How to recognize a sneaker

By Kais IkhlefApril 12, 2021

Comment savoir si une sneakers est authentique ?

How do you know if a sneaker is authentic?

Buying sneakers has become an essential fashion to be stylish. The joy you feel at seeing a trendy new pair usually takes away the regret of the amount spent, but a problem arises when it turns out that the shoe you've been dreaming about isn't authentic. In this article we are going to talk about the phenomenon of counterfeits, focusing mainly on fake sneakers. Keep reading to find out how to recognize fake shoes, what to look out for when shopping, and other tips to never fall prey to counterfeits again.

Find all your sneakers on GlobalSneakers.fr

Summary :

HOW TO DISTINGUISH A COUNTERFEIT FROM THE ORIGINAL
SHOES PACKAGING
EACH BOX OF SHOES OF A RESPECTED BRAND SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
FAKE STICKER?
SKU
QUALITY - MATERIAL AND EXECUTION
SMELL
QUALITY OF SEAMS
COMPLICATED PATTERNS
TEXTURE
WHERE WERE THE SHOES ORDERED?
PRICE
WEIGHT
HOW TO AVOID BUYING COUNTERFEITS?
VERIFICATION OF AUTHENTICITY
WHAT IF I BUY FAKE SHOES?
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STORE OFFERING COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS
IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE FAKE SHOES?
THE HIDDEN THREAT OF FAKE SNEAKERS
THREE INDICATORS OF AN COUNTERFEITING

1) HOW TO DISTINGUISH A COUNTERFEIT FROM THE ORIGINAL
Some fake sneakers are immediately recognizable, others less so. The number of people who profit from the sale of fake sneakers is large, as is the range of "quality" of the counterfeits. When your adidas sneakers are missing one of the three stripes, the Nike logo looks like a hangover, or the waffle sole on your Vans is thinner than the food itself, it's obvious you're dealing with to a counterfeit.

But what if, at first glance, the sneakers look identical to the ones you've been eyeing for weeks on various sneaker sites? Let's see it step by step.

2) PACKAGING THE SHOES
Your distrust may grow even before you meet the new pair. The box itself can be very revealing of authenticity. If it shows signs of damage, use, or something catches your eye at first glance, it's best to investigate.

The arrival of your shoes in a box is a good sign in itself. It's much worse if your sneakers arrive unexpectedly wrapped in a few pieces of paper, or even in a plastic bag. Some stores do indeed offer delivery of shoes without a box, but these are specific cases that you should be aware of before your order is finalized.

3) EACH BOX OF SHOES OF A RESPECTED BRAND should contain the following information:
1. Place of manufacture
2. SKU code
3. Barcode
4. The name of the sneakers
5. Size Information

In most cases, you will find all this information on the sticker on the box. In exceptional cases they can also be printed directly on the box, but this is extremely rare. It's best to expect the information to be printed on the sticker, and if not, assume it's a fake box.

4) A FAKE STICKER?
Fake stickers also exist. When this is the case, distinguishing a counterfeit is a matter of detail. Look for any signs or signals. Most brands produce their stickers with a uniform format, font, and spacing. If you have any doubts, it's best to search the internet for what a real sticker looks like and compare it to yours. Pay attention to inconsistencies in the spacing between words or letters, as well as differences in the details of the numbers and letters themselves. Brands take their fonts seriously, counterfeiters don’t.

5) SKU
This abbreviation means "stock keeping unit", which can be understood as the stock unit number. This number, which sometimes contains letters, is unique for each color model of each individual model of branded shoes. Thanks to it, you can find out on the internet if your product corresponds to the pair ordered. Just type the code into your search engine and the results will appear immediately.

You can find the SKU code both on the sticker mentioned on the box and on the label inside one or both shoes. As I said, sometimes it consists of numbers, sometimes letters or a hyphen. Remember how the SKU code works because it's one of the best ways to spot fake sneakers.

5) QUALITY - MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP
Recognizing well-made fakes by materials or workmanship is clearly a discipline for experts, but you can become one of them. It is difficult to describe quality errors in general in great detail, due to the large differences between the different models released. However, there are a few general factors you can keep in mind.

6) SMELL
It may sound weird, but when it comes to recognizing fake sneakers, the eyes can be easily fooled. The nose, not so much. The materials brands use to make shoes are very specific, as is their smell. Cheap substitutes are made with cheaper materials and can logically be recognized by a stronger smell.

If you can't compare your suspect pair with the original, go to a hardware store, consult an expert friend, or follow the other tips for identifying counterfeits.

7) QUALITY OF SEAMS
Processes that naturally require the greatest precision also reveal the biggest errors. When inspecting the seams and comparing them with the original, observe the distance between different holes and the quality and structure of the thread. Noticing imperfect stitching before you've even worn the shoe can raise doubts, but remember that even real shoes can have minor manufacturing defects. Therefore, don't take stitching as a 100% reliable indicator of authenticity, sometimes it may just be a pair that you should return with a warranty claim.

8) COMPLICATED PATTERNS
The more complicated the pattern, the more difficult it is to reproduce the specific patterns. At first glance, the shoe may have a visually identical concept, but pay attention to small details that counterfeiters cannot fully copy.

9) TEXTURE
Unless counterfeiters break into Nike or Adidas factories and steal their devices, they will never be able to imitate the specific surface structure or materials one hundred percent. The specific differences of fake models may not be obvious at first glance.

