First off, the price, duh! If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Like, seriously, if you’re seeing Adidas trackies for, like, 10 bucks, run. Just run. Nobody’s selling genuine Adidas at that price unless it’s a vintage store during a CRAZY clearance event and even then…sus.
Okay, so price isn’t everything. Let’s talk about *feel*. Real Adidas stuff, especially the older stuff, feels…well, it feels like Adidas. The fabric has a certain weight to it, a certain texture. It’s not that flimsy, plasticky crap you get with the fakes. Feel the material, stretch it a little, see if it feels substantial. Although, I gotta admit, the quality of Adidas has been kinda slipping lately, so even the real stuff can feel a bit…meh, sometimes. Still, pay attention!
Then there’s the details. Oh man, the details are a goldmine for spotting fakes. Check the stitching. Is it clean? Is it straight? Are there loose threads everywhere? Real Adidas is usually pretty meticulous with their stitching. Fakes? Not so much. Expecting perfect stitching is also a bit much, I think, even legit stuff can have errors.
Let’s talk about the logo. That three-stripe thingy. Is it even? Is it the right color? Is it stitched on properly, or is it some cheap iron-on that looks like it’ll peel off after a light jog? The trefoil logo (the leaf-shaped one) is another big one. Make sure it’s the right shape, the right size, the right everything. Fakes often mess up the logo in subtle but noticeable ways. I’ve seen some where the leaves look kinda sad and droopy, lol.
Another tip: The tag. Ugh, the tags. Fake tags can be all over the place. Check the font. Check the spelling. Check the placement. Is it all wonky? Is it some weird font you’ve never seen before? Real Adidas tags have a specific look and feel. Also, look for the RN and CA numbers. You can usually Google those to see if they match up with Adidas. But even that is not fool proof, as the fakers have gotten wise and can copy this info.
And speaking of weird, pay attention to the overall construction of the pants. Are the seams aligned properly? Does anything look…off? Sometimes, it’s just a gut feeling. You look at the pants, and something just feels wrong. Trust your instincts!
Listen, spotting fakes is an art, not a science. It takes practice, and even then, you can get fooled. The fakers are getting better all the time. My advice? Buy from reputable sources. Don’t buy from some random guy on eBay with zero feedback. Stick to official Adidas stores, authorized retailers, or well-known online shops. Yeah, you might pay a little more, but at least you’ll have a better chance of getting the real deal.
