Dooney and (&) Bourke bags were once a staple of American quality and fashion, but like many other fashion designers, they have gone down the path of cheaper manufacturing using Chinese labor. And this can create a lot of confusion for the buyer. The shopper buys a Dooney bag, takes it home, slings it over her shoulder, and it looks great! Then he looks inside and starts playing with the inside zippers etc. and stumbles upon a little tag that says those three little words: Made in China. That? Dooney is supposed to be made in the USA, right? The buyer then begins to panic, assuming that he had been fooled by a fake bag. But in fact, it’s a real Dooney and it was made in China.
So for the record, a D&B that says made in China doesn’t mean it’s a fake bag. Many of the newer bags are made in China. However, all vintage D&B bags should say made in the USA. Coach has also made this switch from the USA to China.
What about the fakes?
After checking where the bag was made, check the pipes. The edging refers to the rounded edges of the bag, and this feature will be a high-quality leather. The seam lines associated with the piping will also be of high quality. There should be no crooked or uneven stitch lines along the edge of the leather trim. Any evidence of sloppy and hasty stitch lines resulting in wobbly or asymmetrical seams is a major red flag.
Always check the hardware. Dooney & Bourke uses high quality brass for all of its metal accents. A good way to inspect hardware for real or fake brass is to look closely for evidence of silver areas. This would represent nickel in many cases. This is cheap metal used by counterfeiters that is colored to look like brass and replicate the real brass that Dooney would implement. Real brass will have an aged look, and fake brass will have a shiny, superficially cheap appearance.
Here are some quick steps you can take to remove some of the fakes, and it’s not a complete guide to all the tips needed, but it will provide some insulation from many of the fakes on the viral marketplace. Good luck and safe shopping!
