How to Tell If a Bape Shark Hoodie is Real or Fake

PDF download Download Article
Use these tips to verify if a Bape hoodie is legit
PDF download Download Article

When it comes to spotting a fake Bape hoodie, there are a few key things to look for. You can check the gold tag, the composition of the shark face, and other elements of the hoodie. Some fakes look good on the surface, but when you take a closer look, they turn out to be rip-offs. In this article, we will explain what to look for when checking whether a Bape hoodie is real or fake so you get your hands on the real deal, what to do if you do buy a fake , how to have a professional authenticate your hoodie , and more.

5 Signs a Bape Hoodie Is Fake

  1. Bold and miscolored lettering on the packaging.
  2. The gold tag is too shiny, the texture is rough, and the branding is misplaced.
  3. The lettering on the neck tag is misspaced, especially around the “t” and the “h.”
  4. The eyes of the shark face are misaligned and too close or far apart
  5. The zipper is long, narrow, and has a hard time zipping up the jacket.
Section 1 of 7:

How to Check if a Bape Hoodie is Fake or Real

PDF download Download Article
  1. The neck tag is one of the key identifiers of authenticity for your Bape hoodie as long as you know what you’re looking for. On authentic hoodies, the lettering on the neck tag is evenly spaced, uniform, and spelled correctly. On inauthentic hoodies, the lettering tends to be sloppily placed and, in some cases, misspelled. The ape’s face should also be beige. [1]
    • Signs It’s Real: Uniform, evenly-spaced lettering. Beige-colored ape.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Misspaced lettering, especially around the “t” and the “h” of “A Bathing Ape” and the trademark symbol (™). Miscolored ape.
  2. Wash tags on authentic Bape hoodies tend to be securely stitched on the inside fabric, while fake hoodies feature loose, inaccurate stitching. Fake hoodies also tend to feature faded, misspaced lettering on the wash tag, specifically around the “LTD” lettering. Fake wash tags may also feature a placeholder serial number, so look up the serial number on your product and consult images of fake Bape hoodies to see if it’s been used by fake manufacturers in the past. [2]
    • Signs It’s Real: Strong, uniform stitching, bold lettering that’s uniformly spaced.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Bunched lettering, especially around “LTD,” loose stitching, and faded lettering.
    Advertisement
  3. The sleeve tag on authentic Bape hoodies is crisp and securely attached. It is also made of a silky material. On fake models, the edges tend to be frayed, feature sloppy stitching, have a rough texture, and have misplaced branding. The ape also tends to be miscolored and placed too low on the tag. Make sure to check the stitching on the inside of the cuff, too, as it tends to be poor. [3]
    • Signs It’s Real: Silky texture, clean and secure stitching, and properly placed branding.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Rough texture, poor and loose stitching, a trademark symbol (“™”) that folds over the cuff.
    • CEO of WyCo Vintage Patrick Klima says that because counterfeit manufacturers don’t have access to the original company’s art files and are trying to replicate items cheaply, counterfeit graphics are typically less sharp and clear than the original artwork.
  4. Every Bape product features a gold tag, so manufacturers frequently try to fake it. Authentic gold Bape tags are flat and feature a grainy texture. While the texture on authentic gold Bape tags is flat and grainy, the texture on fake Bape tags tends to be thick and rough. Another sign of fake gold tags is an incorrect color and location of the trademark symbol (™) and logo. Fake gold tags have heads that are too close to the bottom, a shinier color, and a misplaced trademark symbol. [4]
    • Signs It’s Real: Flat, grainy ape head that’s the proper shade of gold and close to the bottom of the tag.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Thick, miscolored ape head and misplaced trademark symbol (™).
  5. Real and fake Bape hoodies use YKK zippers since they’re one of the most popular zipper brands in the world, but there are a few telltale signs that help discern real Bape zippers from fake ones. For starters, authentic zippers tend to smoothly connect, come in a wide, stocky shape, and feature a small 5 on their backside, while fake zippers tend to jam and come in a slimmer, longer shape.
    • Signs It’s Real: It’s wide and bulky, features “5” and “YKK”, and smoothly slides up and down the zipper tape.
    • Signs It’s Fake: It’s long and slim, lacks the “5,” and has a hard time actually zipping.
  6. The eye placement and mouth composition are different on fake models than they are on authentic models. On authentic models, the eyes are about an inch away from the zipper, the teeth should run all the way down the bottom of the mouth, the top of the tongue shouldn’t touch the teeth, and the eyes should be aligned. [5]
    • Signs It’s Real: Properly placed and aligned eyes that are an inch away from the zipper.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Misaligned eyes that are less or more than an inch away from the zipper and improperly sized.
  7. The WGM lettering’s placement is a strong indicator of authenticity. The lettering on fake hoodies is typically misplaced and unevenly spaced. Fake hoodies also tend to use the wrong type of fabric for the WGM lettering, which results in a less cohesive look. The stitching and underfabric are also straight and uniform on authentic models, so look for bumpy fabric and loose stitching if you suspect your product is fake. [6]
    • Signs It’s Real: Evenly spaced lettering with vibrant, properly-colored fabric.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Cheap-looking felt fabric, uneven and misplaced lettering, and bumpy placement of the fabric underneath the lettering.
    • WGM stands for “world gone mad,” which is a popular Bape slogan.
  8. The ziplock bag that holds authentic Bape hoodies is plastic and features Bape branding along with the quote “APE SHALL NEVER KILL APE,” both of which are in a narrow font. Bape hoodies tend to come with extra tags that are a light shade of camo, as well. Fake hoodies try to replicate these features, but they often use darker shades and bolder fonts.
    • Signs It’s Real: Slim, narrow branding, light camo-colored tags.
    • Signs It’s Fake: Thick, bold branding, improperly colored tags.
    9. Advertisement
Section 2 of 7:

