Authentic vs. Fake vs. Replica Jerseys: What's The Difference?

What is an Authentic Jersey?

Authentic jerseys are officially licensed by the team and often feature authentic team logos, names, and numbers. 

Companies make authentic jerseys with high-quality materials like polyester and nylon, which makes them durable and long-lasting. Compared to replica jerseys, authentic jerseys are also more expensive.

What is a Fake Jersey?

Fake Jerseys are counterfeits manufactured outside the official kit supplier. They are not licensed products, but their manufacturers put fake tags on them to make them look genuine.

Produced by unofficial sources and made with cheaper materials, these jerseys look like the real thing at a glance, but any prolonged examination will reveal the shirt’s shortcomings. Sometimes fake jerseys stitch on a brand logo to further fool you or an attempt at an authenticity patch, but there are still other signs to look for no matter the case. 

What is a Replica Jersey?

Replica jerseys feature a design similar to authentic jerseys, and the team also licenses them. They may feature a similar style and color scheme but with less-intricate details. 

Companies make replica jerseys with lighter materials like polyester and cotton, which makes them cheaper than authentic jerseys.

How To Spot The Real Adidas Jersey?

1.The Overall Look of Adidas Jerseys

The first step to understanding if an Adidas Jersey is fake or not is to know, as best as possible, the model you are going to buy. It is, therefore, appropriate to look for as many photos as possible of the shirt to ensure some very important aspects.

• Position and characteristics of the logos (orientation, colors, any small details)

• Any details on the collar and sleeves (special colors, any writing) 

• Any details inside the collar 

When in further doubt, it is also helpful to look at the photos that are shared for the launch of the Jersey. Paying attention to smaller details, you can often easily tell if it's a non-original product.

2.The Material of Adidas Jerseys

The materials used for authentic Adidas jerseys are lightweight  and stretchy,  designed with 100% polyester double knit, making them breathable and stretchy. It will allow players to remain dry on the pitch, regardless of how much they sweat. 

On the other hand, the material with which fake jerseys are designed is always inferior. In most cases, they look and feel cheap. 

3.The Stitching of Adidas Jerseys

Poor stitching is one very significant downside of fake jerseys, making them relatively easy to spot. Fake soccer jerseys are always poorly woven with many loose ends because they don’t have a skilled workforce. Also, they don’t have the technology to do transferred heat stitches like the authentic version.

In fake products, the stitching’s low quality is seen at the back of the neck, team crest, logos, and icons. If the stitching is of low quality and woven, the jersey is most likely fake.               

4.The Badges of Adidas Jerseys

Fake soccer jerseys always make several discrepancies because they still want to cut down production costs. A good way to spot this is to compare the jersey logo with the official team logo for any clear differences.

The badges of counterfeits are always poorly woven and are never heat transferred like the real version.

For example, the star of the fake Argentina crest below has a different 3D pattern than the star of the official Adidas kit.

5.The Size of Adidas Jerseys

The size of an Adidas jersey is another straightforward way to pinpoint a fake. 

Size inconsistency will help you distinguish a real from a fake. You probably must have heard people say you have to buy clothing two sizes up when shopping an Asian website. Jerseys are not any different. If you find a jersey tag sized at XXL but looks like the US large or medium, chances are they are fake.

Licensed jerseys are carefully sized according to the size charts used in the area or country hosting the club. Fake jersey manufacturers don’t pay attention to all those details even though they try to replicate the real copies of jerseys.

6.The Neck Tag of Adidas Jerseys

One of the most obvious differences between an Adidas authentic and a knockoff jersey is the Adidas tag on the inside neckline of the sweater. 

If the jersey is authentic, the Adidas logo and side information will be printed right onto the neckline. If it is a knockoff, the logo will likely be on a tag that’s attached to the neckline.

 If you flip the jersey over, there will also be an Adidas logo on the back of the jersey. Authentic jerseys have the logo stitched onto the jersey, not heat pressed.

