First off, lemme just say, if the price is too good to be true? Yeah, you already know. It’s probably fake. No one’s selling a legit BAPE x Adidas jacket for 90% off. Come on now, use your brain! That’s a huge red flag waving in your face.
Okay, so you’re past the price check, right? Now we gotta get into the nitty-gritty. This is where it gets a little tricky.
Check the Stitching, Dude!
Seriously, look at the stitching. Authentic BAPE stuff is usually pretty well-made. Like, they pay attention to the details. Fake stuff? Not so much. Look for loose threads, uneven stitching, wonky seams… you get the picture. If it looks like a five-year-old sewed it together, it’s a fake. Also, check how securely things are stitched. The wash tag, for example. A real BAPE wash tag is gonna be STITCHED on there good, not hanging on by a thread (pun intended!).
The Devil’s in the Details (and the Tags!)
This is important! The tags are a GOLDMINE for spotting fakes. Look at the sleeve tag on the BAPE hoodie (if your jacket has one, some don’t). Real ones are usually super crisp and detailed. Fakes? They often have blurry fonts, bad spacing, and just generally look…off. I saw one once where the “BAPE” lettering looked like it was melting! Seriously. Also, if you can, compare the tags to pictures of authentic ones online. Google is your friend!
Feel the Fabric, Man!
This is hard to do if you’re buying online, but if you can touch the jacket, DO IT. BAPE uses quality materials. The fabric should feel nice, not cheap and scratchy. A lot of the fakes use really thin, flimsy material. If it feels like it’ll rip if you look at it wrong? Fake alert!
Trust Your Gut (and Other People’s Reviews)
Seriously, if something feels off, it probably is. Read reviews! See what other people are saying about the seller. If a bunch of people are complaining about getting fakes, that’s a pretty good indication to steer clear.
Collaborations Are Tricky!
Okay, this is my opinion, but collabs like BAPE x Comme des Garcons, BAPE x Puma, etc., are especially hard to authenticate. There’s just so many different variations and details to consider. Unless you’re a freakin’ expert, you’re probably better off buying from a reputable source.
Legit Check Services
If you’re really unsure, there are legit check services online that will authenticate your BAPE stuff for a fee. They usually ask for pictures of the tags, stitching, and all that stuff. It’s worth the money if you’re dropping serious cash on a jacket.
