Kanye West and adidas had a stellar 2019. The two cooked up some of the most popular sneakers of the year, with the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 and Yeezy Boost 700 having more pairs produced than ever before. However, the introduction of the adidas Yeezy Boost 380 was without a doubt one of the standout moments for the sneaker relationship.
Originally thought to be the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V3, the Yeezy Boost 380 was quickly announced as a brand new model in the ever-expanding Kanye West x adidas sneaker lineage. The first colourway to release, the adidas Yeezy Boost 380 ‘Alien’, went on to be one of the most sought after sneakers of the year. However, with the growing popularity comes a lot of replica Yeezy 380s that inevitably flood the market.
For our latest fake education guide, we’ll be taking a look at how to spot fake Yeezy Boost 380s. As one of the new Yeezys, there is a lot that we will be teaching you. Even some of the best fake Yeezys on the market will usually have a few flaws that we’ll be showing you. Without further delay, let’s get started on how to spot fake Yeezy 380 Boosts.
The Test
As always, we’re kicking off this real vs fake Yeezys post with a simple test. We want you to take a look at the two Yeezy Boosts below and pick which you think are the real Yeezys and which are the fake Yeezys.
The Price
Before we even get into how to spot fake Yeezy Boost 380s, one of the biggest giveaways should be the price. The Yeezy 380 retail price was £200/€220, not a cheap sneaker by any means. If you see any pairs online that are cheaper then this and are brand new then it should raise some suspicions.
The Yeezy Alien release date was also December 2019, so any pairs that have receipts before this date you would need to be conscious of. As with all new Yeezy Boosts, there will always be people trying to make a quick buck by selling fakes. If you want to be protected from fakes then buy from KLEKT!
The Reveal
If you said that the Yeezy 380 ‘Alien’ on the right was the real Yeezy congratulations…you were correct! We’ve had this Boost 380 for a few months and there are some pretty big discrepancies between the fake vs real Yeezys. We’ll explain just what they are below so let’s jump straight into it.
The Packaging
Before we even get into taking a look at these adidas Yeezy Boosts, there are some very big giveaways that can be spotted from the packaging. We have a feeling that you will be able to tell what they are pretty quickly.
The Colour
When it comes to packaging, adidas and Yeezy know how to make a good box. There is a high level of detail that goes into each box and this is easy to spot when you take a look. All Yeezy 350 V2 boxes will be a light brown, with the letters perfectly printed in a darker shade of brown on the top.
The colours used on the fake pair of Yeezy 350 V2s is too light as you can see. This will be down to a number of reasons but for the most part, replicators are cutting corners. You can see that the letters appear faded on the box label, but we’ll come to that later.
The Text
The most obvious detail on these fake Yeezys is the text and the label. These are, of course, the adidas Yeezy Boost 380 ‘Alien’ (FB6878/FV3260) and not the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V3. You can see on the box that there is a large ‘350’ across the top when there should, in fact, be a ‘380.’
On this particular pair, it was easy to spot that this was a replica Yeezy 380 before even opening the box. When we examine the text closely, you can also see that the print is actually faded too. This will be down to replica Yeezy manufacturers not taking as much care compared to adidas.
The Inside
When we take a look at whats on the inside of the box, there are also some big discrepancies. All Yeezy 350 V2s will come with adidas’ signature tissue paper on the inside of the box. This tissue paper is a mix of light grey and green and is one of the most recognisable parts of the Yeezy box.
Now, as you can see on the image below, the Yeezy Alien fake has come wrapped in plastic instead of tissue paper. This is pretty lazy from the replicators and a real Yeezy Boost sneaker would never do this. The replicators have also included the infamous key chain; something that nearly all fake Yeezys for sale will have.
The Upper
As you would probably expect the differences between the real vs fake Yeezys when looking at the shoe really start to show. Take a look below to find out how to spot a fake Yeezy Boost 380 ‘Alien’.
The Primeknit
One of the first places that you should be checking for when looking at real vs fake Yeezy 380s is the Primeknit upper. There is quite a distinctive pattern used on the 380 Boost and one that has some fine details, including the knitwork.
As you can see from the image below, there is a clear division between the grey and the white colours used on this sneaker. You can see that in the fake pair this colour is more cream compared to the real Yeezys. When you get up close with this pair, the holes between each piece of Primeknit are also very different. There are larger holes used on the fake, so much so that you can see the grey Primeknit underneath the white.
