Jordans are some of the most popular sneakers on the market right now and it’s not exactly hard to see why – the brand has single-handedly birthed some of the most iconic footwear silhouettes ever! Whether you’re after Jordan 1s, Jordan 4s or any other model, they’re hugely in-demand. However with high-demand comes counterfeit items. Unfortunately there’s plenty of fake Jordans on the market right now and nobody wants to get stung with a pair of fakes.
Here at Crepslocker we consider ourselves experts on all things Jordan, so we’re about to share with you exactly how to tell if your Jordans are fake, as it’s easier than you might think! In fact, you can usually tell very quickly by just visually inspecting the overall quality and presentation of your sneakers, so without further ado let’s jump right in!
Box and Style Code
There are plenty of things that can be checked over in order to prove the legitimacy (or illegitimacy) of your Air Jordans, although a good place to start is via the shoe box they were provided in. As a general rule of thumb, genuine Nike (and Jordan) boxes are well built, and won’t easily be crushed or look cheap. The box lid provided should fit the box well and feel sturdy and the print and colours on the box should be good quality and consistent throughout. Make sure to check the box for spelling errors, as many fake Jordans will not show the attention to details that genuine Jordans will.
Inspect the Nike and Jordan logos across the box and make sure that these are all correct, as fakes have a reputation for getting these wrong. It’s also worth noting that all genuine Air Jordan boxes will come complete with a manufacturers sticker that will display the shoe’s size, colour and country of origin. Finally, be sure to check the nine digit style number that’s printed on the box sticker. This should match the style number shown on the size tag on the actual sneakers, and if you type this number into an internet search engine it should also display the correct shoe. Fakes have been known to display incorrect style numbers.
Shoe Quality
Another sure fire way to identify fake Jordans is by visually inspecting the sneakers and their quality. While Jordans aren’t exactly high-end sneakers, the factories they’re produced in will still have to adhere to quality control standards, meaning that they should generally be well-made and look consistent. Fakes on the other hand have been known to showcase sloppy craftsmanship, so this is an instant red flag if you suspect you may have an illegitimate pair of Air Jordans.
Take a look at areas of the sneakers that are intricate, as these are the most likely suspects for fake factories to produce incorrectly. We’d advise looking at stitching, logos and the midsole. All logos should be accurate, as fakes have been known to make what might seem like obvious mistakes, such as embroidering incorrect Jumpman logos. Finally, make sure that the colourway you have is genuine, as fake manufactures have even gone as far as creating brand-new colourways that don’t officially exist. Use the internet to confirm that you have a real colourway if you have any concerns.
Price and Reputability
Finally, it’s worth remembering that old phrase “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”, as this most definitely applies to buying Jordans. If you’ve not yet bought the pair in question and they’re priced significantly lower than the rest of the pairs on the market, there’s a high probability that they’re fake. Or if a store is advertising long sold-out pairs for retail price, they could well be fake. Be sure to check out the reputability of a store before purchasing the sneakers in question, have they been around long? Do they have good reviews?
The same concept applies when buying Jordans from a private seller, make sure to check their reviews or feedback and if the price is unbelievable, then see this as a red flag unless you’re incredibly experienced at legit checking Jordans. Many retail stores will happily help to legit check Jordans, so if you’ve already purchased a pair and find yourself questioning their authenticity, don’t be afraid to ask for help – the sneaker community can be a welcoming and helpful place!
Images via Crepslocker