Thinfilm, a global leader in printed electronics and smart systems, has announced a partnership with Maria&Donato, a craftsman leather-goods manufacturer and provider of premium handbags.

The two companies are integrating Thinfilm’s NFC SpeedTap tags into Maria&Donato’s exclusive handbag collections to battle counterfeiting and address growing concerns of fraud within the broader luxury goods market. The smartphone-readable NFC tags will also enable consumers to learn more about the brand and the product, and purchase limited-edition handbags online.

“We consider each of our Maria&Donato handbags to be works of art and, in that regard, product authentication is an important part of the customer experience,” says Javier Villaverde, Maria&Donato’s product development director. “Thinfilm’s SpeedTap technology is a highly secure solution that improves our actual anti-counterfeiting system, and gives our loyal customers the assurance and satisfaction they expect when purchasing one of our unique handbags.”

SpeedTap tags are thin, flexible labels that integrate with a product’s packaging or label and can be read with the tap of an NFC-enabled smartphone. Each tag is uniquely identifiable and is virtually impossible to clone. Once tapped, the tag wirelessly communicates with the cloud, instantly delivering authentication messaging, serial numbers and other relevant content from the brand or manufacturer.

“Luxury brands and other artisan manufacturers are often prime targets for counterfeiters, given the value and prestige associated with the products they produce,” explains Davor Sutija, Thinfilm’s CEO. “Forward-thinking companies like Maria&Donato are taking action, and we are excited about the role SpeedTap will play in helping them address this important issue.”

Maria&Donato will be demonstrating Thinfilm’s SpeedTap anti-counterfeiting technology at Pure London, a premier fashion tradeshow in the UK. The event runs from July 24-26 at London’s Olympia exhibition center in West Kensington. The Maria&Donato exhibition booth will be located at stand T101 in the Premium Accessories Area.