Synthetic DNA separates the Prada from the Prado

Designers are weavingsynthetic DNA into their clothes and products to thwart a thriving counterfeit industry.

At a security conference in Halifax this week, Phil Viggiani vice-president of sales and marketing of the B.C.-based company IDGlobal, demonstrated the new technology. He said the synthetic DNA will help policepursue counterfeiters.

"It'll save millions in litigation for intellectual property firms because they just don't have to fight it in court," Viggiani told CBC. "It's not 'he said, she said,' it's like - 'sorry, Charlie, got the gun.' "

Synthetic DNA — orchemical barcodes — are inserted into dyes, plastics and metals used to manufacture shoes, clothes and jewellery. Themarker becomes part of the product and cannot be extracted.

To the naked eye, the DNA will be invisible but scanning equipment will allow investigators to identify and authenticate the brands.

Counterfeit trade accounts for 5 to 7 per cent of world trade, estimates the International Chamber of Commerce.