Goyard.
The name is synonymous with venerable traditions that date back to its trunk-making days. Years after Francois Goyard established his Maison, he began fulfilling custom handbag orders. One particular customer commissioned him to create a trapezoid-shaped bag to surprise his wife. And since then, the Saigon was born. Due to its success, the silhouette quickly and easily became a part of Goyard’s core handbag line officially in 2002. Today, many of the features found in the original Saigon remain the same.
Part of what makes Goyard so compelling is the brand’s unquestionable dedication to tradition. With each piece created, every detail is thoughtfully considered. Nothing is applied by accident. In fact, every part of the bag is backed with intention, ensuring its pieces withstand the test of time using the same techniques since day one. You’re buying a little piece of history. A legacy.
Due to Goyard’s popularity, it comes as no surprise that we run into counterfeits. In the case of the Saigon, we see them all too often. Here is a quick guide with tips from our FASHIONPHILE brand experts to help you learn how to authenticate the beloved Goyard Structured Mini Saigon.
The Goyard Saigon
There are two types of Saigon bags: the Mini Saigon (a soft-bodied version and this type is only offered in the Mini size), as well as the Structured Saigon.
The Structured Saigon comes in several sizes including the Structured Mini (introduced in 2019), the PM, and the MM. A leather shoulder strap was added in 2015 to modernize the Saigon look. You can read more here to learn how to distinguish the nuances.
Goyard takes pride in exclusivity. Although the Maison is on social media, Goyard doesn’t advertise. And you can’t buy Goyard online (unless you shop with us, of course)! When buying retail, most shoppers have to place an order directly from one of Goyard’s boutiques – and as of right now, there are only 35 in the entire world.
Watch our YouTube Short video on how to authenticate the Goyard Saigon bag:
Authenticating the Structured Mini Saigon
Handle Construction
The handles on the Saigon, no doubt, stand out and are quite a significant part of this handbag style. Did you know, the beechwood elements pay homage to the family’s roots in trunk making?
Authentic
Fake
Authentication Pro Tip: The wood handles should have a nice visible grain on them. Counterfeit versions will exhibit inconsistencies in the color, quality, and shape of the handle. You may also notice thickness in the leather anchors and incorrect screws holding the handle in place.
Material/ Paintwork
Goyard’s iconic Y motif mimicking a unique chevron pattern is known as Goyardine. The print isn’t random by any means. It pays homage to the Goyard family’s history as log drivers. The Black Gold combination is a historic offering dating back to Edmond Goyard’s succession of the family business. When the House of Goyard was bought by Jean-Michel Signoles in 1998, more shade offerings were introduced, like green, yellow, blue, and this gorgeous orange you see here.
Authentic
Fake
The Goyardine used to be hand-painted, but due to demand, Goyard now prints most of its coated canvas goods with tools that help expedite the layering and placements of the dye. However, personalizations continue to be painted by hand by a Goyard artisan at one of their boutique locations.
Authentication Pro Tip: The scale of the print should be precise all throughout. On counterfeits, look out for pixelated logos, sloppy prints, and incorrect paint color.
Hardware
Hardware is a huge component of authentication and one of the first areas our experts inspect carefully.
Authentication Pro Tip: When it comes to spotting counterfeit hardware, you may detect a mirage finish and that is a tell-tale sign of inferior materials used. Goyard upholds the highest standards of excellence in its products and designs.
Lining Quality
First featured in the 1950s, the iconic mustard yellow lining in the Saigon is still used to this day.
Authentication Pro Tip: The lining blend on authentic Goyard items should be a woven material, not a grosgrain. As mentioned earlier, the mustard yellow lining is iconic and very specific to Goyard. Counterfeits will often exhibit the incorrect color. Instead, it should be a warmer yellow.
