beads outlines the bags flap and the bags opening

The sequins are tightly compact and sewn together, You cannot see any of the bags material through the sequins.

The sequins for the majority are small squares, with larger circles and rectangles breaking up the pattern.

Straps

1) Shoulder Strap

The newer baguettes come with two straps. A shoulder strap and a crossbody strap. Both straps can be worn on the bag simultaneously.

Each side of the bag has two detachable (via a tiny flat headed screw) D Rings.

The shoulder strap is 28cm long and 2cm wide

The stitching is positioned 2mm in from the edge of the leather.

The strap is not a flat piece of leather – its raised. ( I am guessing it has piping in it)

The hardware is a lobster clasp trigger swivel with Fendi engraved on either side.

2) Crossbody strap

This is designed to sit on the lower D ring – if wearing both straps together.

This is 80cm long x 4cm wide.

The stitching is positioned 2mm in from the edge of the leather.

Small detail dupes won’t do.

This strap is a flat piece of leather. But, it isn’t a continuous piece of leather you’ll see the leather has a break in it either side.

The hardware is a lobster clasp trigger swivel with Fendi engraved on either side.

The thread which attaches the leather strap to the hardware is thicker than the thread used on the rest of the bag. The stitches are bigger, and it comprises of three big single stitches doubled over. You need a hefty stitch to hold all the leather in place.