Louis Vuitton Purses: Damier Bags, Discount Prices, Quality Designer Handbags And Replicas

Darlings of the fashion sphere, Louis Vuitton purses are known worldwide for their timeless design and exceptional quality. Currently, film star Scarlett Johansson models for the company, showcasing the chic purses with seductive poses. Louis Vuitton has over a hundred stores scattered across the globe and Louis Vuitton purses are also sold at exclusive retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

One line of Louis Vuitton purses, the Damier handbags, has permeated the fashion industry for ages. The French trunk maker and designer extraordinare created the Damier handbags line in 1888. The design features a brown and tan checkered pattern with the Louis Vuitton logo etched into some of the brown squares. The cheapest of the these Louis Vuitton purses can be found online at the company's website for $595. The most expensive retails for $1,300. The Damier canvas line also includes clutches and pouches, luggage, agendas, cosmetic and vanity cases, and other small leather goods. In the past several years there have been new Damier handbags, the Damier Geant line and the Damier Azur line. These Louis Vuitton purses are similar in price and equal in distinction.

Another line of Louis Vuitton purses, the monogram collection, has become the wildly popular epitome of luxury. The bags, created in 1896 by the designer's son, Georges Vuitton, feature the "LV" monogram emblazoned across the purse. There are eight different types of monogrammed Louis Vuitton purses, the most popular being the monogram canvas line. The prices of these Louis Vuitton purses range from $575 to $2000.

Because of the supply and demand chain and the steep prices of the purses, counterfeiting operations have popped up. Companies offer customers merchandise that appears to be the twin of Louis Vuitton purses at a discount price. In reality, buying or selling a replica purse is illegal and those who do can be punished with fines and legal actions. In many cases, the fake purse market coincides with child labor and money laundering. The company, fed up with many counterfeiters, established a zero tolerance policy which has resulted in 13,000 legal actions, more than 6,000 raids and over 947 arrests.

In addition to being illegal, the Louis Vuitton knockoffs are poor in quality and can be spotted as fakes. A good indicator of a fake is the placement of the "L" and "V" in the Louis Vuitton monogram. If the "L" is positioned above the "V", the purse is an obvious replica. A better way to buy Louis Vuitton purses at a discount price is by looking for sales at stores or taking a chance on eBay. Ebay has 44 pages of Louis Vuitton purses, some real, some fake, and many at a discount price.

Louis Vuitton purses are staples of the fashion industry and come at a lofty price. However, the bags are made to last and have been in style for over 100 years. Perhaps because they seem to be eternally en vogue, the price trade-off is fair after all. To see the complete catalog of Louis Vuitton purses, visit louisvuitton.com.


Sources:
Louis Vuitton Catalog-City bags & briefcases. LouisVuitton.com. 23 Aug. 2007.
http://www.louisvuitton.com/web/flash/index.jsp; jsessionid=105HDZUJNKVB2CRBXUCFAFIKEG4RAUPU?buy=0& />
Damier Canvas. Eluxury.com. 2007. Eluxury.com, Inc. 23 Aug. 2007.
http://www.eluxury.com/brands/louis_vuitton/w05/ assortment.jhtml?SectionID=6000&CategoryID=300 />
"Counterfeiting Information- Louis Vuitton Replica." LouisVuitton.com. 23 Aug. 2007.
http://www.louisvuitton.com/info/fake/fake-00493 .htm.

"Louis Vuitton Timeline." Louis Vuitton.com. 23 Aug.2007.
http://www.louisvuitton.com/web/flash/index.jsp; jsessionid=5K3ATGZ2YGNGQCRBXUCFAFIKEG4RAUPU?buy=0&