How to Have a Professional Authenticate a Bape Hoodie

PDF download Download Article
  1. Brands like Bape take strong measures to ensure the authenticity of their products, many of which are kept secret to prevent counterfeiters from improving the quality of their fakes. However, many professional authenticators are aware of the trade secrets of authenticity. So, when the standard methods aren’t working, submit photos of your Bape hoodie to an authenticator like Poizon or Mercari . They will typically have a verdict within 48 hours. [7]
    • Mercari charges a flat rate of $5 per designer item. They also offer a $10 certificate of authenticity. [8]
Section 3 of 7:

What to Do if Your Bape Hoodie is Fake

PDF download Download Article
  1. Depending on where you bought your Bape hoodie from, the seller may be willing to provide a refund if it turns out to be fake. If you bought it from a store, check their refund policy for return deadlines, customer service numbers, and other important information, then reach out to them to start the authentication and return process. [9]
    • If you bought the hoodie off of an online marketplace like eBay or Facebook Marketplace , check their return policies to see what steps you need to take to get a refund.
    • In the UK, you have a legal right to a refund if you bought a fake or counterfeit product. [10]
    2. Advertisement
Section 4 of 7:

Where is Bape made?

PDF download Download Article
  1. When Bape was founded by Nigo in 1993, their products were mostly made in Japan. As the company grew, products were outsourced to Chinese manufacturers, who have since made a majority of their products. As of 2025, though, Bape does have products that are still produced in Japan. [11]
Section 5 of 7:

Why is Bape so expensive?

PDF download Download Article
  1. While Bape does use durable materials for their products, they aren’t necessarily expensive. However, Bape produces its products in limited quantities to preserve exclusivity. Together, these factors contribute to their high prices, thanks to the limited supply, durable materials, and strong demand.
    • Bape’s popularity can be attributed to artists like Pharrell Williams and Lil Wayne, who consistently wore Bape in the 2000s.
    2. Advertisement
Section 6 of 7:

What is Bape made of?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Bape T-shirts are typically 100% cotton and Bape hoodies are typically an 80/20 cotton & polyester blend. When Bape was first founded, heavy 100% cotton blanks were used to create their T-shirts.
Section 7 of 7:

Final Takeaways

PDF download Download Article
  1. When authenticating your Bape hoodie, study key features like the neck tag and branding. Bape hoodies are commonly faked, but if you observe the neck tag, wash tag, sleeve tag, and other key areas for things like sloppy stitching, improper brand placement, and miscoloring, you can spot a fake before you spend your money on it. When personal authentication doesn’t work, reach out to a professional. If you do end up buying a fake, contact the seller to start the return process.
    • Remember to check the seller’s refund policy before inquiring about a return. If you’re in the UK, you are legally entitled to a refund.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Spot Fake Louis Vuitton Purses
      10 Clear Signs a Stanley Cup is Fake
      Original or Fake? 10+ Signs Your Lacoste Polo Isn't Legit
      How to
      Tell If Lululemon Is Fake (And Where to Find Real Lululemon)
      How to
      Spot Fake Tommy Hilfiger
      The 13 Fastest Ways to Identify Counterfeit Crocs
      How to
      Tell if a Rolex is Real or Fake: 11 Signs of Authenticity
      How to
      Spot a Fake Gucci Belt
      How to
      Spot a Fake Breitling
      How to
      Determine Whether a Perfume Is Authentic
      How to
      Spot Counterfeit Products
      How to
      Tell if UGG Slippers Are Fakes
      How to
      Tell the Difference between Real and Fake AirPod Pros
      How to
      Identify a Fake Watch
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/GBq8aG3ciyo?si=MhhF6h678pAQtNDw&t=73
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/GBq8aG3ciyo?si=diu0J_CD0fSTcziX&t=111
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/AcFceQkLqmg?si=0nc7IG-fd4eI1JE3&t=120
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/GBq8aG3ciyo?si=9nkdsfrwiph9rzkZ&t=159
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/GBq8aG3ciyo?si=rvU7aWKU3SmOMfx1&t=291
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/GBq8aG3ciyo?si=wqeFu2XuAvDRo-4W&t=235
      7. ↑ https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/inside-the-secretive-world-of-luxury-authentication-vestiaire-collective-the-realreal-ebay-stockx-goat
      8. ↑ https://www.mercari.com/us/help_center/article/508/
      9. ↑ https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/solving-problems-business-returns-refunds-and-other-resolutions
      1. ↑ https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/report-fake-or-counterfeit-goods/
      2. ↑ https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/bape-a-bathing-ape/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,010 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement