BAPE Hoodie Real vs. Fake Guide 2025: How Can I Tell If It Is Real?

How to Spot a Fake BAPE Hoodie?

1. The Neck Tag

You’ll find a neck label in most BAPE clothing, including its hoodies. The logo printing should be high quality and match the photos you can see on the brand’s official website.

1) Denoted in the yellow arrow, check the placement of that ® mark positioning is closer to the Ape logo when compared with the fake Neck tag ® is much further, this is denoted with the red arrow.

2) The real neck tag’s text is very slightly bolder and have little spacing between the characters. See how the fake tag font is different, talking about the font used on the fakes (denoted in the red rectangle), it's thinner and the letters are over-pronounced.

2. The Size

Check the size on the clothing items. BAPE clothes only size up to 2XL and sizes above XL are hard to find. If you find a seller with several large clothing sizes, be suspicious that the product may not be authentic.

3. The Wash Tag

1) The stitching on the real Bape has a very peculiar pattern, while the labels on the fake Bape hoodie often look too loose or too dense. 

2) As you can notice through numbers 2, 3, 5 and 6, the font on the genuine Bape hoodie is thinner than its counterpart. 

4. The Golden Tag

Every BAPE item comes with this thing that we call a “gold tag”. What it consists of is a small tag with the BAPE logo printed in reflective, golden material.This method would be most reliable, especially when looking at a lower-grade replica.

1) A real golden tag would be flat and grainy. By comparison, fake BAPE hoodie will have a gold tag that is rough to the touch with aggressive glitter.

2) The gold ape head tag should go behind the washtag. On fakes, sometimes it might be in front of the wash tag. 

5. The Zipper

1) Bape uses YKK zippers, which are one of the most popular types of zippers across the world.There are also fake items with YKK silver zippers on the market.However,they will jam often or simply not work as smoothly as they’re supposed to.

2) A real zipper would be bulky and wide, while the ones on the fake Bape hoodie are often narrow.The fake zippers are often made of plastic.

6. The Sleeve Tag

1) The tag of Bape clothing item should be centered on the sleeve. Any other tags on the back or front are a fake.

2) The ® marking on the real hoodie is crisp and defined compared with the fake ® looks sloppy.And any Bape sleeve tag that’s missing the ® symbol is automatically a fake.

3) Obviously,the real Bape Hoodie sleeve logo is wider compared with the fake sleeve logo which is slimmer.

4) Carefully examine the logo embroidery, which must also have a grainy look, almost a polka dot. A sleeve tag on the fake Bape would have an assertive pattern.

5) The head on the real APE logo is defined, on the fake logo, the head seems out of shape, in fact, it doesn't look like an APE head IMO.

7. The "WGM" Text

The “WGM” patch stands for World Gone Mad, one of Bape’s famous slogans. 99.99% of the time these letters will have extra bumps, loose threads, or any other inconsistency that will enable you to spot a fake Bape hoodie.

1) The “M” letter is visibly bolder on the fakes. 

2) The space between the "W" pillars is sometimes too narrow on the fake Bape hoodies, though it’s a minor aspect.

3) Highlighted on the fake "W" and on the counterfeit "G" are two spots that betray the lower-quality machines used in the fake factories — no real Bape should come with those uneven details.

4) The lettering outline fabric material on retail looks thicker compared to the fake Bape hoodie inconsistent cuts.

8. The Shark Face

1) The teeth on the real Bape hoodie should be sharp looking, cuts are usually curved and never a straight line like the ones on the fake.

2) We can notice here the improper positioning of the Bape eyes — they’re too close to the zip. Besides, they are significantly smaller than the fake version.

3) Just by looking at the shape of the eyes, you can already tell which one is the real and which one is the fake hoodie. See how that red arrow points out how inconsistent the stitching and spacing on that extra fabric, compared with real outline stitching is consistent and clean.

9. The Shark Head Print

You can see how the fake print is more tilted backward causing the alignment to fail, having that wider angle.Also tongue color is pale in color, and the eye shape is another sign of a fake Bape hoodie.

10. The Packaging Bag

1) Fake bags usually have more colors so the Bape logo may look more yellow and orange. Real bags should have a white tab with a factory sticker of size on them.

2) The font on the real Bape plastic bag is bolder compared with the fake plastic bag.

11. The Price

If the price is too low, you may think the deal looks too good to be true and it probably is. For example, no hoodie should be priced under $300 since that is retail price in every store that sells the Bape brand. If you want to buy an authentic product, be aware that you are going to pay $300 or more for it, depending on the style.

Where to Buy Authentic BAPE Hoodies?

BAPE was stocked in 40 stores across Japan before being sold exclusively from its one flagship in Tokyo.Due to the popularity of the BAPE clothing items, the company website warns consumers to only purchase through authorized retail stores or online at us.bape.com to prevent purchasing replicas. Avoid buying from a third-party website or sellers with little to no feedback as they may be selling fake merchandise.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bape made in China?

Authentic Bape (A Bathing Ape) products are over 90% made in China and Japan.

What is the BAPE logo supposed to be?

The BAPE logo is the head of an ape. But you can find its meaning by splitting its brand's name—BAPE. Here, the letter—B stands for bath, leaving the name of the creature. So, BAPE is the shortened form of the caption—A Bathing Ape in Lukewarm Water.

Are BAPE hoodies small or big?

BAPE's sizing is generally true to size, but sometimes runs small, particularly the sweatshirts and outerwear. I would suggest sizing up if you want a more comfortable fit and relaxed look, or if you have a broad build.

Why are BAPE so expensive?

Production costs are now lower; Everything is now made in China, and they're making much more of it. But Bape always relied on exclusivity as a key factor, so to compensate for how it's now easier to get, they jacked the prices right up.

Why is BAPE so popular?

BAPE is popular because it seamlessly blends American streetwear with contemporary Japanese fashion. It formed part of the ‘Urahara’ aesthetic that dominated ‘90s fashion where today’s streetwear has evolved from.The brand grew a following in Japan, organically growing as fashion fans internationally discovered the brand through trips to Asia and in fashion magazines.

What are Bape hoodies made out of?

Authentic BAPE hoodies (and most of their other items) are made out of cotton and silk.Only 5% is usually made out of polyurethane.

【Read More】

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