In 2013, counterfeit goods worldwide accounted for $461 billion. Nike is the most counterfeited brand globally, and Ray-Ban, Rolex, Supreme, and Louis Vuitton are the most copied brands worldwide. And while some copies look almost identical to the originals, there are slight differences we think you should know about.
At Bright Side, we want you to know how to recognize a fake product and the differences between originals and counterfeits in some of the most popular brands.
1. Nike shoes
- Nike Air sneakers have a texture that counterfeit manufacturers cannot imitate. This is because their materials are different, and so are their devices. Thus, in authentic Nike shoes, you will notice a hardness in the leather that will be missing in the counterfeit ones.
- You will also need to examine the symmetry of the sneakers. If something looks asymmetrical, then it may be a counterfeit product.
2. Ray-Bans
- Authentic Ray-Ban lenses with plastic frames are made in one whole piece. If it’s a metal frame, then the central part must look neat and can have small details but no protruding points.
- Most often, the lenses are made of real glass, but some can be made of plastic. To know if yours is one of them, go to the manufacturer’s official website.
- In the upper right corner of the right lens, you can find the inscription of the Ray-Ban logo. It is engraved on the surface of the lens, so it is impossible to erase it.
- On the outside of the temples, there should also be an inscription detailing the manufacturer. In addition, the item’s serial number is usually on the left side and the country of manufacture on the right side.
3. Fila shoes
- If you look at the letter “F” on your Fila shoes, you will notice that there is some irregularity in the stitching. This is perfectly normal on all original Fila shoes. What is not normal is for the letter “F” to be really sharp on the top two edges. On the fake shoes, these edges almost touch the square surrounding the logo, which should not be the case.
- Next, look at the details of the toe cap, especially the holes in the front. There should be the same distance between each hole, but if not, you probably bought a fake pair of sneakers.
- In addition, the heel logo may be completely different. On the original sneakers, that logo is the same as the one on the tongue.
4. Burberry scarf
- The authentic scarf always has well-defined lines and a dense texture.
- The fringe yarns in a scarf should be well rolled and spaced apart, they do not fall apart when touched.
- The brand name on the label attached to the article must be written in capital letters. Also, the label must contain information about the country of manufacture and the composition of the scarf.
5. Gucci handbags
- First, you should examine the two “G’s” on the front of your bag. The serifs of the G’s should be long and sleek looking and not thick. Also, the rounded part of the G should be a perfect oval and not pointed. If the logo looks blurry, it is probably fake.
- Look closely at the stitching, as a genuine Gucci bag will have even stitching. If the stitching on your bag looks uneven in places or is a different color than the bag itself, then you should assume it is a counterfeit.
6. Supreme sweatshirt
- On the collar of this brand’s hooded and non-hooded sweatshirts, there are two dark red labels. On the first, larger, is written the name of the brand with the letter R in a circle. On the second, you’ll find the country of manufacture: Canada. There should be a recommendation not to iron the item on the inner label, where you can find the care instructions. Manufacturers of replicas often forget this detail.
- On sweatshirts with embroidered logos, the location of the letters on the red part should be uniform, and the distance between the two should be adequate. If you turn the authentic sweatshirt inside out, you will see a fine mesh of white threads on the back of the logo.
- Supreme complements the hoods of its sweatshirts only with flat laces, which are carefully tied at the ends. Round laces, burned at the ends, or laces with different types of terminations are a sign of counterfeiting.
7. Adidas Yeezy tennis shoes
- First, you have to check the wave pattern on the original Yeezy, which should be sideways with irregular wave prints.
- Next, you can check the tongue of the sneakers. The original Yeezy’s tongues are more curved, while the fake ones look much straighter.
- Check the inside of the shoes and see if the Adidas icon is the same size on each shoe. On some occasions, you may notice that their size differs.
- The stitching on the inside should also be checked, as it may look suspiciously amateurish.
8. New Balance sneakers
- New Balance sneakers have brand symbols on the back, tongue, the side of the sneaker, and the side of the sole, on the sole itself, and the insoles. The logo in the shape of the letter N on the side of the sneaker is made in the form of a patch.
- The original slippers have a soft sole, made of foam material, easily compresses and quickly returns to their original state. The sole protector is made of rubber. The insoles of authentic New Balance shoes have a perforation, logo, size, and information about the model.
9. Toms espadrilles
- The first thing to check is the insoles of your espadrilles. If they can be removed, your footwear is likely fake, as the original insoles are sewn to the bottom.
