Paying over the odds for the freshest kicks just got riskier with factory fakes.
With the release of several must-have sneakers in March and you may be tempted to head to the resell market if you don’t get them for retail value.
But be warned, despite paying triple the original value, there is also a chance you could be receiving a knock-off product.
Social media groups, middlemen companies like StockX, who authenticate goods before sending onto buyer and selling apps facilitate the market where each month there are more sought-after goods.
Our survey with The Basement, a Facebook group with over 10,000 members who discuss, buy and trade streetwear. 43% of those who answered admitted to purchasing a counterfeit item with most being deceived by great replicas.
So why are so many people who should be able to tell the difference between a Yeezy and a market rip-off being tricked so regularly?
Chris Taylor, 23, a streetwear designer who launched his brand last year, believes social media influencers could be to blame. “Counterfeit factories see pictures of streetwear and high-fashion runways and want to capitalise on it, so they watch out for what’s releasing each month,” says Chris.
Our survey also revealed that 98% believed streetwear fakes were becoming more realistic, citing misleading pictures as the main reason they have been misled. Self-confessed sneaker addict Joseph Groves, 20, believes there are ways brands can avoid counterfeiting. “Supreme who always release items on a Thursday will only reveal what’s coming out a day before,” he explains. Adding that “there’s no real time for people in these factories to produce them in time for release”.
Expected to hit the resale market next are the Adidas Yeezy 350 v2 in three colourways dropping March 16th.
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