How To Spot A Fake Givenchy Antigona Bag
The Antigona debuted in A/W 2010 under Creative Director Ricardo Tisci.
Please know this is one of the hardest bags to authenticate. I’d only buy Givenchy from consignment services that have physically assessed the bag and authenticated it in person.
This is because in the past I have been sold a counterfeit Givenchy Antigona. But, luckily I had researched the bag and knew automatically it was a fake when it arrived – (it was impossible to determine just by the pictures provided online)
A lot of people like to do ‘the overall look’ method to spot a counterfeit Givenchy Antigona. I hate this because I think unless you have a real one next to you to directly compare the bags – its sooo hard to judge it on shape and ’look’ alone. The Givenchy Antigona doesn’t have a lot of hardware, it is a simple bag – so you really have to pay attention to the stitching and the smaller details.
The size of this bag is fantastic. You can keep absolutely everything in it! Fits a laptop and you can carry is on the shoulder or top handle. Perfect summer work bag. I have the medium (which is large!). The small is more for weekends.
Contents:
1. Date Code
2. Hardware
a) Zipper
b) Givenchy Logo Hardware
c) Carbines
d) Shoulder strap hardware
3. Handles
1. Date Code
The Date Code is located on the interior pocket on a leather tab.
The front will have GIVENCHY MADE IN ITALY stamped onto it.
The tab is 5.5cm (w) x 2cm (h)
The tab is finished, it has no raw edges.
The GIVENCHY is located 0.7mm down from the top.
Pay attention to the ‘V’ and the ‘Y’. The tops of the letters are straight. Counterfeiters can’t get the letters crisp enough and curve the tops of the ‘Y’ this gives them a downwards point – instead of straight across.
This is the same with the ‘MADE IN ITALY’
Remember Date Codes are helpful! But, not unique.
The Antigona was first introduced in A/W 2010 so no date code should give a date earlier than this.
The date code on the Antigona is similar to Louis Vuitton Date Codes.
The date code is 6-7 characters.
EXAMPLE: ZE0164
The first two-three letters/digits represent the location of the bags manufacturing.
The first and third numbers represent the week of manufacture
The second and fourth numbers represent the year it was made.
My bag was made in the 6th week of 2014.
2. Hardware
The hardware is a metal called ‘Zamac’ which according to Google Gemini “is a family of zinc alloys known for their strength, hardness, and affordability. It is primarily composed of zinc, with added elements like aluminium, magnesium, and copper to enhance specific properties like strength, durability, and corrosion resistance”
Givenchy haven’t always used Zamac though - Early runs of the Antigona featured heavier metal hardware, but by 2013/2014 they were using Zamac.
A) Zipper
The zip is oversized and measures 2.7cm wide.
The teeth themselves are 0.7mm wide.
The teeth are 0.3mm apart from each other.
A really small distinction between a real and a fake Antigona is the way the teeth lie. The teeth on a real Antigona lie perfectly flat. Fakes dip significantly inwards.
The Zipper is oversized.
Pre 2014 - the back of the zipper will likely feature a Raccagni stamp.
Early 2014 onwards the back of the zips say ‘GIVENCHY PARIS’ (especially on the Antigona). The interior zip pocket zip, also features this new addition.
The zipper has a D ring attached to it and a leather tab.
Note about the D Ring
On (nearly) all expensive bags, the designer expects that you’ll want to keep your bag in pristine condition and have it cleaned. As a result, they’ll usually make it possible (in most cases) to detach the leather from the hardware for proper maintenance. Designer bags are made up of many separate elements they don’t cut corners in their construction. Every component is designed, crafted, and assembled with precision, often allowing individual parts to be removed or repaired rather than replaced entirely.
For example, the D-ring has a tiny screw on the side, which allows you to unscrew it to clean the leather pull.
The Leather Zip Pull
The pull will match the colour of the bag.
The pull is finished with the same leather paint edging as the rest of the bag
The raised middle of the pull is incredibly stiff. It is not soft and puffy. Unlike a puffer coat, you can’t make a finger print dent in it.
It has three stitches along the bottom, and nine stitches along either side. The top stitch is double stitched either side.
b) Givenchy Logo
The GIVENCHY branding is centred perfectly on the front envelope fold leather panel of the bag.
The envelope fold will always be puffy, but stiff and structured. It will never lie flat.
If we want to be super detailed (which we do!) it’s exactly.
4.8cm either side.
2.5cm from the top
3.8cm from the bottom
The lettering is 4mm wide and 4mm high.
c) Carbines
The Givenchy lettering engraved on the carbines is so thin, crisp and sharp – anything less than this is fake!
The twist mechanism should be smooth – no squeaking or crunching.
D) Shoulder Strap Handware
The silver toned hardware on the bags strap allows the shoulder strap to be detached for cleaning. It is attached by 2 screws.
The hardware on the shoulder strap is a silver toned rectangle measuring 2.5cm x 3.5cm.
It has triangle hardware fixed on top of the rectangle. Each side of the triangle is 1.00cm – 1.1cm
It is replicated on both sides of the shoulder strap
3. Handles
The handles are secured to the bag on two leather panels. These are perfectly symmetrical and identically replicated at all four points where the handles attach to the bag.
The first leather panel overlaid onto the bag is coffin shaped. It is made up of
7 stitches
6 stiches
6 stiches
15 stitches
9 stitches
The second leather panel sits on top and is curved, not coffin shaped.
It is positioned 5mm in from the 1st leather panel going wider to 8mm at the bottom.
The widest point of this panel is 5.5cm across.
The handles are taller than most top handle designer handbags. It goes into the nook of your arm perfectly. A la Victoria Beckham - teapot style. Sadly, does not fit on the shoulder (it could maybe just do it - but not really).
They are structured and stay upright.
Feet
The bottom of the bag has ‘feet’. These are separate leather panels that have been sewn onto the bottom of the bag.
These are thick pieces of leather measuring 0.5mm thick.
They are 2.3cm wide.
Again, they are finished – the edges are not raw.
Counterfeiters often make the feet to narrow, and too thin.
Interesting fact – 1st Season Vintage Antigona’s from 2010 do not have feet. They are stitched with quilting to pad them out, they did for the 1st season only.
Sides
Tip: Pay close attention to how the leather falls on the side of the bag. The leather on the Givenchy Antigona is very thick and structured. It bends at the top where the zip finishes. Counterfeiters are using a cheaper leather and it will bend more significantly and be a bit crinkled.
Stitching
I love stitching. It is the most boring - but easiest way to spot fakes.
There are 3 stitches to every 1cm.
There are 6 stitches on either side to secure the Givenchy padded logo into position. The top and bottom are doubled stitched. Why? Givenchy is using a lot of thick leather and this has to be secured in place properly, 1 stitch will not cut it.
The interior zip pull comprises of 12 stitches either side, 2 at the bottom and again double stitched at the top.
Interior
The interior is basic. The money clearly got spent on the exterior leather that’s for sure.
It’s 100% cotton and the interior stitching is slightly lighter than the bags interior colour and it comprises of one smaller elasticated pocket, a second larger pocket and a zip closure.
I hope this has helped xxx