- Next, you can check the back of the espadrille to look at the logo. The letters of the original brand are perfectly balanced and square. However, the letters of the fake brand are pointed and unbalanced (note the odd shape of the letter “O”). Also, the stitching around the label appears thicker on the fake ones.
- You can also check the sides of the shoes to see if any glue is discernible. A reputable brand would never allow something like this, but a copy would probably have glue all over it.
10. Michael Kors Handbag
- For its bags, the brand uses only cream-colored labels containing the primary information about the product: serial number, shade, material, parameters, the price in USD, and a unique bar code.
- All parts of the original bags are engraved with the brand name. It is applied to magnetic clips, handle rings, clasps, carabiners, and fasteners.
- The brand’s authentic bags are made from a dense material that does not deform even during shipping when the item is packed.
11. Guess handbags
- First of all, fake Guess handbags are not made of leather but are cheaper synthetic material. You can check this by pressing the fabric with your finger. If the wrinkles stay there and do not disappear, it is not genuine leather.
- Next, you need to check the lining of the bag. Original Guess bags have an apparent soft lining, while fake ones sometimes have no lining. And if they do, it is very thin, like a sheet of paper.
- Finally, you can check the metal of the bag. The metal applications of a genuine Guess bag are sturdy and shiny, with a smooth surface. Counterfeiters, on the other hand, use a cheaper material that may appear dull and even have surface marks.
12. Guess watches
- Straps for Guess watches are made of metal, silicone, or natural leather. A lousy product smell, uneven color, cracks, scratches, and wear on the strap indicate that we are dealing with an imitation.
- The back should contain basic information about the watch: a logo with the brand name, the material of the watch body (as a rule, it is steel), and data about the watch mechanism with the engraving Japan Movt (as Guess uses only high-quality Japanese mechanisms).
13. Hermès handbags
- First, check the inside printing of the leather and see how the letters have been printed. The French accent of the letter E should be very elegant and not chopped up, as in the fakes. Also, the letters F and R in the word “France” appear to be glued together, something that would never happen on a genuine Hermès bag.
- Next, you can check the leather strap of the bag and inspect the stitching. On a genuine bag, the stitching looks much more elegant and flawless. In contrast, the stitching on the fake bag is not as elegant and, in some areas, looks thicker than that of the original bag.
14. Lacoste polo
- The Lacoste crocodile is always made with clearly defined details. Its eyes, teeth, legs, and red mouth are clearly visible. The crocodile’s body is bright green, and the tail runs parallel to the back.
- At the base of the polo neck, there is a white label with the logo and a red number indicating the size. In men’s models, it is one number, while in women’s models, it is two.
- An imitation Lacoste polo shirt can be spotted because of a small detail: its buttons. Original Lacoste garments have mother-of-pearl buttons with two holes. They have no inscriptions. Replica manufacturers often forget that, so they use buttons with four holes.
- In the men’s models, at the bottom, on the sides of the polo shirt, there are small openings approximately 1/2 inches deep. In women’s versions, the manufacturer does not make any cuts.
15. Balenciaga shoes
- Balenciaga sneakers have a very recognizable protrusion on the heels. This feature is often missing in counterfeits, as their structure is much weaker.
- Not only that, but the front of the shoe has a much more prominent curve than the originals.
- Also, if you check the back of the shoe, you will notice that the brand name is not well centered. Also, not all the letters are the same size and height, and some appear more significant than others.
16. Pandora bracelet
- The color of the original silver bracelet is a bit dull, not very light or bright. In manufacturing, Pandora uses a blackening technique that gives them this unique tone.
- The new original bracelet keeps its perfect shape and virtually no bending, showing well-defined edges of its striated silver cord.
- The size of the clasp on the original Pandora bracelets is comparable to that of the charms. On the front of the clasp, you can see the engraving of the brand: the word Pandora with a crown above the letter “o.”
- There is a brand-specific fastening in the clasp: a clover in the form of a small screw with four heads that serves to fasten the bracelet securely. In addition, the clasp must bear the quality seal of the metal (indicating its purity) with a mark of origin, the initials ALE.
- Pandora charms have an inscription with the name of the brand and the acronym of the metal they are made of. Since 2011, S means silver, and G is gold. Murano glass charms are free of cracks, broken parts, and air bubbles inside.
17. Levi’s
- The arched design on the back pockets of Levi’s jeans might be the brand’s most recognizable feature. It is either a simple bow or a diamond-shaped arch in the center of the pocket. This feature is often copied remarkably incorrectly on counterfeit jeans.
