How to identify an authentic shirt

The large increase in demand for jerseys has also led to an increase in the proportion of fakes. So if, like us, you prefer authentic jerseys, it is important to know how to distinguish them from cheap copies. For that, we have put together all the ways we know to identify an authentic shirt.

 

Product code

The easiest way to verify that a shirt made after the beginning of the 2000s is genuine is to locate the unique product code on it, if the manufacturer of the shirt had one in use in that period.

  • Check if the shirt manufacturer had the product codes in use during the production of the shirt in question.
  • Locate the "washcloths" on the inside of the shirt.
  • Identify the product code from the combinations of letters and numbers that appear on the labels.
  • Do a Google search with the product code. The search result should be the shirt in question.

There are differences between shirt manufacturers as to when product codes have been implemented, or whether they are used at all. Genuine vintage shirts from the turn of the 2000s until the 70s, usually not including product codes. Let's go through the help for authenticating such shirts.

Next, let's go through the location and identification of product codes between different manufacturers.

 

Adidas

Adidas introduced product codes in the early 2000s. The product code for their shirts can be found either on the collar of the shirt or on the hem of the shirt.

On Adidas shirts, the label with the product code looks like this:

For Adidas, the product code is the middle combination of yee. (In this case HR6929).
The last number in the top row (23) indicates the year the shirt was made.

Nike

Nike also introduced product codes in the early 2000s.

You can usually find a small tag with the product code on the hem of the shirt, under the washing instructions.

There are usually two or three rows of different combinations on the slip. The correct set of numbers is usually the middle of the three (in this case 343808-496), or the lower of the two.

In Nike shirts, the product code may contain a hyphen (-), sometimes not, depending on the season.

 

New Balance & Under Armour

The product code for New Balance shirts can also be found under the washing instructions.

The code usually says "Style" in front of it.

Cougar

Puma shirts are looking for a tag that says "STYLE NO":

However, some older Puma shirts do not have the "STYLE NO" text. That's why it's important to compare the shirt and its patches with a similar shirt from a reliable source.

Umbro

Umbro is one of the manufacturers that has not implemented product codes on its shirts. You may find combinations similar to the product code on the shirts, but these cannot be used to verify the authenticity of the shirt. Some shirts may have a series of numbers below the "Official product" text, but this code is different for each shirt.

Despite the lack of a product code, the tags can be used to help authenticate the shirt. By comparing them to the same shirt from a reliable source.

Things to consider with product codes

There are a few things to consider when searching for product codes. As said before, not all shirts include this. But for certain shirts, the product code may also appear to be different from another shirt. This is because, for example, "player issue" shirts intended for players, children's shirts and long-sleeved versions have a different product code than the "regular" version.

In the case of rare, less sought-after shirts, it is also possible that you will not find similar results when googling the product code. However, this is relatively rare.

 

Verification of the shirt's authenticity in the absence of a product code

Especially in the case of smaller shirts, in the absence of a product code and often washcloths, other methods should be used to verify authenticity. These ways also apply to newer shirts where the product code is not in use.

  • Compare the labels/prints found on the collar of the shirt and their contents with the corresponding piece found in a reliable source. Are the details the same and is the number of slips correct?
  • Is the manufacturer's logo the right size and in the right place?
  • The quality, size and position of the team logo. Again, compare with a reliable source.
  • Do the same for sponsors, if there are any.
  • Check the quality of the material of the shirt yourself, especially the stitching on the inside of the shirt. The quality of genuine shirts is controlled during production, and poorly finished stitching often does not make it through. When it comes to fake shirts, you often come across a bad finish.
  • Price. If the price sounds too good to be true, it often is. This applies especially to retro shirts. If you come across sites that sell the same vintage/retro shirt in several different size options and at a suspiciously cheap price, these are fake.

 

I hope these tips will help you in the future when buying jerseys. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact us!