17 Tips on How to Spot a Fake Product

One might think that everything in their wardrobe is original. But the reality is that there are a lot of imitation products, especially of the most purchased brands. It goes without saying that it is important to know the differences between counterfeit and brand-name items so that you are not taken for a fool.

1. Nike sneakers

• Nike Air sneakers have a texture that counterfeit manufacturers cannot imitate. This is because the materials they use are different, and so are the devices involved in their manufacturing. Thus, in authentic Nike shoes, you will notice a hardness in the leather that will be missing from the counterfeits.
• You will also need to examine the symmetry of the sneakers. If something looks asymmetrical, then it is possible that you got a counterfeit.

2. Fila tennis shoes

• If you look at the letter “F” on your Fila tennis shoes, you will notice that there is some irregularity in the stitching. This is perfectly normal on all original Fila shoes. What is not normal is for the letter “F” to be stretched on the top two lines. On the fake shoes, these lines almost touch the square surrounding the logo, which should not be the case.
• Another thing you should check is the toe cap, especially the holes in the front. If it’s an original, then there will be the same distance between each hole.
• Moreover, the logo on the heel may be completely different. On the original sneakers, that logo is the same as the one on the tongue. However, on the fake ones, the word “Fila” may be stitched on a different piece of red and blue leather.

3. Burberry scarves

• The authentic scarf always has well-defined lines and a thick texture.
• The fringe in a scarf of this brand does not fray or tear along when touched.
• The brand name on the label must be written in capital letters. Also, the label must contain information about the country of manufacture and the composition of the scarf.

4. Gucci bags

• First of all, you should examine the two “G’s” on the front of your bag. The serifs of the G’s should be long and sleek looking, not thick. Also, the rounded part of the G should be a perfect oval and not pointed. If the logo looks blurry, it is probably a replica.
• Look closely at the stitching, as a genuine Gucci bag will have even stitches. If it looks uneven in places or is a different color than the bag itself, then you can be sure it is a counterfeit.

5. Supreme sweatshirts

• On the collar of the sweatshirts of this brand, there are two dark red labels. On the largest one appears the name of the brand with the letter R in a circle, while the other one shows the country of manufacture: Canada. On the inner label, there should be a recommendation not to iron the item. Manufacturers of replicas often forget this detail.
• On the sweatshirts with the embroidered logo, the letters on the red part should be evenly separated. If you turn the authentic sweatshirt inside out, on the back of the logo you will see a fine mesh of white threads.
• Supreme only uses flat laces carefully tied at the ends for the hoods of its sweatshirts. Round laces, burned at the ends, or laces with different types of terminations are a sign of counterfeiting.

6. Adidas Yeezy tennis shoes

• One sign you need to check is the wave pattern, which on the original Yeezy sneakers should be sideways with irregular wave prints.
• Next, take a look at the tongue of the sneakers. The original Yeezy’s tongues are more curved, while the fake ones have a more square shape.
• Check the inside of the shoes and see if the Adidas icon is the same size on each shoe. On some occasions, you may notice that their size differs.
• The stitching on the inside is another sign that may help you tell them apart, as it may look suspiciously amateurish on counterfeit sneakers.

7. Toms espadrilles

• The first thing to check is the insoles of your espadrilles. If they can be removed, your footwear is likely fake, as the original insoles are sewn to the bottom.
• Next, turn to the back of the espadrille and take a look at the logo. The letters of the original brand are perfectly balanced and square. However, the letters of the fake brand are pointed and unbalanced — note the odd shape of the letter “O”. Also, the stitching around the label is thicker on the fake ones.
• You can also see if there’s glue on the sides of the espadrilles. A respectable brand would never allow something like this, but a copy would probably have glue all over them.

8. Michael Kors bags

• The brand only uses cream-colored labels containing the main information about the product: serial number, shade, material, parameters, the price in USD, and a special bar code.
• All original bags have their parts engraved with the brand name — magnetic clips, handle rings, clasps, carabiners, and fasteners.
• The brand’s authentic bags are made from a dense material that does not deform, not even during shipping.

9. Guess bags

• Needless to say, fake Guess handbags are not made of leather, but of cheap synthetic materials. You can check this by pressing your finger against the material. If the wrinkles do not disappear, then it is definitely not genuine leather.
• Next, you need to check the lining of the bag. Original Guess bags have a very visible soft lining, while fake ones sometimes have no lining at all. And if they do, it is paper thin.
• Lastly, you can check the metal applications of the bag. The original Guess bags have sturdy and shiny ones with smooth surfaces. Counterfeiters, on the other hand, use a cheaper material that may appear dull and may even have surface marks.