- In addition, the color of the stitching is traditionally orange on original jeans, while many fakes use white thread.
- The third sign of a fake pair of Levi’s jeans is the red tag on the back pocket. An original pair has “Levi’s” written on the red label, while a fake pair has a plain red tag with the letter “R.”
18. Timberland boots
- The sole has a caramel color, but if you look at it closely, it seems slightly transparent. The company logo and the brand name are printed on them, and the sole is uniform. The heel part does not protrude, but forms a continuous line.
- The logo is located on the outside, at the bottom of the boot above the heel. Its print is uniform and well-defined, located strictly vertically.
- The eyelets on the boots are perfect hexagons, which are ideally rounded on the outside. In men’s models, there are 7, in women’s models, 6.
- All seams on the boots are made with white thread. If there are several seams close, they are clearly parallel to each other.
19. Nike t-shirts
- The first thing to examine is the Nike logo. In most cases, it does not have exactly the same proportions as the original. Its angle and inclination may be different.
- Next, the label inside the T-shirt should be checked for misspellings. The original brand would never misspell words, but counterfeit products may have one or more errors.
- You will also need to look at the labels inside the shirt, near the bottom. Nike’s usually have two or more labels sewn in, while the fake ones usually have only one.
Have you ever unknowingly bought a counterfeit product? How did you recognize that it was not a genuine brand? Could you tell the difference, or did you have to ask an expert?
Preview photo credit Albo73/ Depositphotos.com
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3 Amazing Stories About Desperate People Receiving Unexpected Support
Life’s toughest challenges have a way of inspiring extraordinary acts of kindness. These three heartwarming stories show how help can appear in the most surprising ways.
When everything seems lost, hope can appear out of nowhere. In these captivating tales, ordinary people faced desperate situations and discovered support from unexpected places, reminding us of the power of compassion and connection.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
1. Single Mom of Four Buys Used Car, Owner Tells Her to Look In Trunk When She Gets Home
I never imagined I’d end up a single mother of four kids, let alone struggling to make ends meet.
When Adam walked out on us, I was pregnant with our fourth child. He thought it was difficult to raise four children with me.
With no support from him, I was left to fend for my children. Bills piled up while diapers and milk became luxuries I could barely afford.
A baby bottle | Source: Pexels
I had to act fast, so I searched tirelessly for work, dragging myself from one employer to another, only to hear the same thing.
“We can’t hire a mom with young kids. Something always comes up.”
Out of options, I expanded my search to a nearby city. I begged my neighbors to watch the kids, then spent my last cash on a cab.
By some miracle, I landed a housekeeping job at a hotel. The manager’s words were a relief I hadn’t felt in months.
A man sitting in an office | Source: Pexels
“We need staff, especially for summer,” he said. “You’re hired.”
I was super excited until I realized commuting to the hotel would cost more than I could afford. I needed a car, even if it was just a beat-up one. At least I wouldn’t have to pay hefty taxi fares every day.
Soon, I found an old sedan online and called the owner, Jeff.
“Could you sell it for $5000?” I asked. “I know it’s less than you’re asking, but I’m a single mom, and this car would change our lives.”
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
He was silent for a while before finally speaking up.
“I’ll do it for $5000 if you can bring the money tomorrow.”
“I will… I definitely will!” I said, unaware of where I’d get the money from. “Thank you so much, Jeff.”
That night, I struggled to sleep. I had no savings and terrible credit. I knew the bank would instantly reject my loan application.
In a panic, I realized the only thing of value I had left was my late mom’s gold necklace. It was an heirloom passed down for generations.
A pendant | Source: Pexels
Selling it felt like betraying her, but I had no choice.
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” I whispered, clutching the necklace as I headed to the pawnshop the next day.
Tears blurred my vision when the appraiser told me it was worth $5500. It was enough to buy the car and even cover groceries for a week.
Later that evening, I handed Jeff the money.
“You have no idea what this means to us,” I said, unable to hold back tears of gratitude. “I never thought I could buy a car.”
A woman holding money | Source: Pexels
He smiled warmly as he handed me the keys. “Congratulations, Jennifer. You deserve this.”
Then, as I prepared to drive off, he called out, “Oh, check the trunk when you get home. I left something for your kids.”
I got so caught up in my new routine for the next few days that I completely forgot about Jeff’s mysterious words.
Days later, while cleaning the car, I found a note in the glove compartment.