The Laces
When taking a look at the laces on this Yeezy sneaker, a few more discrepancies show. The Alien Yeezys use a thick, white rope lace. However, on the fake Yeezy Alien, these laces are in fact a cream colour. It may be a small detail but it makes a big difference when comparing real or fake Aliens.
The Insole
Whilst it may not be visible when on, the insole is another key area for you to take a look at when comparing a real vs fake Yeezy. You can see from the image above that the insole text is black on the real pair and on the fake it is cream.
You can also see that the insoles are two different colours, with the fake using a cream insole so the text merges in. However, the fake pair uses a grey insole which allows the black text to shine.
These may only be small details but they make a very big difference when it comes to checking the authenticity of a pair Yeezy 380s.
The Sole
One of the most unique parts of the Yeezy 380 is the midsole and sole. There are a few specific areas to check out on this section so let’s get into it.
The Midsole
Unlike previous Yeezy models, the Yeezy 380 has a completely smooth midsole section that is semi-translucent. This means that you can see the Boost material on the inside of the shoe.
On the real Alien Yeezy, this midsole section has a slight green colour to it. You can also see that there is a small pattern towards the sole of the shoe. However, on the fake Yeezy Alien 380, this midsole colour is a brown colour, which is completely wrong. This colour has also been used on the sole and is a big giveaway.
The Boost
When you take a look at the Boost used on the sole, there are a few differences that are important to take note of. If you look at the real Boost material, it has a matte finish. The word Boost is also debossed and the material appears to be a lot smoother.
However, on the fake, the Boost is very glossy when it shouldn’t be. The Boost imprint on the fake is too sharp on the edges and almost looks carved into the material itself. These are big differences that are easy to spot and should be taken note of.
The UV Test
As with all real vs fake guides here at KLEKT, we’re finishing with a UV test. If you haven’t got a UV light, we could not recommend buying one enough. They are a handy tool that can really help you spot any fake sneaker. UV lights can help to point out flaws that you might not necessarily have spotted with the naked eye. Take a look at the UV comparison of the real vs fake Yeezy 380 Alien.
The Upper
When under UV light, it is easy to see a lot of differences between the real vs fake Yeezy. At first glimpse, you can see that the middle seam lights up on the fake pair but it does not on the real. This is down to the fact that the replicators have sewn the two pieces together and left the seam exposed, whereas the real adidas Yeezy Aliens have hidden this stitch.
Once you take out the insole of the adidas Yeezy you can see the Boost material underneath On this part of the fake you can see the hole which shows that the Boost doesn’t light up, but the white base does. However, on the real pair, the Boost lights up as well as the base.
If you take a look at the midsole, there are a few more differences that also come to light. The sole of the shoe lights up on the real pair but doesn’t on the fake. When you take a look at the midsole on the real pair, the entire section lights up. However, on the fake pair, only the heel section lights up.
Recap
If you want to know how to spot fake Yeezy Boost 380s, then remember to follow a few simple steps:
- The Packaging – the box should be a light brown with darker brown text. Check that the numbers are clearly printed on the box. The tissue on the inside should be a grey/green colour like all other Yeezy 350 V2s models.
- The Upper – have a closer look at the colours of the Primeknit, they should be white and grey. Take a look at whether you can see the grey material through the white, this should not be visible. The laces should match the white and not be any other colour.
- The Insole – make sure that the insole is a slight grey and that the adidas Yeezy text is clearly visible.
- The Midsole – this should be a slightly green colour and also be sem-translucent, not any other colour.
- The Sole – this should also be slightly green and semi-translucent. Have a closer look at the boost material; is it matte? Does it have a debossed boost logo?
- The UV Test – check that you cannot see the seam under UV light. Once the insole is removed the Boost material and base should light up. On the real pair, the entire midsole should also light up, not just the heel section.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to tell if Yeezys are fake is a useful skill for any sneakerhead. Even the most expensive fake Yeezys will still have some of the same flaws that the worst fake Yeezys have. It is better to be safe than sorry! Instead of buying a pair of the best fake Yeezys, spend the extra cash and cop an authentic pair. If you are looking at buying Yeezys from a source online, just make sure you check back to this useful guide.
You could take all the stress, time and effort away and buy your Yeezy Boost 380s from KLEKT! Our team of authenticators guarantee authenticity on every purchase, with a team of experts on hand to spot fake Yeezys from a mile off. Why buy a new pair of Yeezys and not know whether your Aliens are real or fake? Head to the KLEKT store today and cop some real Yeezy Boosts!
