The authentic LC bag's leather material has rich tan color, with a red/orange undertone. The leather is slightly rough but still smooth to the touch. The fake LC has almost the same shade of leather material. Looking closely, both leathers have subtle uneven color finishing with light and dark patches. But, it is very noticeable that the leather pattern of the authentic LC has defined diamond patterns.
This is not evident on the fake LC. In fact, the pattern on the fake LC almost looks like fish-scale and is very smooth to the touch. AnonymousI have an authentic bag (made in France) bought in 2006 in France and some of the features do not match (ie no visible stamp from the underside of the flap) as well as an authentic (made in China) bag bought in 2013 from the store in NYC and the underside of the straps is a lighter color (like the fake).
Both were bought from Longchamp retail stores and not from a boutique, Longhcamp counter inside a retailer, etc. Please keep this in mind that the brand has changed over the years. I will note that the quality of my newer bag is poorer compared to my older one and I did consider returning it, but noticed after I had used the bag that it was made in China. If you can, get your hands on a non made in China Longchamp from an authentic retailer (I've heard the newer ones are only made in China?
Correct me if wrong!).
The embossed name and the outlines of the name Longchamp in the flap is again more precise. Same with the No. You can see the difference. Tag: Not all bags made in China is fake, and not all bags made in France is original. High end replicas are all over. It’s up to you to decide what you buy and where you buy. I’m not sure where you are from but I know most of the Longchamp Pliage bags in the States and Canada are Made in China. The ones made in France are typically distributed in Europe. But in terms of quality, they’re all the same, so you can’t tell that they are made in China except for the white tag inside the bag that says Made in China. Close this window X Subscribe to Longchamp Newsletter. News, in-store events and special offers. Validated Email. OK By signing up for the newsletter, you accept the terms of the privacy policy. Longchamp LGP. Discover the new collection. Longchamp 3D. Discover the new collection.
I suggest checking the airport website for the airports you will be using. Cold steel frontier hawk mods. Most airports have some sort of list of their shops. You can also try googling something like 'Frankfurt Airport Longchamp' and just replace Frankfurt with whichever airport you'll be using. Finally, while the duty free shops typically do have slightly better prices on the Le Pliage series, at least, the Le Pliages are cheaper in Europe anyway and the regular stores usually have a better selection. So, it might be worth your while to check out a regular Longchamp retailer on your trip, especially if your looking for a certain size/color combination. '.Going to the Longchamp website would be too easy.
I want to know where to get a bag that is authentic but also save a few dollars IF possible.' In your original question you specifically asked which airport duty free shops carry Longchamp products. The link I gave you to the official site does just that. It not only lists company stores, it also lists third-party stores, including airport duty-free shops. I think it's safe to assume that the official site isn't going to direct you to a store that sells their knockoffs.
Yes, Michael and Nigel, you are correct. I asked a different question specifically pertaining to the duty free shops and then asked for more information. I know I could do the research and usually do. On the other hand, that is why all of us use this site and ask questions of others. I am sure you have given information to others, as have I, but we all know how to do research. When I look at the number of your posts, I can see that you have given LOTS and LOTS of help to others.
However, I will agree with you that some of the questions asked could be resolved with a little research. Thanks to everyone who has helped with answers. Now, I just have to consider the price in Europe with the Euro at 1.30 versus the cost of the bag at Nordstroms. Maybe I will be so overwhelmed at the duty free shops or in the Paris store and I will come back loaded with Longchamp bags. No, not if my husband has anything to do with it!:). Michael and Stephanie, a big THANK YOU!
Michael, that was very nice of you to give such an inclusive listing of the shops. Very impressive. Stephanie, I knew that some of the bags are made in China. I didn't know that the 'real' bags have an Eiffel Tour imprint on them. I will check the one that Nordstrom's sent to me.
Thanks for that piece of information. Sylvia, thank you for that additional information about the selection at CDG being smaller. Bets, thank you for your response to keep me on the straight and narrow. Patti, I did see an ad for one of the bags that had an Eiffel Tower across it as a design.
Last night, I checked my bag from Nordstrom's. It says it was made in China. I do plan to look in stores in France and in any airport duty free shops that I can. I looked up the actual addresses for the stores in Paris. The one on the Left Bank is at 21 Rue du Vieux Colombier. On the Right Bank, he location is 404 Rue St. I need to do a Mapquest to find where the stores actually are.
For those of you who have purchased their bags in duty free shops or in France, where were they made? France or China? This is getting to be a long topic but with lots of good information. Also, what have been your favorite colors?
