Vans sneakers, especially the old skool, have been very popular lately. Many people want to buy them for themselves, but since there is no official store in their city, they look for them in other stores and worry whether it is China or not. So today we will tell you how to distinguish original Vans from a fake.
Summary:
The reasons for looking for differences are different, either you are not sure about the store, you cannot go to the official store, you are attracted by the price in another store, and so on. So let's get down to business.
Marking
This is the most effective and easiest way. Each box must have a label with a marking on it; if there is none, then you can leave the store. In the photo below you can see the factory and Chinese sticker. Compare with the model you are going to buy.
Open Google and enter the article number circled in the photo into the image search. If everything is good, then the results will be appropriate, photos of these shoes. If you have a Chinese copy in your hands, then the search engine will not show anything, or even show other sneakers.
Example with fake
Barcode
For smartphones there are applications that scan barcodes, most often quick scan is used. Your task is to launch the application and scan the barcode on the box; if you are in China, then there will be no result.
You can also use the website upcitemdb.com, which will show you the photo, size and color of your purchase. All these results must match the actual performance of the shoe.
If after all this you still have doubts, then we move on to various little things.
Box
Check the quality of the box, Vans makes it from very thick cardboard, so it shouldn't tear with your finger. Also note that there is a large logo at the top, and there are many repetitions of it on the sides.
The inside of the sneakers must be wrapped in special paper. Also pay attention to the color of the box, most models will have a predominantly black box, some models will have a red box. If you are not checking a Surf or California model, then the box should be black, everything else is fake.
Price
Everything is simple here, compare the prices on the official website and where you buy them, if your model is more than 30% cheaper, then it is better to refuse the purchase. The fact is that they are brought to our country at a premium due to the laws of the Russian Federation.
So, for example, Vans old skool on the official website cost 6,000 rubles, and in the Asos store 4,000 rubles, but they are also original. If you are asked for less, it is better to check the authenticity.
We study the sneakers ourselves
It is worth understanding that the manufacturer really cares about the quality of its products and therefore you should not see any glue drips, protruding threads or crooked seams, everything should be perfect.
Yes, the original may also have glue drips, but they are small and will be difficult to notice.
Depending on the model, you need to compare the tags, most often it is located on the back, see the photo.
Insole
Pay attention to the insole, it should have a logo in the heel area. Also, it should be an unusual insole, but a comfortable one; if it is just a piece of “rag,” then you should check everything else more carefully.
Sticker
There should always be an information sticker on the inside of the tongue. On it you will find information about the shoe size, country of manufacture and model and batch number. The sticker itself should also be well sewn to the tongue.
Sole
The first thing you need to do is just touch it. Original model Has a slightly sticky sole. At the same time, it should not be very hard to the touch, but should be slightly soft. Stickiness is meant as tenacity; it should not slide.
Run your finger along the edge of the sole, you should feel points on both sides at the top. Example in the photo.
Also inspect the cells of the sole; in the upper one, in one of the cells you should find a company logo or abbreviation. But remember that good fakes have learned to copy it.
Size and laces
In fact, many people can easily distinguish an original from a fake based on this indicator. It's easy here if you need a size from 40. In this case, you should have 8 holes for laces on both sides. If you need a smaller size, there should be 7 holes.
There are models with metal eyelets, where these numbers are 1 less, that is, before the 38th - 6, and after 7.
If these indicators do not match, then everything is bad.
Myths
Many people believe that original Vans are only made in a certain country, namely the USA, this is not true. Official production is established in the following countries:
- China;
- Dominican Republic;
- Thailand;
- Cambodia.
Also, some people are sure that there should only be one specific color of the model, but this is also a myth. Look at the models on the official website, there are different colors available.
Conclusion
As you understand, distinguishing fake Vans from original sneakers is not so difficult and you should only do this if you don’t trust the seller. Please follow these instructions and wear only quality shoes, and don’t forget to share it with your friends.
Video
Cloth Palace was originally conceived and developed specifically for skaters.
Lev Tanju, the creator of the brand, did not even suspect that his products would soon go far beyond skate circles.
