10 Ways to Spot the Differences Between Imitations and Designer Items

In 2013, counterfeit products worldwide accounted for $461 billion. Nike is the most counterfeited brand on a global scale, and Rayban, Rolex, Supreme, and Louis Vuitton are the most copied brands worldwide. And while some copies look almost identical to the original ones, there are slight differences that we thought you should know about.

Bright Side would like you to know how to recognize a fake product and what the differences are in some of the most popular brands.

1. Nike T-shirts

• The first thing you need to examine is the Nike logo. In most cases, it won’t have the exact same proportions as the original one. Its angle and slope might be different.
• You then need to check the tag inside your T-shirt for spelling errors. The original brand would never spell words wrong, but counterfeit products might have one or more errors.
• You will also need to look at the tags on the inside of your T-shirt that are at the bottom. Nike usually has 2 or more tags stitched together, while fake ones might only have one tag.

2. Nike shoes

• Nike Air shoes have a texture that counterfeit makers can’t really imitate. That’s because the materials they use are different and so are their devices. So, in real Nike shoes, you will notice a hardness on the leather that the fake shoes will be missing.
• You will also need to examine the symmetry of the shoes. If something looks asymmetrical, then you might be dealing with a fake product.

3. Gucci handbags

• First, you should examine the 2 Gs on the front of your bag. The serifs of the Gs should be long and elegant looking and not chunky. Also, the rounded part of the G should be a perfect oval and not pointy. Now, if the logo looks blurry, it’s probably a fake.
• Take a careful look at the stitching since a real Gucci bag will have very uniform stitching. If your bag’s stitching looks uneven in some parts or the stitching is a different color than the bag itself, then you should assume it’s a fake.

4. Adidas Yeezy shoes

• First, you need to check the wave pattern, which on original Yeezy’s should be sideways with irregular wave prints.
• Then you can check the tongue of your shoes. Original Yeezy shoes’ tongues look curvier, while the fake ones’ tongues look way straighter.
• Check the inside of the shoe and see if the Adidas icon is the same size on each shoe. On some occasions, you might notice that the size of it on each shoe differs.
• You need to also check the stitching on the inside since it might look suspiciously amateur.

5. Hermès bags

• First, check the inside leather print and look at how the letters have been printed. The French accent on the letter E should be very elegant and not chunky, like in the fake ones. Also, the letters F and R in the word “France” look like they are stuck together, something that would never happen in a real Hermès bag.
• Next, you might want to check the leather handle of your bag and inspect the stitching. On an authentic bag, the sticking looks much more elegant. On the contrary, the fake bag’s stitching isn’t as elegant and, in some areas, it looks thicker than the original bag’s.

6. Toms espadrilles

• The first things you need to check are the insoles of your espadrilles. If they can be removed, then your shoes are probably counterfeits since original insoles are stitched to the bottom.
• Then you can move to the back of the shoe and take a look at the logo. The letters of the original brand are perfectly balanced and squared off. However, the fake brand’s letters are pointy and unbalanced (notice how the letter “O” is weirdly shaped). Also, the stitching around the tag looks thicker on the fake ones.
• You might also want to check the sides of the shoes to see if any glue is visible. A respectable brand would never allow something like this to happen, but a copy would likely have glue all over the sides.

7. Guess bags

• First of all, fake Guess handbags are not made of leather, but from cheap synthetic materials. You can check this by pressing the material with your finger. If the wrinkles that are created stay there and don’t disappear, then this is definitely not leather.
• Then you have to check the lining of the bag. Original Guess bags have a very noticeable soft lining, whereas fake ones sometimes don’t have a lining at all. And even if they do, it’s very thin, like paper.
• Lastly, you can check the metal on your bag. A real Guess handbag’s metal applications are sturdy and shiny with a smooth surface. On the other hand, counterfeiters use cheaper material that might look blurry and may even have ridges or surface marks.

8. Balenciaga sneakers

• These Balenciaga speed trainers have a very recognizable bump at their heels. This feature is missing from counterfeits since their structure is way weaker.
• Not only that, but the front of the shoe has a much bigger curve than the original brand.
• Also, if you check the back of the shoe, you will notice that the name of the brand isn’t centered nicely. Additionally, not all the letters have the same sizing and height, and some look bigger than others.

9. Levi’s jeans

• The arcuate design on the back pockets of a pair of Levi’s jeans might just be the most recognizable feature of the brand. It’s either a simple arch or an arch that has the shape of a diamond at the center of the pocket. This feature is usually copied in a noticeably wrong way on counterfeit jeans.
• Also, the color of the stitching is traditionally orange on the original jeans, while many fake ones will use white thread.
• The third sign of a fake pair of Levi’s jeans is the red tag on the back pocket. An original pair has the name “Levi’s” written on the red tag along with the “R” symbol. Only 1% of Levi’s jeans are missing the word “Levi’s” due to the ribbon of the sewing machine being changed once and again. So, if your Levi’s jeans have the word “Levi’s” on the red tab, but are missing the “R” they could be fake.

10. Fila shoes

• If you take a look at the letter “F” on your Fila shoes, you will notice that there is some irregularity with the stitching. This is perfectly normal with all original Fila trainers. What isn’t normal is when the letter “F” is really pointy at the top 2 edges. In the fake shoes, these edges almost touch the square around the logo, something that shouldn’t be happening.
• Then notice the toe cap details, especially the holes at the front. There should be an equal distance between each hole, but if this isn’t the case, then you’ve probably bought fake trainers.
• Also, the back heel logo might be completely different. On the original shoes, that logo is the same as the tongue logo. However, on fake shoes, the word “Fila” might be sewn on another piece of leather that is red and blue.

Have you ever unknowingly bought a fake product? How did you recognize that it wasn’t a genuine brand? Were the differences noticeable or did you have to ask an expert?