An envelope | Source: Pexels
I hope the gift in the trunk helps you and your kids, it read.
Curious, I opened the trunk.
At first, I only saw the white envelope I had used to pay for the car. Confused, I picked it up and opened it.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the $5,000 still in there.
Jeff had given the money back to me, and I wasn’t expecting that at all.
A woman | Source: Midjourney
I crumpled to the ground and cried like a baby. I wondered if Jeff really knew what he’d done for me. I needed to talk to him.
So, I drove straight back to the dealership after work. I found him standing outside, and the moment he saw me, he knew why I was there.
“Why would you do this?” I asked.
He smiled kindly. “The world throws challenges at us, Jennifer. You’ve proven your strength. I figured you could use the money more than I could. Just promise me one thing, you’ll pay it forward someday, okay?”
An old man smiling | Source: Midjourney
I smiled between tears and nodded.
Then, I thanked him and left the dealership, but his words stayed with me.
That day, I realized kindness could come from the most unexpected places, and it gave me hope for the future. Hope for myself and my children.
2. Mom Sells Old Stroller to Feed 4 Kids, Finds It on Her Doorstep the Next Day with Note Inside
Sitting on the cold kitchen floor, I let the tears fall freely.
A woman crying | Source: Pexels
It was past midnight, my only time to let the mask slip. Upstairs, my boys were sound asleep, unaware of how close we were to losing everything.
I rested a hand on my swollen belly.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered to my unborn child. “I’m trying my best, but it’s not enough.”
Not long ago, life felt steady. I had Derek, a husband who once seemed devoted, and three beautiful kids, with another on the way.
A man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney
Then, one evening, my world turned upside down. Derek walked through the door with a look I couldn’t place.
“I’m leaving,” he said flatly.
“What?” I gasped. “Why? I thought we were happy!”
He laughed bitterly. “You were happy, Anne! Not me! All you care about are the kids. I’m just a paycheck to you, and I’m done.”
Just a paycheck? I thought. Is that what my love felt like? All the years of hard work I’d put in to look after our kids? Where did that go?
A sad woman | Source: Pexels
I was too stunned to argue as he slammed the door behind him, but his words haunted me.
Soon, I picked myself up and got a part-time job at the local grocery store. I tried my best to make ends meet, but it didn’t work.
Child support barely covered the basics, and soon, I had to sell every treasure I owned just to keep the lights on.
Then, one morning, I looked at the old stroller I’d brought up from the basement.
An old stroller | Source: Midjourney
It was a family heirloom, used by all my kids, and I’d planned to use it for the new baby.
But now, I needed food more than sentiment. Swallowing my tears, I took it to the flea market, where a dealer gave me $50.
I happily accepted the offer, thinking the money would keep our tummies full for a few days.
I went home and put my mask on, ensuring none of my babies knew what I was going through.
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels
Two days later, I was all set to go to work when my gaze landed on something unexpected. The stroller was back, sitting on my porch with an envelope inside.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
It was a note with a phone number. It read, Please call me.
Curious, I dialed the number. A soft voice answered. “Hello?”
“I think you left a stroller on my porch,” I began cautiously. “How did you know it belonged to me? How did you find my address?”
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
“Derek told me,” the woman on the other end said. “My name is Grace. I think we should meet.”
An hour later, Grace sat across from me in my living room. She was younger than me but looked pale and blotchy. She looked like she’d been crying.
I knew what she was going to say before she said it.
“I was Derek’s girlfriend,” she began.
“Was?” I asked.
A woman talking to another woman | Source: Pexels
“We broke up today,” she said as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I didn’t know about you or the kids. Or the baby. I found out I was pregnant and thought he’d be thrilled. I even bought the stroller at the flea market to surprise him.”
Grace described decorating the stroller with balloons and a note that read, Hello, Dad! But Derek’s reaction had been anything but joyful.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
“He started yelling, asking if his ‘stupid wife’ sold it to me as a joke. He asked me to return the stroller to you. That’s when I realized I wasn’t the only one.”
I sighed. “And now?”
“He kicked me out saying he didn’t want kids. I have no family here, and I can’t afford rent. I don’t know what to do. I have nowhere to go!”
The look on her face told me she wasn’t lying. She was helpless, and it seemed like I was her last hope. That’s when an excellent idea struck my mind.
Two women discussing something | Source: Pexels
“Don’t worry,” I said firmly, placing my hand on her shoulder. “I need help with the kids, and you need a place to live. You can stay here, Grace.”
