- The style code on the inner label is the fastest check: search it online and compare the result with the item in your hands.
- Labels, swing tags and stitching should all tell the same story.
- A price far below everyone else, with no returns and no company details, is the clearest warning sign.
Counterfeit sportswear is everywhere online, and some copies look convincing in a photo. The good news is that you do not need to be an expert. These seven checks take a few minutes and work for most Nike and Jordan clothing.
The seven checks
Read the style code
Inside the garment there is a small label with a code such as AB1234-010: six characters for the model and three digits for the colour. Type it into a search engine. The results should show the same model in the same colour.
Inner label2 minutesCompare label and swing tag
If the item is new, the cardboard tag carries a sticker with the style code, the size and a barcode. It should match the inner label exactly.
New with tagsLook at the inner labels
Originals usually have several sewn-in labels: sizes for different regions, country of manufacture, care symbols and a production date range. The print is sharp and evenly spaced.
Print qualityCheck the logo
On an embroidered Swoosh the stitching is dense and even, with no loose threads between letters. A printed or heat-pressed logo has clean edges and sits straight.
SwooshJumpmanCheck seams and finishing
Turn the garment inside out. Seams should be straight and flat, with matching thread and no glue marks. Zips and drawcords feel solid and are often branded.
Inside outFeel the fabric
Technical fabrics such as Dri-FIT feel light and smooth and keep their shape. A copy often feels heavier, shinier or rougher than the description suggests.
Dri-FITTech FleeceLook at the seller
A real shop shows its own photos, company details, a returns policy and a way to contact it. Stock photos only, no returns and a price far below every other shop is a pattern to avoid.
ReturnsContactWhat one check cannot tell you
No single detail is proof on its own. Labels change from season to season, and a good copy can get one detail right. What copies rarely manage is to get everything right at once, so use the checks together: code, labels, finishing and seller.
How we handle it
- Every item is photographed by us. You see the actual piece you will receive, not a catalogue image.
- All items are new, with their original tags.
- You have 14 days to return an order if it is not what you expected.
More about this on our Authenticity Guarantee page, and sizing help in the Size Guide.