Dozens of small holes are cut on and around the shoulders of authentic Adidas jerseys for breathability, while knockoffs generally replace the holes with small indents. 

Centered on the front of the neckline of the authentic Adidas jersey, there is a small, metallic NHL logo made of plastic with separate layers. Knockoff jerseys also have this logo, but they are generally a one-layered vinyl.

7.The Logo on Adidas Jerseys

Since it’s full scale adoption in the late 90s, the current iteration of the adidas logo has grown to become one of the most recognisable marks in the world. Though the original trefoil logo does occasionally make an appearance, the majority of football shirts this side of the millennium have featured the same, iconic adidas design.

Below are a couple of photos showing what a genuine adidas logo looks like, on both a replica and player issue. Notice details like the fact the wordmark portion of the logo touches the bottom of the stripes, and the consistent kerning (spacing between characters).

Now let’s take a look at some fakes. For the first picture (blue logo on white shirt), notice how there’s a trailing stitch between the letters of the logo. The typeface is also too thin, and the adidas stripes are slightly wonky.

Finally, notice how the logo on the second example (Liverpool home) sees both ‘d’s of adidas joined to the corner of the three stripes in a peculiar way. The biggest stripe even has a trailing corner, this simply isn’t the adidas logo.

8.Jock Tag of Adidas Jerseys

If you are buying a shirt with the "nameset" (name and number of the player) you have to pay attention to every little feature. 

Check the location and positioning of the jock tag. Typically jock tags are located at the bottom left of a jersey when wearing it. Inconsistencies with font size and thicknesses can be one of the easiest ways to spot fake jerseys. 

Fake jerseys almost always create the size font too thick and once you learn how to spot it, it’ll become one of the easiest ways to spot fake jerseys.

9. The Labels of Adidas Jerseys

If the shirt you’re looking at has tags (and a lot of fakes ‘pride’ themselves on being BNWT!), a simple check can be made to the writing on the tag.

If you see a generic term like "ADIDAS JSY" instead on a tag, it’s most likely a fake. The only exception would be if the shirt isn’t team specific, but rather some sort of blank template. 

Genuine shirts will have some sort of abbreviation for the club or country the shirt is from, like the picture below for an LAFC shirt.

10.Adidas Official Tags / Product Codes

All official releases from leading manufacturers now contain unique product codes, which you can check in various ways.

Adidas introduced product codes around the early 2000s. The product code for Adidas football jerseys looks like this:

The second number on the top line refers to the season. For the example above, this shirt is from the 2010 season.

The product codes for Adidas Jerseys can be found in two places, either in the inside of the collar or near the bottom of the shirt. 

Tips:Google the IAN and see if the same shirt you’ve bought appears online.

11.Where Are Adidas Jerseys Made?

Adidas jerseys are typically made in Vietnam, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Pay close attention to where an Adidas jersey is made as fake jerseys can display a country a particular jersey would never have been made in.

12. The Prices of Adidas Jerseys

New official Adidas Jerseys Prices are anywhere between $50 and $200. Authentic versions are always highly-priced. The replicas are a bit budget-friendly compared to the cheap fake ones with inferior quality. If an authentic version costs $185, you’re likely to get the fake around $100.

Prices are currently at their highest levels for customers, but they represent the premium piece of fan apparel, therefore retailers can charge a premium price. They have custom finishes like detailed stitching on logos and names that drive up the cost of production and ultimately, the cost of sale.

Our advice would be to compare deals and find the cheapest price online with below websites (well, obviously).

How To Spot Fake Adidas Jerseys Quickly?

Authentic jerseys are the exact same as those worn by players on the field. For this reason, they’re designed for maximum comfort, breathability, and lightweight performance during play. 

We understand that sometimes you might not have the time or resources to go through every authentication step for your Adidas Jerseys . For such instances, we’ve crafted a swift 60-second guide to help you.

• Check the font of the jersey. Professional teams use team-specific fonts and font sizes for their jerseys. Fake jerseys will use similar fonts and sizes that are slightly off upon closer inspection.

