Trusted Authenticators: How It Must Be Loved Verifies Every Vintage Bag
It Must Be Loved · Our Standard
Trusted
Authenticators
Authenticity is our promise.
Every piece. Every time.
A note from Erin
Authenticity isn’t just a checkbox for me. It’s the foundation of everything It Must Be Loved stands for.
When I started this business, I made a promise to myself and to every person who would ever buy from me: I will never knowingly sell a fake. Not once. Not ever. That promise has never wavered and it never will.
Vintage luxury is special precisely because it’s real. These bags were made by skilled craftspeople, with materials sourced with intention, in ateliers that have stood for generations. A counterfeit doesn’t carry that story. It doesn’t carry that history. It carries nothing.
That’s why every single bag that passes through my hands is authenticated before it is ever listed, photographed, or sold. And I don’t do it alone. I work with the most trusted names in the authentication industry to make sure the standard is absolute.
Erin
It Must Be Loved
The LOVED Promise
Luxury should never be a gamble.
Every bag sold at It Must Be Loved has been thoroughly verified for authenticity. We work exclusively with trusted, professional authenticators so you can shop with complete confidence.
The vintage luxury market is one of the most counterfeited spaces in the world. Fakes have become increasingly sophisticated, and even experienced buyers can be deceived without the right knowledge and tools.
Authentic vintage pieces hold their value, tell a real story, and are built to last. A genuine Louis Vuitton bag from the 1990s can outlast almost anything made today. That craftsmanship deserves to be protected.
When you buy authenticated vintage, you’re not just buying a bag. You’re buying the history, the craft, and the confidence that comes with knowing it’s real.
Who We Trust
Our Authenticators
Three of the most respected names in luxury authentication. These are the experts I turn to.
Pro Authenticators
proauthenticators.com ↗Pro Authenticators is one of the most widely recognised authentication services in North America. Their team of specialists covers an extensive range of luxury brands and uses a rigorous, multi-point verification process to confirm the authenticity of every piece submitted.
Their certificates are trusted by resellers, consignment shops, and buyers across the industry. Fast, thorough, and highly reputable — this is a service I return to consistently.
Real Authentication
realauthentication.com ↗Real Authentication is a trusted name in the online authentication space, known for their detailed reports and transparent process. They offer rapid turnaround times without sacrificing accuracy, making them a go-to for time-sensitive sourcing.
Their process is documented, traceable, and backed by experts with deep knowledge of construction details, date codes, hardware, and materials across decades of production.
Authentic Detective
authenticdetective.com ↗Authentic Detective brings an investigative approach to luxury authentication. Their specialists are known for their exceptional attention to detail on vintage and hard-to-verify pieces, making them particularly valuable when sourcing older or rarer items.
Their reputation in the vintage community is excellent, and their reports give buyers the kind of documented confidence that matters when investing in a preloved piece.
What Authentication Verifies
A professional authentication review examines far more than a logo or a label. Every detail of the bag is assessed against what is known about genuine production at that time.
This includes date codes and heat stamps, hardware weight, finish and engravings, stitching count, colour and tension, canvas texture and print alignment, lining materials and construction, zipper pulls, feet, and hardware markings, and overall construction quality and proportions.
Fakes get better every year. Professional authenticators keep pace. That is why I use them, and why it matters to you.
From Erin
I have turned down beautiful bags because they couldn’t be verified. I have passed on great deals because something didn’t feel right.
I will always choose your trust over a sale. That is not a policy. That is who I am.
Every bag at It Must Be Loved is real. That is my word, and it means everything to me.
Erin · It Must Be Loved
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Get first access to every authenticated bag I source, exclusive early drops, and the confidence that comes with buying from someone who never cuts corners.
Join the LOVED ClubBecause authentic vintage should last, and so should your trust.