Only a thorough and careful examination can reveal differences in the structure of the textile upper, the roughness of the leather (whether real or synthetic leather), details in the arrangement or direction of the fibers or the fact to be prone to cracking, which is often an immediate signal to sound the alarm.

10) WHERE WERE THE SHOES ORDERED?
Alongside the large selection of stores selling sneakers, there are also websites offering counterfeit products. At first glance, it may not be obvious that a site is fake. You would think that with how difficult it is to run a business today, it would be very difficult to sell counterfeits.

Unfortunately, it is quite the opposite, as thousands of deceived and disappointed customers confirm every year.

Are you sure your pair is from a reputable shoe retailer? You can find out how to recognize a store that sells counterfeits a few paragraphs below.

11) PRICE
Does the price seem too good to be true? Unless it's a sale on our site, you would be right to suspect something. The corresponding price of the products should be available on the seller's official website, or in other stores offering the same pair.

The world of sneakers has some relatively strict unwritten rules. One of them is price, and while it's already been said in this article, it's important to stick to it - if the price is too good to be true, something is wrong.

12) WEIGHT
Visually similar materials can have completely different compositions. The weight of the sneaker can be a clear indicator, in both extremes. Some sneakers are known for their unique lightness, which a counterfeit usually cannot achieve. On the other hand, imitation materials, due to their poor quality, can be much lighter than the real ones, which can also be an indicator.

13) HOW TO AVOID BUYING COUNTERFEITS?
Buy from verified retailers like GlobalSneakers (reseller of trendy sneakers and clothing).

14) VERIFICATION OF AUTHENTICITY
The best way to verify sneaker authenticity is to use a combination of the different procedures we've listed above. First, checking the SKU code, the authenticity of the sticker on the box and the sticker corresponding to the label inside the shoe.

In many cases, the smell or surface materials, which are sometimes so specific to different sneakers, can also be telling, as it is almost impossible to imitate them perfectly.

15) WHAT IF I BUY FAKE SHOES?
There aren't many options. Depending on where the product was purchased, you can refer to the commercial conditions, which each store should have available and where the method for returning the shoe should be described. Logically, fraudulent businesses do not always have these elements, and in this case, it is often a waste of time to try. If so, you can use common forms of communication to warn others and protect them from an equally unfortunate purchase.

A negative review can easily be removed by the seller, but it's worth a try, especially if there are multiple sites where you can leave reviews. If you believe that justice must be done, contact the competent authority, which has the power to prohibit or at least make more difficult the activity of the fraudulent store.

In the case of purchasing from a reseller, contracts and the buyer's legal protection are generally not a topic of discussion. If you encounter such a situation, there is nothing better than to inform as many people as possible about their questionable practices. Ultimately, there is nothing worse for a businessman than a bad reputation and people's distrust.
Since it is usually impossible to obtain compensation or a return in case of purchasing counterfeits, the best thing to do is to read this article very carefully, in order to avoid similar situations in general.

With Globalsneakers.fr you have the assurance of receiving only new products.

16) HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STORE OFFERING COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS
Every online store is different. Not all retailers have access to unusual or limited sneakers. This is due to the lengthy negotiations required and compliance with conditions related to the business portfolio, its contribution to culture and market relevance.

In short, this means that if you start a business now, you certainly won't be able to start selling big brand products the next day, let alone the most limited products.

17) HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FAKE ONLINE STORE?
Counterfeit stores rely on customer ignorance. Often, their products are not described precisely and do not have the necessary specifications. Product presentation can also arouse suspicion - it's quite easy to recognize a low-quality image or even a stolen image. A basic rule to follow is that if the store does not have its own product photos, the risk of purchasing counterfeits is higher. So don't hesitate to use, for example, reverse image search on the Internet.

When choosing a store, look for signs that guarantee authenticity, usually the presence of a warranty card or the retailer's trading conditions, which should be available on the website - you can try to see what this should look like here, on GlobalSneakers.fr . In this article you will find a detailed analysis of how to recognize a fake store, which also requires some mastery of the technical capabilities of the browser. We want to warn you in advance that the link will redirect you to another site.

18) IS IT IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE FAKE SHOES?
If your values are based primarily on functionality, rather than wowing your audience, you'd expect the answer to be no. Unfortunately, the problem is much larger.

The black market for counterfeit goods is extremely complex and, especially in poorer regions, is associated with dire working conditions, minimal pay and the flooding of the world with fast fashion products, including production and subsequent circulation are very demanding environmentally.

It could be said that similar negative situations can also be attributed to official factories of major brands. In some cases this is true, but with the difference that in the case of large companies these are regulated processes monitored by higher institutions. They ensure the improvement of employees' working conditions and the overall reduction of the negative impact of the textile industry on the planet. This goes hand in hand with the long-term plans of the clothing giants, which, according to annual reports, actually lead to an overall improvement in the situation. However, the counterfeit market is dragging the entire industry down, and if people support them, the situation will only improve very slowly.

19) THE HIDDEN THREAT OF FAKE SNEAKERS
A simple external resemblance is just one problem among others. Most branded sneakers are only released after multiple years of testing technologies, materials and shapes, so that the result is the most ideal possible protection for our feet. In the case of counterfeits, similar processes do not take place, resulting in unstable soles or an unhealthy shape of the shoe, which can lead to health problems, such as swelling, bruising, blisters or even sprained ankles.

20) THREE INDICATORS OF AN COUNTERFEITING
You have to warn before being fooled. Just by reading an article like this, which covers how to identify a counterfeit, you have already done the most important thing.