• Check the quality of the fabric. Authentic jerseys use high-quality materials like polyester and nylon, while fake jerseys may be made of cheaper materials like cotton and polyester blends. Fake jerseys may also have mismatched fabric on different parts of the jersey.

• Check the fit and sizing. Authentic jerseys tend to be tailored to the player's body, while fake jerseys will often fit poorly.

• Check the tag. Sports teams and leagues use product tags to indicate when and where the jersey was produced. NFL jerseys, NBA jerseys, and NHL jerseys have these tags stitched on, but many also have removable tags. Many fake jerseys will omit these tags, or the labels will have low-quality prints/fonts.
  

• Look for discrepancies between the stitching and the badge. Authentic jerseys tend to have authentic stitching and badges, while fake jerseys usually only feature iron-on letters and numbers. Additionally, the spacing of fake jerseys' letters and numbers is often incorrect.

• Look for authentic features. Authentic jerseys usually come with authentic team logos and colors, whereas fake jerseys may have slightly different colors and patterns.

• Check for the security label. Authentic jerseys have a security label on the inside of the jersey. Different leagues use different codes to indicate the authenticity of the jersey. Fake jerseys will not have the league standard code or label.

• Compare the price. If you look at an "authentic" jersey significantly cheaper than you'd typically expect, it's probably a fake.

Where To Buy Authentic Adidas Jerseys?

Buying from trusted retailers or brands is the only way you’ll 100% guarantee that you’re getting a real Adidas Jerseys.

Via the Internet, you can check all the available Adidas Jerseys colors, sizes and new styles. You can compare the prices between different websites to see which one has the best price. 

We’ve gathered all the Adidas Jerseys available from the most trustworthy online websites  around the world. Check them out below:

• adidas.com: up to 6% cashback

• soccergarage.com: up to 10% cashback

• shop.nhl.com: up to 2% cashback

• dickssportinggoods.com: up to 2% cashback

• macys.com：up to 2% cashback

• soccer.com：up to 7% cashback

• kohls.com：up to 3% cashback

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Tips: Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are minefields when it comes to the Jerseys trade. Usually, feedback / reviews and listing quality are clear markers for dodgy activity.

You can also find plenty of Jerseys connoisseurs and communities on social media, and they’re all helpful when it comes to crowdsourcing on legitimacy. 

FAQs

1.Authentic vs Replica: Which is Right for You?

In the choice between authentic jerseys and replica jerseys, it really comes down to preference. Do you want a carbon copy of what pros are wearing—perhaps something you can pull out for your next rec-league match? Or do you want a slightly heftier jersey that will look good in the streets and feel good in the stands? The choice is up to you. 

2.Why buy a real football Jerseys ? 

The age-old question when wanting to buy a football shirt, is it worth buying a real version? 

• Higher quality, more durable product

• Re-sell original football shirts when the value goes up

• Trade original football shirts with other collectors 

For collectors it makes sense to buy the real thing, but also the value of original football shirts from past seasons will also go up as these shirts are no longer manufactured, especially shirts from memorable seasons.

3.Why are original, authentic classic Jerseys so expensive? 

Original, genuine football shirts are very hard to find. These shirts are no longer manufactured but find themselves in circulation for decades to come.
As more time passes, the number of second-hand football shirts in circulation becomes less and less, and these shirts become harder and harder to find. As the years pass, so does the value of these shirts as they become rare collectors items. 

The price of the football shirt is determined by supply and demand, the demand for vintage football shirts these days is high, yet the supply of these shirts is low as quality football shirts get snapped up fast.
This means the older the shirt, the more expensive that shirt becomes. Popular shirts from past seasons become incredibly rare, increasing the value of those rare collector items. 
4.Do the Jersey labels in the collar match up with photos from another trusted source?

Compare photos of the wash labels with a trusted source. Google the shirt and zoom in on the label on the inside collar from one of the established sellers. 

Do the labels match, check that the details on the label are the same as well as the number of labels. Are there some labels missing or do they have extra labels? 

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