“But,” she looked at me. “It’s Derek’s baby… Are you sure you—”
“No,” I corrected her gently. “It’s your baby and my children’s sibling. That’s all that matters.”
Grace moved in the next day.
Her online job let her watch the kids after school, which allowed me to accept a full-time position at the grocery store.
A close-up shot of a person handing a fruit to another person | Source: Pexels
When my baby was born, Grace held my hand. When her baby arrived four months later, I was by her side.
Soon, we became a family and raised our children together in a home filled with love.
3. Poor Old Man Steps Out of Home One Morning & Sees Luxury Car Instead of Old One He Owns
I was standing on the porch that morning, staring at a sleek sports car parked in the same place where I’d parked my old, rusty car last night.
A blue sports car | Source: Pexels
My hands trembled as I held the envelope I’d found with the keys inside.
“Cynthia!” I called, barely able to keep my voice steady. “Cynthia, come out here quickly!”
She came out, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Gregory, what is it?” she yelled. “I burnt the pancakes because of you! You know we’re down to the last bit of mix. What’s this fuss about?”
A woman standing outside her house | Source: Midjourney
“Look!” I said, pointing toward the car. “Someone replaced our old car with that and left these keys in an envelope. But there’s no note. Just the keys! Who would do this?”
Before Cynthia could respond, we heard the honk of a car. I turned, and my old car pulled up in front of the house. My breath caught as I saw who stepped out.
“It’s him, Cynthia,” I said, my voice breaking. “He kept his promise!”
She smiled knowingly as if she had expected this all along. The young man strode up the path, grinning warmly.
A young man smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Gregory, how have you been? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Jack!” I cried, pulling him into a hug. “What is all this? Don’t tell me you’re behind this car business!”
“I had to do it, Gregory,” he said, laughing. “After what you did for me, how could I not? Besides,” he added, winking at Cynthia, “she helped me plan it.”
“Cynthia!” I exclaimed, turning to her. “You knew about this?”
A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
“Well, Jack wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she admitted, scrunching her nose. “He found me on social media and contacted me there. Honestly, I didn’t think he’d go through with it.”
“I couldn’t have pulled it off without her,” Jack chuckled. “Thank you so much for the help, Cynthia!”
I shook my head. “So this old man was played like a fiddle and didn’t even know it?”
They both laughed, and Cynthia nudged us inside.
“Enough talking,” she said. “Jack, you’ve come all this way. You’re staying for breakfast.”
A woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney
As we sat around the table, Jack began recounting the story Cynthia only partially knew.
“Three weeks ago,” he said, “I met Gregory at the airport. I was supposed to fly out that day to be with my wife since she was in labor. But I’d booked my ticket for the wrong date and only realized it at check-in.”
He paused, looking at me with gratitude. “That’s when Gregory stepped in. He offered me his ticket without hesitation. He said, ‘Boy, your wife needs you more than I need this flight.’ I didn’t know what to say. I was stunned.”
A man standing in an airport waiting lounge | Source: Pexels
“It was nothing,” I said, brushing it off. “Any man would’ve done the same.”
“No, Gregory,” Jack said firmly. “Not everyone would. And you didn’t stop there. When we were chatting in the waiting room earlier, you mentioned how your old car was giving you trouble. Before I left, I said, ‘We swapped tickets today; we’ll swap cars soon.’ You thought I was joking, didn’t you?”
I laughed. “Of course I did! I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
A man sitting in his house | Source: Midjourney
Jack smiled. “Well, here we are. That car is yours. And before you say no, let me tell you, it’s the least I can do. Because of you, I got to be there when my daughter was born. You gave me a gift I can never repay.”
Cynthia and I exchanged a look, tears in our eyes. “Jack,” I said, “this is too much. We can’t accept it.”
But Jack shook his head. “Please, Gregory. If you say no, it’ll break my heart.”
A young man smiling | Source: Midjourney
How could we refuse?
Jack’s kindness didn’t end there. He helped us pay off our loans and even repaired the house.
A few weeks later, he came to visit with his wife and baby. Though we live in different cities, Jack has become like a son to us. He calls often and visits when he can, ensuring we never want for anything.
And every time I look at that car, I’m reminded of how kindness, even the smallest act, can change lives.
A man smiling | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed reading these stories, here’s another compilation you might like: In a world that often forgets its elders, some children go above and beyond to show kindness and warmth to the elderly. These stories capture heartfelt moments when young hearts bring joy and comfort to elderly souls, proving compassion knows no age.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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