How to spot fake

Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 Pirate

Black
in 36 steps
Created 2015-09-21 Modified 2015-09-21 goVerify LLC

1. PROFILE
Learn how to spot fake Pirate Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's with this detailed 36 point step-bystep guide by goVerify.

2. RECEIPT
Check the details of the original receipt including date, store and amount paid. There should also be
a 6 digit style number as well as a barcode number.

3. RETAIL BOX
Adidas Yeezy sneakers come in a sturdy, unprinted retail box, featuring the Trefoil and Yeezy logo on
the side. There should be no cracking or flaking of the material along the edges or folds of the box.
Remember real shoe boxes can accompany fake shoes.

4. BOX LABEL
Adidas shoe boxes feature a label on the one side detailing style name, size, color, country of
manufacture and a style & PO number. Check all of these details carefully. Tip 1: Check that the
style (ART) and PO (#) numbers match those found on the label inside the shoe. Tip 2: scan the
barcode (even a photo of one) with a barcode scanner app, the exact product including size should
be correct.

5. BOX LOGOS
On the side of the retail box is a Yeezy, Adidas and Trefoil logo as well as the words Boost 350
Yeezy.Supply. Check the quality of the printing, make sure the logos are solid with clean sharp
edges. Also make sure the typefaces used are correct, pay specific attention to the diagonal bar
through the 0 in 350. Make sure the logos are center aligned within the side panel.

6. BOX INNER LID

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's have a secondary lid within the retail box for added protection,
make sure this secondary lid fits perfectly and has a finger hole at the top end.

7. BOX CONSTRUCTION
The retail box will have well-constructed supportive side walls to keep the box rigid and to improve
protection. Check the structure of the folds, also make sure that there is a cut out along the bottom
edge for the inner side wall to lock into.

8. HEEL STITCHING
High quality stitching can be hard to replicate, the heel area of Black Yeezy Boost 350's is a good
place to check that stitch quality. Make sure the stitching along the edges of the collar hem is tight,
neat and evenly spaced. Also check the square shaped stitch pattern joining the pull tab to the
upper, make sure the outer edge is a double stitch line while the inner edge is a single stitch line.
This is a good opportunity to make sure there is no excess glue showing along the join between the
outsole rubber and the knitted upper.

9. HEEL TAB
Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's come with a heavy duty pull tab on the heel. Check the quality of
the weave, there should be no loose ends. Take note of the thin red detail stitch down the center of
the pull tab, make sure it is wider that the rest of the stitching. You should also see a box shaped
stitch pattern detail in the center of the pull tab, this holds the pull tab in shape.

10. HEEL TAB BACK

If you roll the pull tab over you will see how the tab has been closed off at the back with a small line
of stitching. This helps create the pull tab's rigid structure. If you look at the front of the pull tab you
can see this stitching on both sides.

11. COLLAR STITCHING

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's have high quality stitching along the edge of the ankle collar, make
sure the stitching is tight, neat and evenly spaced. Make sure the width of the hem is even and that
the stitch line follows the edge of the hem perfectly. Also take note of how the woven pull tab is
folded back to form a double layer where it joins to the knitted upper. Tip: Take note of the narrow
gap between the pull tab and collar.

12. HEEL PROFILE

Black Yeezy Boost 350's have a very distinctive bulging outsole shape which is clearer when you
look at the heel. Make sure the bulge is wider lower down than at the top, creating an almost pear
like shape as opposed to a sphere. Also note how the vertical ribs on the outsole have rounded ends
before they reach the top of the rubber.

13. TOE PROFILE

If you look at the shoe from the front you will notice the very pronounced pear shape bulge of the
outsole. Also check that the stitch line that starts under the toe cap (and runs under the laces) is at a
slight angle as opposed to a straight vertical line.

14. TOE STITCHING

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's have a one piece Primeknit breathable upper which is joined by a
seam which runs from under the toe cap all the way up to the top of the tongue. The stitching along
this seam is hard to see because it is the same colour as the knitted upper. Look for the unusual
zigzag stitch pattern and also make sure the stitching itself is tight, neat and even. Take this
opportunity to check that there is no excess glue showing where the outsole meets the upper.

15. LACES
Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's come with high quality tubular woven laces. Make sure the weave is
tight and even, make sure the lace tips are sealed with a semi-transparent matt cap and no loose
ends show.

16. LACE HOLES

The lace holes in the knitted upper are barely visible, there are no eyelets. Make sure the colour of
the laces and the knitted upper are almost identical. Take note of the fine grey single stitch line that
runs above and below the lace holes. This stitch line holds in place a suede patch that can only be
seen from inside the shoe.

17. LACES INSIDE

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's have a suede patch to hold the laces in place that can only be seen
from inside the shoe. Take note of how the stitch line around the edge of the patch is the same
colour as the patch.

18. TONGUE STITCHING

Make sure the high quality stitching along the edge of the tongue is tight, neat and evenly spaced.
Make sure the width of the hem is even and that the stitch line follows the edge of the hem perfectly.

