What’s the best way to tell if what you are buying is an authentic Prada Wallet or Fendi Handbag? The short answer:
It’s Not Easy!
When an item goes through a closeout buyout like it does when the item comes to eDesignerShop, the item has gone from an authorized sales channel to a third party that the manufacturer does not deal with directly. Most of the time the items are from previous seasons. The newer items may be from one to two seasons ago, or a few years or more (As of the date of writing this entry, there might be a few items from 2002)!
So no, you may not find the exact item that you see at the Balenciaga boutique in New York, but you might find something that was there last summer. So one sure sign that an item is not authentic is if it is the exact same item as what is currently in Prada stores for ½ the price! Designers have no reason to closeout a current season item that they are selling for full price in stores. However, after the season is over, to make room for next season’s items, it makes sense to sell the leftover stock through outlets or close them out.
In the coming days, we will be adding more tips on, helping you find an authentic item instead of a replica. Check back soon, or better yet, subscribe to our blog.


