Converse brand shoes are brilliant and classic footwear. Though not perfect for long-distance walks or primary everyday footwear, they are a fashion and social statement.
However, before making a purchase, always make sure that you purchase the original Converse. I searched for how you can identify real Converse and found the following!
How Can I Tell If Converse Shoes Are Real?
Real Converse shoes have primary serial numbers appearing on the label inside the tongue. The number should be the same for both shoes and the box packaging. If these numbers differ, you probably have a fake Converse. The country of manufacture, pinstripes, the logo, and toe can also be used to identify authentic Converse.
With more counterfeit shoes being sold on the market currently, you shouldn’t rejoice at cheap prices. To find out how you can tell real Converse, keep reading!
How Can I Tell If My Converse Are Real?
Check the following before purchasing your favorite pair of Converse sneakers:
1. Start with the retailer
Buying from reliable retailers is the first step to avoiding counterfeit Converse shoes. Fortunately, Converse has a store locator platform on its official website.
You can use the tool to find authorized retailers within your location. If you prefer shopping online, you should check customer reviews and feedback about the online seller.
Scammers also often steal and edit photos of original shoes to make their counterfeit products look authentic, so take a close look at the pictures they use to market the shoes.
Better yet, purchase only from trusted online platforms like Nordstrom, Amazon, and Zappos, as sites like eBay are less reputable.
2. Compare prices
Another obvious method of distinguishing original Converse from fake products is checking the price. Original Converse retail for $50 and $55 for low and high tops, respectively.
Therefore, anything sold below this price range should ring a bell, unless the retailer states that it’s running a promotion and shoes are sold at discounted prices.
Authorized dealers and Converse stores often offer marked-down prices for clearance sales. These prices may be as low as 75% of the original price tag.
3. Check the shoe packaging
New, original Converse shoes come in a well-labeled Converse packaging box. The box should be black with brown stripes at the bottom.
Company prints with a wordmark logo should also be visible at the packaging lid’s top, front, and right parts.
Shoe information, including color, style, and barcode, should be displayed at the side of the box. Some packages have prints of “All-Star” shoe soles at the bottom.
Like other original shoes, the packaging should have tissue wrappings and stuffing paper in the shoes.
4. Examine the logo
High-top Converse shoes have a round logo on the inner ankle. If the shoe doesn’t have a logo or the logo patch is on the outside, the shoe is clearly fake.
The logo should be white, round, and made from rubber, with “CONVERSE ALL START” in uppercase. The rubber logo was placed to protect athletes’ ankles.
As for low-top Converse shoes, the logo patch is placed on the tongue. It should be thin, rectangular, and neatly sewn.
The term “Converse” should be sewn against a red background, while “ALL STAR” with a star between should be sewn in navy blue against a white background.
5. Examine the heel
Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers have a rubber patch on the heel. The rectangular patch should have the same branding as the fabric logo patch on low-top Converse.
The patch should be labeled with “CONVERSE” in small letters at the top and “ALL STAR” with the star trademark between the logo on the bottom.
6. Check the tongue
Both low and high-top Converse have a small patch on the inside part of their tongues.
The patch has information highlighting the model number, shoe material, size, QR code, unique serial number, and where it was manufactured.
You should also keenly analyze the zigzagged stitching bordering the tongue, as fake Converse shoes have loosely done or crooked stitching.
7. Check the sole
The inner soles of Converse should be of the same color as the canvas lining. The soles should also have a “CONVERSE” imprint in uppercase and navy-blue color.
Note that black monochrome Converse models have a white CONVERSE inscription.
How Can I Tell If CDG Converse Shoes Are Real?
Unlike conventional Converse, spotting fake CDG (Comme Des Garcons) Converse is harder as the fakes increasingly become better. Nonetheless, watch out for the following:
1. The Converse heart shape
The heart shape of CDG Converse is very visible, and you can use it to differentiate fake from real sneakers.
The authentic CDG Converse has hearts close to the stitching above the patch and lace holes stitching.
Actually, fake CDGs have a small-sized heart logo placed far from the stitching above it.
2. Check the eyes on the heart logo
The eyes of the CDG Converse heart logo also provide a clear-cut difference between authentic and fake CDG sneakers. Fake CDGs have a common, easily identifiable flaw.
The eyes of fake CDGs are 100% circular, while authentic CDG Converse doesn’t have perfect circular shapes.
Similarly, the left eye of authentic CDG sneakers is far from being a perfect circle, often taking another shape. You should refer to pictures of authentic shoes to ease comparison.
3. Examine the distance between holes on the side
You can also differentiate real vs. fake CDG Converse by examining the distance between the two side holes of the sneaker.
The distance between the side holes in authentic shoes is wider than that of fake sneakers. Identifying this differentiating factor should be simple.
4. Analyze the rear side stitching
Most counterfeit CDG sneakers have extra threads hanging at the back. On the other hand, authentic shoes have perfectly stitched rears without hanging threads.
Conclusion
Since it first entered the market in 1923, Converse has evolved into a global symbol of individuality and originality. However, not all Converse shoes currently on the market are real.
With unmatched popularity, fake Converse shoes have also flooded the market, making it difficult for enthusiasts to find genuine sneakers. The tips above can help you spot fake Converse.