Barcode verification
ATTENTION! The correct barcode does not provide a 100% guarantee of the originality of the product. However, an incorrect barcode is a clear sign of counterfeit.To verify the authenticity of the barcode, you can use the form below.
Enter 13 digit barcode:Check
The idea that inspired the establishment of our own production is based on the creation of clothing for a team of skaters from London. The guys, who at first played for themselves and wore T-shirts from other companies, decided to create a group Palace Wayward Boys Choir. Videos of guys showing off their skateboarding skills quickly became popular online.
The brand borrowed from the group not only the name, but also the corporate logo.
This is where the main difference between the copy lies.
In original Palace products the letters L and A on the logo triangle are written together. Especially if it is painted white. In copies there is between letters gigantic distance.
In cases where black, purple or gray, there may be a narrow gap between the letters. It is noticeable if you look closely.
It is also worth inspecting the product for the presence of tags and labels.
If you are looking for branded sneakers in Chinese online stores or are going to buy something new on Avito, you risk paying money for a low-quality fake. Therefore, before paying, carefully consider the sneakers and their packaging.
Box and sticker
Most often, boxes containing fake sneakers are dented or torn. The fact is that the cardboard from which the packaging is made is thinner and cheaper.
Also pay attention to the sticker with the size and product number. If it is positioned crookedly, there are mistakes in the words, most likely you are dealing with a fake.
Product and batch numbers
Many famous brands assign unique numbers to products that are not repeated on other products. The lot number is also indicated on the size labels of the product. It must match the same number on the box and label.
Here is an example with a number on a label. The first photo shows sneakers from Avito, the second photo is from the official Reebok website. The numbers on the tag and in the product description match (BD2659), which means the sneakers are real.
Colors
Counterfeits often come in unusual colors and prints that were never produced by the real brand. For example, Adidas Neo VL Court from AliExpress. with colored stripes is not on the official website of the brand.
Also, on AliExpress there are gray sneakers with white stripes, while on the official Adidas website the stripes on the gray sneakers are dark gray.
Therefore, if a sneaker surprises you with its color or pattern, be sure to check whether such a model was produced. You can search the Internet or take a photo of the sneakers and post them to a group on a social network dedicated to the brand’s products.
Size chart of rare sneakers
There are branded models produced in limited quantities. If in some online store you see the availability of all sizes, including intermediate ones, most likely these are fake sneakers.
Materials and features
Here are a few points to check:
1. Line. On some fake sneakers, the stitching may be uneven or even run off the edge.
2. Materials. Check whether the materials correspond to those declared on the manufacturer's website. For example, if, according to the description, the upper of the sneakers should be made of natural suede or soft leather, and those you hold in your hands have obviously artificial materials, it’s worth thinking about. Also pay attention to the corners: counterfeit manufacturers like to smooth out the corners of the inserts to save materials.
3. Details. Check if the logos are in place and if they are not placed crookedly. Here, for example, women's sneakers from AliExpress with mirror Cloudfoam lettering on the sole. In addition, they are also of strange colors, as we discussed above.
4. Smell. Since fake sneakers are often made from low-quality materials, the strong odor can become good sign fakes.
5. Year of manufacture on the tongue. Fake sneakers often have the wrong year of manufacture on the tongue. For example, the label says the sneakers were released in 2008, but in fact the company only developed them in 2010.
Price
If real sneakers cost about , and you are offered to buy them for three thousand, you should be wary. Sometimes websites cross out the real price, supposedly offering a super-profitable discount. But even if there is a sale, the price cannot differ that much. So, check all the points listed above especially carefully before purchasing.
That's all. If you have ever bought fake sneakers, share your experience in the comments: how they differed from the real ones and how you eventually realized that they were counterfeit.
Clothes from Ralph Lauren have long become classics not only in their homeland, but throughout the world. The brand combines perfectly vintage style and modern fashion trends, therefore it has been in great demand among buyers for many years. It is not surprising that there are a huge number of counterfeits on the market today. For long-time fans of the brand, it will not be difficult to spot a fake, but if you are buying items from this brand for the first time, you can easily stumble upon a fake Ralph Lauren. Let's look at the main differences between the original and the fake.
