Legit Check

Until 1997, the tag was completely bare. From 1997 onwards, it features numbers 0-23. The circled number indicates the line. Authentic tags have embossed text with a rubbery texture that reflects light, while fakes often have flat, matte, and messy printing.

For items from 2010-present, the year is a four-digit date followed by 1 (SS) or 2 (AW). Older releases (2001-2009) feature a COMM number where the last four digits indicate year and season (e.g., 0042 means 2004 AW).

Features white embroidered lettering on a dark navy background. These labels do not feature the year and season.

Mainline neck tags featured the year and season in full in a serif font. This changed back to a paired-down design without year/season in 2010.

The care labels feature the year and season in an abbreviated form, located below the style code.

During the original era, labels often corresponded to the color palette of the garment (e.g., white on white for light shirts, black on black for dark shirts). Older jeans lines were white on black, but later merged to black on white.

Different eras had different factory tags. The Onward era used Gibo tags, while HL Jeans used GTR tags. The Italian cut is notably slimmer and more tapered.

Original pieces feature 'Number (N)ine Takahiro Miyashita' in the middle, with 'New York' top left and 'Tokyo' bottom right. White stitching on black background. Fakes often misspell it as 'Takahibo Miyashita'.

Tags used in the later Miyashita years feature a code above the cotton indicator denoting the season (e.g., SS08).

Undercover is known for changing its tag design almost every season. Authentication requires matching the specific tag design (font, logo, color) to the claimed season's known authentic examples.

Authentic CDG pieces feature a specific alphanumeric code on the care label indicating the year and season of production. The format varies slightly by sub-label but is consistent within eras.

Dior Homme pieces from the Hedi era have a reference code on the care tag that decodes the year, season, and item type. The format is typically 'Year + Season letter (e.g., E for Ete/Summer, H for Hiver/Winter) + Item code'.

The main neck tag features a distinctive silver metallic line (often called the 'scar') stitched horizontally across the top corners.

Vintage pieces (pre-2000) feature green-edged badges. Modern badges have black edges. The compass star should be precise, and the buttonholes on the badge should be cleanly cut and reinforced.

From SS 2014 onwards, pieces feature a Certilogo code for digital authentication. Pre-2014 pieces use ART numbers on the wash tag, which decode the year, season, brand (Stone Island vs. Shadow Project), and item type.

On authentic Christos, the registered trademark ® symbol is at the end of the word 'Vibram' on the left shoe. Fakes often place the ® symbol to the left of the Vibram logo on the right shoe.

Real Christo buckles have a smooth curve with a flange perfectly sized for its seat. Fake buckles have a hard angle and misaligned flanges.

Fake backpacks often have labels where the octagon shape is too pointy and the font of the 'V' is incorrect.

Authentic pieces may sometimes have variations, but fake Ring Coats have been spotted where the English indigo tag misspells the brand as 'Capital' instead of 'Kapital', even if the Japanese side looks correct. (Note: The brand name originates from Kojima, the 'Capital' of denim, so early or specific items might have variations, but it is a flag to investigate further).

Kapital uses both numeric sizing (0, 1, 2, 3, 4) and occasionally alpha sizing. Fakes often mess up the font or the specific look of the size tag.

The Ape head on the sleeve tag should have a specific shape, with the mouth and nose properly proportioned. Fakes often have a distorted face or incorrect stitching around the tag.

Authentic modern pieces feature a golden ape head on the wash tag that has a specific metallic sheen and texture. Fakes often look flat or use the wrong shade of gold.

Authentic t-shirts have a faint 'SUPREME' watermark on the back of the neck tag. It should be visible under direct light but not overly bold. Fakes often make it too visible or use the wrong font.

On hoodies and crewnecks, the box logo embroidery should have a distinct cross-stitch pattern. The lettering should be crisp, with specific spacing (especially the 'p' and 'r').

Post-FW16 pieces feature a green tag with embossed text that has a rubbery texture and reflects light. Fakes have flat, matte, and messy printing (e.g., the 'e' in 'between' is often blurry).

Authentic tags have even spacing between words and the ™ is correctly placed. Fakes often have weird spacing (e.g., 'whiteas' instead of 'white as') and overly thick quotation marks.

Authentic wash tags feel silky, smooth, and slightly reflective like woven satin. Fakes are usually cheap plastic-like paper or rough shiny material.

On the Travis Scott x Fragment AJ1 Low 'Sail', authentic size tags have thin, evenly printed inscriptions. Fakes have thicker, more solid letters and numbers.

Authentic pairs use thicker, tighter stitching that gives the Swoosh a clean, solid outline. Fake pairs usually have looser and thinner thread.

Authentic midsole text is thick, evenly printed, and straight. Fakes use thin, crooked print, often noticeable on the number '8'.

Early 80s featured the 'Black Tag', late 80s to early 90s used the 'White Tag' (often with a Shawn Stussy signature), and the late 90s saw the 'Silver Tag'. Authentic vintage tags have specific font weights and RN numbers.

On modern pieces, the font on the wash tags and neck tags must be crisp. Fakes often struggle with the exact weight of the Stüssy signature logo.