I mean, seriously, who *wants* to drop good money on fake shoes? Nobody, that’s who. So, how do you avoid the heartbreak of getting burned? Well, it ain’t rocket science, but it does require a keen eye and a little bit of knowledge.
First thing’s first: the overall look. I’ve seen fakes that look, like, *kinda* close from a distance. But get up close and personal, and the differences are screaming at you. The stitching, for example. That’s usually a dead giveaway. On legit Bapestas, the stitching around the star, that iconic STA logo, is super clean and consistent. The fake ones? Ugh, the threads are often too thick, the stitches are uneven, and it just looks…off. Like someone had a sewing machine malfunction while trying to make it.
And the materials! Don’t even get me started. Real Bapestas use quality leather (or at least, what *passes* for quality leather these days). Fake ones? Plastic-y, cheap stuff that cracks and creases after, like, one wear. You can usually tell just by the smell, honestly. A real pair has that *new shoe* smell, a kinda pleasant leather-ish scent. The fakes? They smell like chemicals and regret. Trust your nose, people!
Then there’s the packaging. Now, this one’s a bit trickier because the fakers are getting smarter. But generally, a real BAPE box will have the right branding, the right font, and usually some paper stuffing and a dust bag. Fakes often skimp on these details. The box might be flimsy, the font might be slightly off, and the dust bag? Forget about it. Though, you know, sometimes they nail the packaging, so don’t rely *solely* on this.
Now, here’s my personal take: I’m not against buying reps *if* you’re upfront about it and not trying to pass them off as real. But the problem is, a lot of sellers out there are shady as heck. They’ll try to sell you a fake for the price of a real one, and that’s just wrong. It’s stealing, plain and simple. That’s why doing your homework is crucial.
One little thing I personally always check is the size tag inside the shoe. I don’t know *why* but the fakes seem to consistently mess up the font used on the size tag. Like, it’s always a little too bold or a slightly different style. It’s a small detail, but it’s something I’ve noticed repeatedly.
