how to spot a fake supreme t-shirt

Time for a post about everybodies favourite brand: Supreme.

The theme of this post isn't necessarily something I will be posting often ( if ever again). Personal opinions of the brand aside, I felt the need to write this post because it's something I wish I read when the unfortunate happened to me, and I'd like to at least help preventing this scummy thing from happening to others. It's a bit of a long read, but is definitely worth it when it's your money on the line.

How to spot a fake Supreme T-Shirt
It goes without saying that this is a very popular brand - there are many, many fakes around, from the hilariously awful:

Very poor: Fake Supreme OG Box Logo & Fake Union Jack Box Logo

To the questionably convincing:

Fake Supreme x Comme des Garçons Box Logo Shirt

The sad truth is - whether you're buying from forums, eBay or any other method - there are people out there who won't think twice about ripping you off with fakes, no matter how much trust they impose in their item description - just because a description claims the item is 100% authentic does not mean it is.

There are many ways of spotting a fake, even if they do look very convincing. First, by looking at the pictures of the t-shirt itself.

The Label

More often than none, the label is your dead giveaway. Below are two comparisions of two t-shirts I had:

Left: Fake Supreme x Kermit Shirt Label - Right: Real Union Jack Box Shirt Label

The differences seem very subtle, but once you've trained your eye, they are very distinct. First off, the 'Supreme' text on the fake t-shirt is distinctly thinner font than that of a genuine label on the right, with thicker text. (it's noted that more current Supreme shirt tags feature even thicker 'Supreme' text on the logo). As well as this, usually the following text 'Pre-Shrunk...' etc.  will often take up only 75% of the label instead of the 100% of it. Another major point to add is the back of the label.

Every Supreme shirt  includes a watermark on the back of the label. Here is what a fake one looks like:

Fake Supreme Label Watermark

The notable thing from this image is the italic text. Supreme watermarks are never in italics. Also, if you're actually able to touch the watermark - you'll feel that it is raised and appears consistently more visible in light. The real watermark is harder to read in dimmer light; written in non-italic font and will either say "SUPREME" or "SUP2003"(to it's corresponding release year) for older t-shirts.

Another point about the label is - if the sale photo features the Supreme Tag Lock - See how it's circular? Many (if not all) fakes feature circular tag locks, Supreme tag locks are never circular! They are always a straight forward pin, in the shape of a very long, thin capital 'T'.

The Print
In regards to box logo shirt fakes - these can be relatively easy to spot. Once again, it requires a bit of practice and training of the eye. More often than none the font is slightly off, most commonly including a dodgy looking 'r' and capital 'S' in the logo. Aside from this, I'd recommend checking the size and style of the print with a side by side comparison to an image genuine shirt. There are plenty around the internet! If you have a fake in your hands, feel the print material. It feels odd. I remember it being very thick and felt very ironed on. Supreme shirts do not print in that fashion.

The Sale Itself
eBay tends to have more fakes than marketplace forums - I guess this is down to the community and moderators spotting & removing fakes more thoroughly than eBay does. In regards to eBay listings, it's pretty obvious. If the description exaggerates the genuineness of the shirt, do a u-turn and look elsewhere. Other than that, check feedback and other items.

Conversely, if you're buying from a forum - I'd recommend always asking for more pictures from the seller. There's no harm in asking and the seller will more than likely be happy to do it if they haven't already, they want your money, don't they? When people sell on forums such as Hypebeast, /r/supremeclothing, fuk etc. it is usually a requirement to post a tagged photo with their name next to said item, too. So expect that.

THE PRICE: If it seems too good to be true - it more than often is! Lurk around other forums to see how much said item has sold for and create an average price based on that. Google is your friend!

METHOD OF PAYMENT: Lots of sellers will take Paypal. If you're buying from a forum - the general consensus is to cover the price of the item and add 4% to compensate for what Paypal charges the seller. I recommend always sending money over paypal as a "Goods Payment" and never, ever as a gift, unless you absolutely (x3) trust the seller. If you pay by gift, you don't have to add the 4% - but you won't be insured by Paypal if you're scammed.

If they seem pretty shady, eager - get out of there. Trust your gut! From experience, once you've stated you're interested in a purchase, sellers are pretty friendly to you.

If you're ever unsure whether an item is genuine, don't be afraid to post an LC (Legit Check) to the forums. People on their can emphasise why you'd do it and will have more knowledge and good eyes.

I hope this helps somebody. I think selling a fake off as a real shirt is very scummy and shouldn't happen to anybody. Happy buying, people.