Kanye West is undoubtedly one of the most influential people on the planet. The 43-year-old rapper turned footwear entrepreneur has become a key figure in the sneaker community. Ever since bursting onto the world stage in 2003, Kanye has been a style icon for many. After joining adidas following his dramatic departure from Nike, Yeezus has been cooking up some serious heat. One of the more recent releases was his adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist.”
The earthy-toned silhouette was the second Yeezy 380 to release, quickly following the successful “Alien” iteration. A combination of khaki and tan throughout the Primeknit upper made them an instant hit. Of course, the semi-translucent detail used on the Boost midsole was another feature that only added to the allure of this Yeezy 380. With that popularity, however, came an awful lot of replica adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist” sneakers entering the market.
For this week’s episode of Real vs Fake, Dr KLEKT is showing you how to spot a fake adidas Yeezy 380 “Mist.” Our resident authentication expert breaks down the key differences between a real vs fake Yeezy 380 “Mist”, showing you just what you need to be careful. As with all of our fake education guides, Dr KLEKT’s advice will show you just what to look out for. Check out the video below and let us know which fakes you’d like to see for Season Three!
Although Dr KLEKT will show you how to spot a fake adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist”, we’re going to break it down for you in detail. We’ll be putting your sneakerhead knowledge to the test and checking if you know your real vs fake Yeezys. Without further delay, let’s get started on how to tell a fake adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist.”
The Test
You didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you? One of the Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist” sneakers below is real and one is fake. We’re going to give you 10 seconds to pick which you think is the real 380 Mist and which is the replica one. Ready…set…go!
The Price
As with all our Real vs Fake guides, the first thing we’re going to talk about is the price. When the adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist” dropped earlier this year, it sold out almost immediately. Retailing for €230, the sneaker wasn’t the cheapest Yeezy release. Although it doesn’t have a high resell value on the secondary market, the “Mist” can still fetch nearly €300 in certain sizes. With that in mind, you need to think about the price.
Most fake sneakers tend to be priced at well below the retail and resell value. We have seen pairs online listed for as little as €130, that’s €100 below retail. Of course, we aren’t saying that bargains can’t be had, but you need to think realistically. Would someone be selling a pair of Yeezy’s for way below what they paid for them? Probably not. If you’re ever in doubt, just remember that pricing can play a big factor in spotting fake Yeezys.
The Reveal
If you guessed the Yeezy 380 Mist on the left was real…congrats! This was the authentic adidas Yeezy Boost 380 Mist. Now, if you got the answer wrong then don’t worry. We have carried out some difficult Real vs Fake comparisons but this was a very close one indeed. Below, we’re going to show you exactly what you need to look for when spotting a fake Yeezy 380 Mist!
The Packaging
Whilst these fake Yeezys are very close to the real deal, there are a few areas that you can check for without having to even look at the shoes. Now, one of the biggest areas that fake sneaker manufacturers tend to get wrong is the packaging. We’ll show you just what to check for below.
The Colour
One of the most distinctive areas of all adidas Yeezys is the brown box they come in. The instantly recognisable design features a light brown colour and has a grain effect on the exterior. You can see that the authentic Yeezy 380 box looks perfect, with the “380” logo not being too dark on the box and blending in well. However, the same can’t be said on the fake.
When comparing these real vs fake Yeezy 380s, the differences are clear. The fake uses a much darker colour at the base, meaning that the “380” is also too dark. Additionally, the grain effect doesn’t quite match up, meaning that the box looks almost dirty. The box can show you some big very discrepancies without even checking the sneaker.
The Stamp
Most fake Yeezy manufacturers, or fake sneaker manufacturers for that matter, like to put their signature stamp on the box. On this particular fake Yeezy 380, the manufacturer put a tiny red stamp across the barcode. As you can see, this is a completely unneeded detail and one that helped Dr KLEKT spot this fake from a mile off.
The Inside
Once you get into the opening the shoe up, there are a number of key areas that you should check for. As with all of Kanye’s adidas Yeezys, the tissue paper is a very important detail. Though it may seem insignificant, the packaging on the inside is just as important as it is on the outside. You can see on this particular comparison, however, that the fake Yeezy 380 Mist has got it completely wrong.
For starters, the shoe has come wrapped in plastic. As you can see on the real Yeezy, there is only tissue paper covering the shoe. This is another detail that the fake Yeezys have got wrong. Another surprising addition was the inclusion of a Yeezy keychain and two silica gel packs. If any of your Yeezys come with these, then it’s likely that they’re fake.