10. Guess watches

• Real Guess watches have straps made of metal, silicone, or natural leather. If they smell bad, have an uneven color, cracks, scratches, or look worn, then these are signs that indicate the watch is an imitation.
• The back should contain basic information about the watch: the logo with the brand name, the material of the watch ( steel), and data about the watch mechanism with the engraving Japan Movt (as Guess uses only high-quality Japanese mechanisms).

11. Hermès bags

• Check the inside printing of the leather and see how the letters have been printed. The French accent of the letter E should look very stylish and not chopped up, as in the fakes. Also, if the letters F and R in the word “France” appear to be glued together, then the bag is not genuine.
• You can also examine the stitching on the leather strap of the bag. On a genuine bag, it looks elegant and flawless. In contrast, the stitching on the fake bag is not as elegant and, in some areas, looks thicker than that of the original bag.

12. Lacoste polo shirts

• The Lacoste crocodile always has clearly defined details. Its eyes, teeth, legs, and red mouth are clearly visible. The crocodile’s body is bright green and the tail runs parallel to the back.
• At the base of the neck, there is a white label with the logo and a red number indicating the size. In men’s models, it is just one number, while in women’s models, it is 2.
• An imitation Lacoste polo shirt can be identified thanks to a small detail: its buttons. Brand-name garments have mother-of-pearl buttons with 2 holes without any inscription. Replica manufacturers often forget this detail, using buttons with four holes.
• Men’s models have small openings of approximately 6 inches deep on the sides of the polo shirt at the bottom. In women’s versions, the manufacturer does not make any cuts.

13. Balenciaga tennis shoes

• The popular Balenciaga sneakers have a very recognizable bump on the heels. Counterfeits do not have this feature, which makes their structure much weaker.
• What’s more, the front of the counterfeit shoes has a much greater curve than the originals.
• Also, if you check the back of the shoe, you will notice that the brand name is not well-centered. In addition, not all the letters are the same size and height, and some appear larger than others.

14. Pandora bracelets

• The color of the original silver bracelet is dull since, in the manufacturing process of Pandora products, a blackening technique is applied. This gives them a unique tone.
• The original bracelet keeps its perfect shape and doesn’t bend, showing the well-defined edges of its striated silver cord.
• On the original Pandora bracelets, the size of the clasp is comparable to those of the charms. On the front of the clasp, you can see the engraving of the brand: the word Pandora with a crown above the letter “o”.
• Inside the clasp, there is a brand-specific fastening: a clover in the form of a small screw with 4 heads that securely fastens the bracelet. In addition, the clasp must bear the quality seal of the metal — indicating its purity — with a mark of origin inside (the initials ALE).
• Pandora charms have an inscription with the name of the brand and the acronym of the metal they are made of — S for silver and G for gold. Murano glass charms don’t have any cracks, broken parts, or air bubbles inside.

15. Levi’s jeans

• The arched design on the back pockets of a pair of Levi’s jeans might be the brand’s most recognizable feature. It is either a simple bow or a diamond-shaped arch in the center of the pocket, and this feature is often incorrectly copied on counterfeit jeans.
• In addition, the color of the stitching is traditionally orange on the original pants, while many fakes use white thread.
• The third sign to check is the red label on the back pocket. An original pair has the name “Levi’s” written on the red label, while a fake pair has a plain red label with the letter “R”.

16. Timberland shoes

• The sole is caramel colored, and when you look at it up close, you’ll notice it seems slightly transparent. The company logo and the brand name are printed on it, the sole is uniform, and the heel part does not stick out.
• The logo is on the outside, at the bottom of the shoe, and above the heel. Its print is uniform and well-defined.
• The eyelets are perfect hexagons, which are ideally rounded on the outside. There are 7 in men’s models, and 6 in women’s models.
• All seams are made with white thread and should be clearly parallel to each other.

17. Nike T-shirts

• The first thing to examine is the Nike logo. In most cases, it does not have the same proportions as the original, and its angle and inclination may be different.
• Next, the label on the inside of the T-shirt should be checked for misspellings. The original brand would never misspell words, but counterfeit products may have one or more errors.
• You will also need to look at the labels on the inside of the T-shirt. Nike’s usually have two or more labels sewn in, while the fake ones usually have only one.

Have you ever bought a product without realizing it was counterfeit? What was it?