First off, and this is like, super important: the materials. Real BAPE *always* uses top-notch materials. Think about it, they’re charging a small fortune, they gotta use the good stuff! Fakes? Not so much. They’ll skimp on the fabric, the zippers, everything. Feel the jacket, seriously. Does it feel cheap and scratchy? Red flag, my dude. Is it like… suspiciously light? Another red flag. Real BAPE stuff has some weight to it. Think sturdy, not flimsy.
Then there’s the stitching. This is where a lot of fakes really mess up. Look closely. Are the seams straight? Clean? Or are there loose threads, uneven stitching, and general wonkiness? If it looks like a toddler sewed it, it’s probably fake. Seriously, bad stitching is a HUGE giveaway. And don’t just look at the outside seams, check the inside too! They might try to hide the shoddy work.
Okay, now let’s talk about the details. This is where it gets tricky, and honestly, sometimes even *I* get fooled. But here are some things to look out for:
* The Labels: Check the neck label. Is the font correct? Is the spacing even? Are there any spelling errors? (You’d be surprised how often they mess this up). Look at the washing instructions. Are they printed clearly? Are they on the right material? Fakes often use cheap, blurry printing for this.
* The Zippers: Real BAPE zippers are usually high-quality YKK zippers. Check if the zipper says YKK on it. Also, how does the zipper feel? Does it zip smoothly, or does it snag? A cheap, sticky zipper is a definite sign of a fake.
* The Shark Hoodie (if applicable): Okay, if you’re looking at a shark hoodie version, the shark face is a HUGE indicator. Are the eyes the right shape? Is the mouth the right size? Are the teeth sharp and defined? Fakes often get the shark face all wrong – it’ll look derpy or just plain weird. Also, check the placement of the shark face – it should be centered and symmetrical.
* The Asterisk/Dot thing: Apparently, according to some sources, that little star or dot on some designs can be a tell. If it’s not centered or is missing a dot, it might be a red flag. I’m not gonna lie, I haven’t focused too much on this myself, but it’s worth a look, I guess.
Honestly, the biggest thing is just comparing it to pictures of the real thing online. Do a Google image search for “authentic BAPE Adidas jacket” and compare every single detail. Look at the colors, the patterns, the stitching, everything.
Now, here’s my slightly cynical take: if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Real BAPE stuff is expensive. Like, *really* expensive. If you’re finding a “BAPE Adidas jacket” for, like, 50 bucks on some random website, it’s almost definitely fake. Just sayin’.
And let’s be real, sometimes you just gotta trust your gut. If something feels off about it, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to walk away. There are plenty of other jackets out there.