The Laces
Although the packaging may have been awful on this replica Yeezy Boost 380 Mist, the actual shoe itself was not bad. The Primeknit upper was surprisingly close and had only a few small differences when compared to the real. However, one section, in particular, was very far away from the real Yeezy: the laces.
You can see in the image below that the deadstock factory pair of Yeezy Mists came perfectly looped. Although the lacing plays a big part, it is actually the colour that we are looking at on this real vs fake Yeezy comparison. When looking at the real Yeezy 380, you can see that the colour is a light beige, which matches the Primeknit perfectly. Yet the fake is nowhere near.
The fake Yeezy Mist laces are much darker which also reflects in the Primeknit. When comparing the laces, they fake Yeezys appear to use more of a bronze than a beige. For this reason, you can also see that the colouring actually looks completely off. In addition, the fake laces also came with no lacing structure at all and were simply tied together and the Yeezys thrown in the box.
The Midsole
Now, one of the biggest differences between this real vs fake Yeezy 380 is the midsole section. It is one of the most important parts of the shoe and one of the key details of the 380 as a whole. Unlike previous Yeezys, the 380 uses a complete smooth midsole. This gives it a much more stripped back look and adds a new texture to the silhouette. However, it isn’t the texture that we are looking at here, but the colour.
As you can see on the real adidas Yeezy 380 Mist, the midsole is a milky white. Where the upper joins the midsole is slightly translucent and carries down into the white Boost midsole. However, if you look at the fake, the colour is completely different. It is almost yellow and is very far away from the real Yeezy completely. If you want to know how to tell a fake adidas Yeezy Boost 380, the midsole is one of the easiest details to check.
The Shape
When it comes to most fake sneakers, the shape is one of the biggest giveaways. Whether it’s fake Air Jordan 1s or fake Air Force 1s, the shape is one thing replicators can never get right. Now, with replicators getting better, this could be something that changes in the future. However, for now, it is still a regular occurrence. On this replica Yeezy 380 Mist the shape is off completely.
As you can see, the difference between the real vs fake Yeezy 380 Mist is night and day. You can see that the shape of the real is much taller and also much thinner than the fake, something that the fake is not. When looking at the fake Yeezys, you can see that the cut is much shorter and also much wider, something that Dr KLEKT spotted straight away. If you ever want to know how to spot fake Yeezys, the shape is a key area to check for.
The Smell
Now, although this may sound a little farfetched, just bare with us. Fake sneakers tend to have a different smell than real ones. It might sound odd, but we all know the smell of a fresh pair of Jordans, Nikes or Yeezys. That distinct factory smell is something that is very hard to replicate and one detail that most fake sneakers can’t get right. These particular replica adidas Yeezy Boost 380s did not smell good, we can tell you that.
A combination of strong toxic adhesives gave this sneaker an unpleasant odour entirely. This is a difficult thing for replicators to get right as adidas will have a much more rigorous process when it comes to removing the smell. This may sound like an odd detail to talk about, but the smell can help you determine the authenticity of a sneaker straight away.
Recap
If you ever want to know how to spot a fake adidas Yeezy Boost 380 “Mist” then just remember these simple steps:
- The Price – if it sounds too good to be true that usually means that it is!
- The Box – check the colour and grain effect on the box, making sure that it is not too dark.Also make sure that there are no strange stamps anywhere on the label or box
- The Inside – make sure that the shoes do not come wrapped in any form of plastic or have any additions like a keychain or silica gel
- The Laces – check the lacing from deadstock and ensure that they are a light beige colour that matches the Primeknit
- The Midsole – this needs to be a milky white colour and have a slightly translucent look, not be slightly yellow or too dark
- The Smell – it may sound strange but make sure that the sneakers don’t smell like glue or toxic
Final Thoughts
So, guys, that concludes this week’s episode of Real vs Fake! We hope that you enjoyed this comparison and learned the differences between real and fake Yeezy 380s. Of course, we want to make sure that your fake education is up to scratch. If you are looking to get a pair of Mist Yeezy 380s, then at least be prepared.
If you can’t be bothered with the stress, then why not come and cop at KLEKT? Our team of dedicated authentication make sure every item is legit before it leaves the warehouse. With years of sneaker experience, our team takes all the stress away from your sneaker purchases. What are you waiting for? Go and cop your Yeezy 380 Mists on KLEKT today!