Before you learn how to spot a fake Ralph Lauren, you should decide where you are going to purchase the product. It is clear that ordinary markets and small street shops are absolutely not suitable for this purpose. It is safer to make purchases in large department stores, and even better - in Ralph Loren brand stores. Do you love online shopping? In this case, immediately abandon Asian sites. Their clothes are surprisingly cheap, but all the items are obvious fakes. However, on sites such as Amazon and Ebay, you can stumble upon fake goods. The best way Determine quality - look at the seller's rating and read reviews.
The most reliable option is to buy on. You may have to pay a little extra for shipping, but in return you are guaranteed to receive original clothing.
2. Low price - non-original product
The basic price for polo shirts ranges from $85-$100, and during discount periods the price sometimes goes up to $40. If you are offered to buy a new original polo shirt at a low price, do not let yourself be deceived - they want to sell you a fake product. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, ask when the site will have its next sale and period of big discounts. They are mainly timed to coincide with major holidays.
3. Sloppy work? Fake!
Some fakes are very easy to spot. To do this, the consumer must carefully examine the clothing before purchasing Ralph Lauren. Noticed sloppy seams and small defects in the sleeve area? Touch the fabric. Is the material too hard? This means that this is a fake. This brand sews very carefully, and there are practically no defective goods. In addition, the clothes are made from 100% cotton and feel very pleasant and soft to the touch.
4. Determine fake by label
The photo shows the original Polo label.
In the Polo line, all labels are absolutely identical to each other and it does not matter at all what product it is sewn on - to a hat, shirt or boot. It is known that the machine that produces labels for Ralph Lauren is very expensive. Ordinary small companies producing fake goods simply do not have the opportunity to purchase such a device. By the way, the brand does not change its principles: the famous “polo player” logo has not changed since 1967, that is, since the very date of the brand’s founding.
5. Original Ralph Lauren logo
The logo is also very easy to spot a fake. On the original Ralph Lauren polo shirts it is embroidered very clearly and really looks like a horseman with a helmet on his head. In fakes, this helmet is either completely absent or made very carelessly.
The next detail by which you can distinguish a fake is the location of the “rider” on the shirt. If the logo on the shirt is small, it should be positioned at the same level as the bottom stitch of the button placket, perhaps a little higher. For the larger one, pay attention to the rider's stick: it should sit just below the level of the last button and end at the level of the button placket.
By the way, about the buttons: many buyers do not pay any attention to them, and they are easy to spot as a fake Ralph Lauren. The original polo shirts generally have only 2 high-quality plastic buttons with four holes, mostly white or slightly pearlescent. 3 buttons are only available on some Rugby models.
6. Ralph Lauren tags and tags
Other distinctive features original products- tags that contain brief information on how to care for clothes. It is always sewn into the side seam at the bottom of the shirt. However, a similar detail is often found in fake polos. In this case, you should take a closer look and find the second tag - Supplier, which contains a little information about the factory where the shirt was made. If you haven’t found it, then this is an obvious fake.
7. Bottom of the shirt: the most important details!
On original Ralph Lauren polo shirts, the back is longer than the front. Clothes with a longer back began to be produced thanks to active sports, so that athletes would be more comfortable and would not catch a cold due to open back. However, in Raplh Lauren this difference in length is less than two inches. On most fakes the bottom is flat.
8. Numbers on a shirt: a tricky way to spot a fake Ralph Lauren polo
Using the numbers on the shirt you can also identify a fake. The fact is that in one polo team there are 4, maximum 5 people, and their shirts are marked with the corresponding number. True, the number 1 practically does not appear on polo from Ralph Lauren, because, according to the rules of the game of polo, it is used to mark the weakest player. Number 2 is the strongest player, number 3 is the team leader, and number 4 is the defender. Thus, the numbers 1-5 may be present on the originals. On fakes, there may be numbers such as 9, 8 and even 10. Be careful!
We examined in detail the main differences between original polo shirts and fakes. But Lacoste brand products are not limited to polo shirts, although they are business card. In the second part I would like to review, of course, not all, but more or less the main products of the Lacoste brand. So let's continue.