19. TONGUE DETAIL

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's will have a one piece hem running along the full length of the collar.
Where the two ends of the hem join on the instep side of the shoe there is a neat diagonal fold over.
Make sure the hem is also folded over on its self so that is has a soft rounded edge and not a frayed
exposed fabric edge.

20. SWING TAG

New Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's will come with a swing tag explaining how the colour of the
fabric might change. Some countries might have different languages on them. Check that the
typeface used is correct, make sure the swing tag has very rounded corners. Make sure the printing
is solid and sharp.

21. SIDE YZY

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's will have a suede arch support patch on the instep of each shoe.
One shoe will have a YZY logo debossed into the suede. Check that the typeface is correct, make
sure the quality of the debossing is sharp and clean. Tip: Not easy to see but look for the small, very
subtle, bumps in the typeface at the base of the "Y" letter.

22. SIDE TREFOIL

The other shoe will have a suede arch support patch with a Trefoil logo debossed into it. Make sure
the debossing is sharp with clean straight edges.

23. INSIDE LABEL (R)

Inside label details vary depending on year, country of manufacture and style. Look for the country of
manufacture, shoe size, factory code (usually starts with 2-3 letters) and date of production
(MM/YY). Make sure the style (ART) number and purchase order (#) number match the retail box
label. Lastly there will be a 13 digit Unique Security Number, make sure it is different on each shoe,
the last 3 digits are usually different. Tip: Google search "Adidas"+"ART number" to check that the
colourway is correct.

24. INSIDE LABEL (L)

The second shoe label will be the same as the first shoe except for the 13 digit Unique Security
Number. Make sure the last 1-3 digits are different.

25. SOCKLINERS
Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's come with molded sockliners that provide comfort and support.
Check the height of the edge along the heel, also take note of the shape of the impact patches on
the forefoot and heel.

26. SOCKLINER LOGO

The sockliners will have an Adidas Yeezy logo printed on the top, make sure the printing is solid with
sharp edges. Also take note of the antimicrobial fabric, it looks like a very fine weave.

27. SOCKLINER SIZES

Under the sockliner there will be a size code embossed into the rubber. Make sure the size matches
the size of the label on the retail box and the label inside the shoe. Note how the size 7 is indicated
as 7.0 and 8 as 8.0

28. SOCKLINER HEEL LOGO

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's will have an Adidas and Trefoil logo debossed under the heel of the
sockliner. Check the quality of the debossing, make sure the edges are sharp and clear. Make sure
the typeface of the logo is correct, the letters should have a rounded top profile as opposed to being
flat.

29. INSOLE SEAM

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's will have a sonic welded seam tape strip down the middle of the
insole, make sure it is not lifting. Also note how the heavy duty stitching joining the insole to the
upper at the heel has a limited number of stitches, this is because the one piece upper only requires
limited joins.

30. INSOLE FULL FABRIC

If you look down into the forefoot of the shoe from the inside you will notice how the one piece
Primeknit upper has no lining and wraps the full way around your foot. The only real visible join is the
sonic welded seam down the middle. Also note the limited number of stitches that run along the
edge of the toe area.
Below, you will see that the Insole Full Fabric is poorly designed. The stitching is the wrong color and
is poorly stitched and the suede material used is cheap. Also, the suede arch vent stitching is wrong.

31. SUEDE ARCH VENT

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's have a suede arch support patch inside the shoe as well as on the
outside. Take note of the grey stitch line from the outside patch and how it runs just wide of this
inside patch. Make sure there are ventilation holes drilled into this suede patch, take note of the
number of holes and how they are positioned, the bottom line does not have a full line of holes. Tip:
Look closely at how there is a different mesh material under the ventilation holes to help
breathability.

32. OUTSOLE PATTERN

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's have a very distinctive outsole pattern, make sure the tread is not
worn out if the shoes are new. Make sure the thin horizontal ribs have rounded ends. Also note how
the Boost midsole material (the bubble looking texture) is exposed through a cut out in the rubber
outsole.

33. HEEL BOOST

Yeezy Boost 350's will have a Boost logo debossed into the main impact point on the heel. Make
sure the debossing is clean and that the letters have a slightly rounded edge as opposed to a sharp
edge.

34. BOOST MATERIAL

Black Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's come with a Boost midsole for energy-returning properties that keep
every step charged with an endless supply of energy. The Boost material has a bubbly structure with
a very rough texture. Tip: Can you see the small hexagonal clusters of 7 dots within the texture?

35. SOLE LOGO

At the forefoot of the outsole is an Adidas and Trefoil logo. Make sure the embossing is sharp and
clean with straight edges.

36. SOLE DETAIL

The ribs that run under the sole of Adidas Yeezy Boost 350's are not always in perfectly straight
lines, note how at the forefoot some of the ribs curve slightly at various points. Make sure there is a
cut out section under the forefoot that shows you the Boost material underneath.