Look for: (1) small asymmetries, two “identical” items should differ slightly in stitch spacing or dye tone; (2) visible human marks, hammer dimples on metal, finger impressions on felt, slightly uneven weave on fabric; (3) provenance, a real maker can tell you the village, the artisan group, and the material source. We include an origin card with every wholesale order listing the artisan cooperative and the district of Nepal where it was made. If a supplier cannot name a village or show workshop photos, the goods are almost certainly factory-produced.