How annoying are fake sport jerseys?

Jerseys are an expression of support for your favorite team, a fashion statement or even an investment. So there’s nothing more annoying than getting stung with a counterfeit.

The most important part when buying an authentic jersey is to do your research. Learn to know know what you’re after and know exactly what you’re buying into.

Here are 12 ways to tell if a jersey is an authentic or a knockoff.

#12. Fake Sport Jerseys Stitching
Fake jerseys lack the finer details that authentic jerseys have. A stitched jersey usually suggests it’s a premium jersey but even fake sports jerseys can appear stitched.

A good sign is fake jerseys may be stitched, where the genuine equivalent jerseys were screen printed and never stitched in the first place.

Adidas Rev30 swingman edition jerseys are a great example. They’re screen printed and never stitched.

Related: A complete guide to Adidas NBA jerseys with size chart

#11. Country of Origin
Pay close attention to where jerseys say they are made. Nike jerseys are usually made in Honduras or Guatemala. Fakes will quite often be labelled as Made in China.

Certain versions may also have been made in a certain country only. Some special editions may have only been made in a certain country i.e. Guatemala, however the fake labels may list it as being ‘Made in Korea’ which is incorrect for the authentics.

#10. Stock Photos
If you’re buying off certain websites they may claim to be selling ‘original’ jerseys for cheap. The use of stock photos can be a telltale sign that they’re selling fakes and you’ll get something way different to the photo.

#9. Logo Proportion
After looking at photos of authentic jerseys you can develop a skill of identifying logos that look out of place.

Fake jerseys often fail to replicate the proportionally of the team logo, NBA logo, sponsor and jock tag on genuine products.

#8. Fake Sport Jerseys Jock Tags
Check the location and positioning of the jock tag to ensure they’re in proportion. Fakes are often placed too far to the left or right and the tag often wider than the original.

Also check out the font on the sizes of the jock tags as fakes will stand out once you’ve seen enough genuine jerseys.

#7. Perforations
Check that jersey fabric hole patterns are consistent with authentic versions. Fake sports jerseys find it difficult to replicate this accurately.

The holes in counterfeit may often be too big or too small and can be an easy way to identify fakes.

#6. Fake Sport Jerseys Tags
This is one to be very careful with. Retail tags suggest that something is authentic. Many fake sport jerseys replicate fake retail tags.

Counterfeits lack detail on the jersey but the tag game is often very strong. Tags are easier and cheaper to reproduce then jersey details which is why tags shouldn’t always be taken for face value.

#5. Colors
Check the color of jerseys closely and compare them against authentics. Vintage jerseys are an exception as they may have slight fading due to age.

#4. Weights
Authentic jerseys are made from premium materials. Fake sport jerseys are often made from lighter and cheaper materials. The difference to this is more modern jerseys that are light i.e authentic Rev30 Swingman editions.

#3. Logo
Poor spacing and size of lettering can be a giveaway for fake sport jerseys.

#2. Finish Quality
Loose strings or frayed ends coming off the jersey can indicate a fake sports jersey, especially for jerseys that have had minimum use.

#1. Do Your Research on Fake Sport Jerseys
This is the most important one. Be sure to check out comparisons of authentic jerseys. A simple cross comparison can highlight flaws with a counterfeit jersey