It’s been a while since we posted an authenticity guide here on The Closet. However, we recently came across a fake Hermès scarf, and it was the perfect subject to inspire a comeback!

On an eternal quest to fight the fakes, our Authenticity Manager, Chelsea, put together a photo guide of how to spot a fake Hermès 90cm silk twill scarf.

Quality

The quality of the Hermès silk scarf is unparalleled. There are a few major things to look out for when examining the overall quality of your scarf. First is the material. Hermès scarves are soft, smooth and substantial. The strong weave of the silk should make the scarf opaque in appearance. Notice on the fake scarf how you can see the hand through the fabric.

Next, examine the print. Hermès scarf designers spend months creating new scarf prints. The prints are individually screen-printed with vegetable dye, with one color applied to the scarf at a time.  Each color dries for one month before another color is applied. Such attention to detail is evident in the genuine scarf. The colors are rich and bold and the print is defined. Notice the inconsistency in the lines of the fake scarf and how the colors seem to bleed outside the pattern.

Markings

There are a few markings that are found on almost all Hermès scarves. One is the “Hermès Paris” marking. Notice how the fake scarf is missing the accent over the “e” in Hermès!

You’ll want to look out for the title of the scarf, as well. In this case, it’s “Les Tuileries.” Another mark is the artist’s signature (J. Metz on the genuine scarf). Last but not least is the “Hermès ©” which is discreetly placed somewhere in the print of the scarf.  The location of this mark is not consistent and differs on among each scarf design. The absence of these four markings should raise a red flag that the scarf might be fake.

Tag

We’ve seen a few different tag designs on Hermès silk twill scarves, but the information on the tags remains a constant: the scarf is always 100% silk and always made in France. If the scarf says “MADE IN ITALY,” as pictured below, this should be a dead giveaway that the scarf is a fake.

Stitching 

The last major detail in the scarf’s construction is the stitching. Hermès scarves are rolled and stitched entirely by hand. The edges of the scarf are neatly rolled, with small variations in the stitch marks reflecting the scarf’s handmade craftsmanship. Completely symmetric stitching indicates the scarf was machine sewn, as pictured in the fake scarf below.

Did all this talk of Hermès scarves spark a need for one? Buy where you know you’re getting the real deal. Shop our Hermès scarves!