Can you tell the difference between 100% authentic Bape products straight from Japan? I thought so. That is why I created this guide.
Let's start with footwear:
These are authentic Bapes. They are straight from the Bape site. A stock photo from the Hiroshima Bape store.
These are Fake Bapes or “Fapes.” They are being sold for an extremely low price under $100. The retail value of a real pair is at least $130 if you go into an official Bape, Apee, etc. store and buy them. What is the difference?
Let's take a look:
The circled area (in red) is larger than the ones below:
The fakes may only seem a little bigger but it makes a huge difference when choosing your footwear.
Now, look at the nose:
These are the fapes. The nose is too vertically flat (red) and the bottom is too flat and straight on the ground (blue).
These are the real Bapes. The nose is much more round (red) and there is a gap between the floor and the shoe (white).
Next, the Basketball Bapes are the same as the “Sta's,” but there is an air pouch on the heel.
For the rest of the footwear information, I have made a list:
- There are NO solid colored Bapes.
- 90% of Bapes are made of patent leather.
- The bottoms of the Bapes have a circle at the heel and a star towards the top. (Some Fapes have 2 stars.)
- Finally, there have been absolutely NO clear Bapes! These are fake.
Now for Bape clothing. First off, look at the tags:
The easiest is the fact that the ape is speaking on the real ones. There is a speech bubble. Also, the colors are reddish in the fakes and the camo is also lighter.
Next are the bags:
The colors are solid in the real one. The fake one has more orange and yellow in the ape.
Check the jewels:
The jewels in the real one are more crisp and clear. The fakes are yellowish and look nasty.
Now the hoodies:
The colors are much darker and the letters are straighter.
The color in the real hoody are more vibrant and a darker blue. The fake has dull tones.
The real one has brighter colors and tones. The fake is dull and off white.
The real one has a solid white background and brighter colors. The fake has a pink background with a white bottom (doesn't exist unless it is fake) and the letters are crooked.
Check the stitching:
The stitching on real hoodies go from neck to armpits. If the go anywhere else from the neck or armpits, you're wasting your money.
Thank you for using this guide to your "Bathing Ape" needs.