Sweaters
This type of product from Lacoste is, by and large, a masterpiece, although it does not live up to the Norwegian Dale, but the Norwegians are a narrowly focused company, so they make sweaters superbly! Sweaters from Lacoste a priori cannot be cheap. The price tag for a normal cotton sweater at a discount will be around $60, with a retail price of about $90-100. Woolmark's Merino Wool isn't cheap, but it's worth it (pardon the pun). A sweater made of such wool will serve you faithfully for many years, with proper and careful care. A discounted price tag starting from $95 for a sweater without bells and whistles in the form of braids and multi-colored yarn, with a retail price of about $150-200.
What should you pay attention to when buying a sweater? First of all, the correspondence of the paper tag and the label in the neck area, and the label at the bottom must correspond to the composition of the raw materials indicated on the paper label. The sweater should keep its shape and not look like a gut. And believe me, if you hold a real Lacoste in your hands, you won’t confuse it with anything else. The "breed" can be seen from afar.
Here are just some of the possible original fabric labels and paper labels used in the production of Lacoste sweaters. Don’t expect to see made in France on the label, most likely it will be either China or Turkey, Macedonia, Tunisia and so on. Although, if you are lucky, you can snatch a French sweater from a vintage collection, but it will differ little from current products (except to wear it inside out so that the “made in France” label is more visible. Although I think this is bad manners).
The photo below shows samples of original labels and labels from authentic sweaters.
So what do you need to know when buying a Lacoste sweater so as not to run into a fake or reduce the chance of buying a fake to a minimum:
1. Before purchasing (if you are not making a purchase in an official authorized online store), go to the official Lacoste website and try to find there the sweater you have your eye on. Don’t be upset if it’s not there, it means it’s either from an old collection or was produced in a limited edition. Try to enter the exact name in the Google or Yandex search engine and look for this sweater on the Internet. If similar sweaters are found, there will be several of them and they will be in different countries from different sellers, then this is a big plus for buying an authentic product. Try to avoid shopping on Asian trading platforms (for example Taobao or similar) And the basic rule is that a Lacoste sweater cannot be cheap! Don't neglect this rule.
2. The alligator logo should be located on the left side at chest level, sewn on without folds or gathers. The logo design must be clear.
There may be two labels in the neck area, maybe one (there may be a small insert with a size as an addition).
At the bottom of the sweater, in the side seam, a label should be sewn with the composition of the product and the image of icons for washing and care. The writing font is a proprietary “Lacostean” one, which is easily distinguishable from any other.
3. Lacoste sweaters should feel airy and soft to the touch, be it cotton, wool-acrylic blend or wool. A real sweater will never be scratchy.
4. Sweaters from Lacoste should have calm, clear colors, no permanent or bright spots, polka dots or flowers. Neatly trimmed throat, cuffs on the sleeves and elastic at the bottom.
Shirts
A shirt for a man has always been an image and cult product. She always gave a certain status and solidity. And a man who knows a lot about shirts has a choice of this product must always approach responsibly and scrupulously. And in terms of shirts from the casual or sport series, the designers of the Lacoste brand have always approached it with great responsibility. The quality of tailoring and selection of fabrics for Lacoste shirts is always top notch. In this area, manufacturers of fakes are not asleep and are happy to counterfeit Lacoste shirts, although not on such a scale as the L 12.12 polo. What should an original Lacoste shirt look like? Let's look at a few details that distinguish the original from the fake.
1. Appearance products (labels, labels, packaging)
Labels cannot be like the photo above in the top row. The labels on polo shirts and shirts are exactly the same. Labels in the neck area can be of several types and they look exactly like the image below.
Labels indicating fabric composition and washing instructions should be sewn into the side seam or hem and made in Lacoste style. They look like this (the made in France label is not required).
2. Buttons must have the Lacoste logo and four holes for sewing.
3. Particular attention should be paid to such details as a yoke or pocket (if the shirt has one). If the shirt is striped or checkered, then pay attention special attention on how these parts are sewn. The pocket must be sewn exactly according to the design of the product. It is practically invisible on an authentic shirt.
4. Yoke. If they are cut in a straight line, then the stripe should be absolutely perpendicular to the back pattern (parallel to the ground) photo 1;3. If the yoke is cut on the bias, then the stripe on the back of the product, at the junction with the yoke, should be absolutely parallel to the ground (photo 2).
5. Basically, all the details of Lacoste shirts are sewn with a chain sewing seam (similar to the type of seams on bed linen, some jeans).
Shoes
How to distinguish original Lacoste shoes from fake ones? A very long and meaningful conversation and it does not fit into the format of our review. Since there are a lot of models, in this paragraph we will touch on the main differences.
1. Everything is as before, do not buy Lacoste shoes anywhere (if you want to buy a truly authentic product). Buy from official stores and trusted sellers. Please visit the site before purchasing official internet store, where you can examine this or that item in detail (if you don’t have one, you can look at images of a similar product). Do not trust huge discounts and low prices (there are discounts, but everything is within reason). Pay attention to the little things (logo image, stitching on the product, presence of glue, presence of packaging, materials from which the shoes are made). If the purchase is made in an offline store, take the shoes by the toe and heel and squeeze towards each other; when unclenching, the joint between the sole and the top of the shoe should not delaminate or peel off in the fold area. Below are images of fake Lacoste shoes for a better understanding of the wretchedness of the fakes.
2. Lacoste shoes should not contain attributes of other brands, such as Puma or any others:
Here is another masterpiece from Lacoste with elements from the shoes of Chicago gangsters
Below is a collage of fakes. Agree, they are terrible. The only thing worth giving credit to the sellers of these shoes, so to speak, is that they posted photos of their original products (counterfeits of Lacoste), and not a glamorous picture from the official website for a better perception. Beware of fakes, protect your feet.
Glasses
We will also consider glasses in a truncated version. There are just so many of them large number models and orient you to two models and say that the originals look exactly like this would be wrong on my part. Therefore, we will dwell on the details and trifles of two models purchased on the Amazon.com online store website at a good discount.
Buying glasses online is very difficult, you can't touch them or see the details. The probability of running into a fake is 90%. Therefore, it is better to buy online either from trusted sellers or in official stores. They don't joke with the eyes!
The first glasses (the ones that are amber) with gradient lenses (photo 1). All signs of authenticity are obvious (photos 4;5;6). A clear image of the logo, metal plates with the brand name adjacent to the eyepieces. Specifying the size of the temples and the model number is mandatory (photo 7;8). I specifically compared the visibility of the original glasses and the Chinese (fake) glasses that are sold at the market by “brothers from the Caucasus”. So, in the original ones you can walk for many hours without taking them off and your eyes don’t get tired at all, but in the Chinese (fake) ones, because of the disgusting glasses, your eyes start to hurt after half an hour. This is the most important difference between original glasses and fakes! The advantage of original glasses is the frame itself and its fit. Original glasses fit tightly (provided correct selection along the length of the arms and the recess for the nose), do not dangle when moving. The arms do not play when rocking them up and down. Chinese (fake) ones bend and squeak like “plasticine” ones.
The second glasses also have gradient (transition effect) glasses. Everything that was said above is absolutely relevant for this model of sunglasses.
Hats (baseball caps)
Let’s briefly touch on the signs of authenticity of hats. By and large, everything we talked about above (a clearly executed alligator logo, impeccable labels, execution of stitches, materials used) is also applicable in the manufacture of hats. Look at the photo below, at least even from the photo of the baseball caps you can easily distinguish the original from the fake. Quality of workmanship, stitching, logo.
or in the photo of hats, the Lacoste hat looks much more attractive than the fake one
I don’t have labels on the inside of my fake hats, but I’ll be happy to share the authentic labels from my baseball caps. This is what original Lacoste labels should be like.
In this article, of course, we did not look at all Lacoste brand products. But we touched on the basic principles and little things that are worth paying attention to. One can write endlessly about the difference between the original and fake products. But we don’t need this, because after a while reading a long and monotonous article will become uninteresting and simply boring.
I will be very glad if I restrict someone and warn them against buying a fake product. Only original products will bring you joy and health, beware of fakes.
Good luck with your online shopping and 100% true to size.
11 comments
Mikhail (guest) 16.03.2016 10:55
I would like to find those shoes with elements from the shoes of Chicago gangsters. Can you please provide a link to these shoes?
Lacosteel (guest) 26.11.2015 9:07
