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Some of the French designers are Yves Saint Laurent, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, Christian Dior, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, Christian Lacroix and Coco Chanel.

If you are the type who loves buying things that have names, then certainly you will find a Louis Vuitton product in your things. Just search carefully and you will see the full name or LV for short. It is the same brand designed by Louis Vuitton Malletier.

Recently, I took a trip to the Central Business District (CBD) in Accra and I was shocked to find several designer dresses, shoes, bags, watches, sneakers, scarfs, hats, shirts and perfumes around the popular Togo Market around the Fire Service.

One of the visible designer brands were Louis Vuitton products which were imposing due to its beige and brown stripes design which was created in 1876 to protect it against duplications. Unfortunately, centuries down the line, some smart people have flooded the market with several imitations of LV products.

While an original stainless steel Tambour Forever Women's wristwatch is going for about $7,995 (GH¢46,890.67), the imitated one is selling at GH¢15.

The current price of an original Louis Vuitton Taurillon Game On Capucines bag is selling at $5,000 (GH¢29,325.00), while you can find the imitated types as low as GH¢50 at Makola.

How to spot fake Louis Vuitton products
When you are buying an expensive, name-brand purse such as a Louis Vuitton, it is important to know you are getting the real deal.

Fake bags will often have painted gold plastic whereas an authentic will have gold or brass metal hardware imprinted with the trademark LV logo.

Authentic Louis Vuitton bags always include a stamp that says “Louis Vuitton” and “made in France” (or another country if it was made elsewhere) underneath it.

If your bag is missing this stamp, then it is likely to be fake. Look for the stamp pressed directly into the leather of your bag.

Research indicates that counterfeit fashions represent a $450 billion business. Fake luxury items comprise the majority of these sales.

Since many luxury items start at prices above $1,000, most shoppers cannot afford to purchase them and often try to find these items marketed below retail value. Louis Vuitton watches are one of the most counterfeited items for sale.

The wrist band on the Louis Vuitton watch should be genuine leather, rubber or metal.

Genuine Louis Vuitton watches are made of polished brass or steel. The coating will not rub off on your fingers.

The glass cover is always a sapphire glass on authentic Louis Vuitton watches. Besides, Louis Vuitton never uses fake diamonds on its products so you cannot be parading a less than GH¢50 watch as a diamond LV watch.

The Writer’s email: hadiza.quansah@graphic.com.gh or hadiza.quansah@gmail.com