First off, lemme just say, spotting these things can be a total pain in the butt. The fakes are getting *good*. Like, scarily good. But, there are still telltale signs.
One of the BIGGEST things is the *quality*, duh. Real Balenciaga Speed Trainers are, you know, *expensive*. That price tag better mean something, right? So, look for sloppy glue, loose threads… basically, anything that screams “this was made in a sweatshop for $5.” If it looks cheap, it *is* cheap. I mean, come on.
The shape, too! Yeah, the shape matters. The real ones have a certain… *je ne sais quoi*, ya know? It’s subtle. But if the fake looks kinda clunky or off, trust your gut. I’m not a shou expert, but I know a thing or two.
And the logo. Oh, the logo. This is where the fakers often screw up. Is it centered? Is the font right? Is the lettering crisp? Sometimes they use a slightly different font, or the spacing is weird. Like, REALLY weird. I’ve seen some where the letters are practically touching, it’s hilarious (but also sad, because someone paid money for that garbage). And don’t even get me started on the bottom of the shoes! The memory sole tech? Yeah, even that has to be on point.
Honestly, it’s like playing detective. You gotta really examine the shoe. And even then, you might get fooled. That’s why it’s best to buy from reputable places, even if it means dropping some serious cash. Yeah, it sucks, but it’s better than getting stuck with a pair of fugazi kicks that fall apart after a week, right?
Another thing, just a random thought here, is the feel. Real Speed Trainers are supposed to be comfy. Like, walking-on-clouds comfy. A fake? Probably feels like walking on cardboard covered in sandpaper. I mean, i wouldn’t know, but, ya know, theoretically…
I’ve seen some people say to check the stitching. And yeah, that’s a good idea. But honestly, even the fakes are getting better at the stitching game. So, it’s not always a dead giveaway. But yeah, if the stitching is a mess, run. Just run.
Okay, so basically, look for:
* Crappy workmanship (glue, threads, etc.)
* Weird shape
* A wonky logo
* Bad materials
* An overall feeling of… “this ain’t right”
And lastly, and this is just my personal opinion, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Nobody’s selling real Balenciaga Speed Trainers for $50. Come on. Use your brain.