I am torn among the chocolate, the indigo and the azure looking color along with the navy blue. One more thing, did you get the long handles for the shoulder bag or the short handles for the actually handbag/tote style? I know all of this is personal preference but in terms of the handles, that does make a small difference in how the bag is used. Thanks again! Yep, made in China.but think about it.Coach bags are made in China too.
I think of Coach as AMERICAN, and my first bag I bought was made here, but now, no longer. It's a real bummer.
I hope you find the one you want, made in France! Duty Free shopping, make sure you know the value of the Dollar vs. Euro when you shop so are sure you get a good deal. I know I paid about $88 for my backpack, and about the same for my medium tote. I'd love another, but I'm not spending $145 in Nordstroms + tax for another.I've got one, that should be enough in reality! Thanks to all of you for your information.
I am going to look in France and the airports for Longchamp bags. Depending on what I find, I may or may not return the Nordstorm's bag. But I am still confused.would it be correct to say that some of the bags even purchased in France may have been made in China? Would it also be possible to assume that any bags purchased on the 'real' store should have been made in France?
I would hope so! I know heads are hurting because of all these questions and information. I don't know yet. The bag cost $165 at Nordstrom's. When I look at the real Longchamps website, I think bags like the one I want are $145 in US dollars. That would be a savings of $20.
As you may have read, some of the bags have been made in China. I want one made in France. I can not afford the real leather ones so I will have to go with the cansas/nylon bag. Also, there is a difference in the same size bag between one with shoulder straps and one with shorter handles similar to a suitcase. I think the bag with shorter handles is $135 on the website.
Since I have never looked in a duty free store, I don't know what the savings will be and since I want a 'real' bag, I will just go to one of the two retail stores in Paris. I would be concerned that if I wait until I get back to a duty free shop (even though I will look), the bag may be one made in China. Just what I want to avoid. Again, thanks to everyone! @Bev, as I stated in my previous post our group of ladies who went into one of the Longchamp stores in Paris (can't remember which one)in April 2012 were told that the bags are made in China EXCEPT for the one with the Eiffel Tower imprinted on it. And as stated by someone else that made a reply to this post the Eiffel Tower that is imprinted on the bag is large.
It sits on a diagnol that covers most of the bag. One of the ladies in the group I was with purchased this bag because she wanted a bag made in France.
This was one of the nylon bags. Hope this helps. The online outlet is not an official Longchamp outlet. They do have outlet stores (one is in NJ) but those have limited selections of the Pliage bags. I can't give you the numbers, but in 2011 when I was connecting through Heathrow, I calculated the prices on the Longchamp Pliage bags in Harrod's and there was defnitely a worthwhile savings.
Later I regretted that I did not make a purchase. All the bags in the Paris flagship store definitely represented a savings over Nordstrom prices. I purchased the Pliage Eiffel Tower bag in Paris. However, I wasn't checking to see if they were made in France or not.
I was in Minneapolis over the weekend and saw some bags on sale at Saks. However, they didn't have the La Pliage bags for which I was looking. The Minneapolis store was an 'outlet' with their closest 'real' store in Chicago. Even though I have the navy bag from Nordstrom's, I think I will wait until I get to Paris and the duty free shops to look for another bag.
Nordstrom's said that I can always return the one I purchased. They didn't even have a time limit on returns. However, I am still intrigued by the Longchamp outlet store. I don't like knock-offs but since the Longchamp bags are currently being made in China, what would be the difference?
Real bag from China or a knockoff bag from China. I know, real is real! Just wait, Beverly!
Longchamp Neo Made In China
Thanks again! Bev, Just a little insight from the legal/intellectual property viewpoint: The main difference is that the Longchamp company has spent considerable time and money to establish their trademark and their brand. We may not like the fact that they're making alot of their bags in China, but they still developed the design and they own the brand and the profits from sales are rightly theirs. If you buy one of the Le Pliage bags at either the duty-free store or the Longchamp store, you may not have a product made in France but you'll have a great bag and a souvenir of your trip. Moral compass? Not only is buying from (and selling) counterfeit goods illegal and immoral, you also buy rubbish. At the official Chinese factories there will be oversight and quality control as well as most big companies enforce (to a greater or lesser degree of competence) working conditions and pay.
Longchamp Paris Made In China
Counterfeit companies have no such controls. It may even have a label (a counterfeit one of course) saying made in China but it may very well be made in a completely different place - maybe even by children in rags for no money.