It’s hard to beat an Air Jordan 1. For the past 35 years, the signature Michael Jordan silhouette has remained a constant winner in the often hard to please sneaker community. Since 1985, Jordan Brand and Nike have constantly pushed the boundaries on the sneaker. Collaborations with the likes of Off-White™ have seen the shoe deconstructed, whilst Travis Scott versions twist the Swoosh altogether. However, sometimes it’s just best to keep things simple.
Following on from the 2018 Air Jordan 1 “Court Purple”, Jordan Brand released an even simpler version just last month. The sneaker features a black and white leather base, with splashes of purple across the ankle, heel and mudguard. It was an instant hit, selling out in retailers around the world. This regal take on the classic Air Jordan 1 is one of the best AJ1 drops this year. However, with all of that excitement, a number of fake Air Jordan 1 “Court Purple” sneakers have entered the market.
For this week’s episode of Real vs Fake, we’re taking on the Jordan 1 Court Purple. Our resident authentication expert Dr KLEKT will be showing you the differences between real vs fake Jordans. With this being such a popular sneaker and a fairly new release, there’s never been a better time to improve your fake education. Check out the YouTube video below to see what Dr KLEKT can teach you on the AJ1 Court Purple!
The Test
As with any of our Real vs Fake guides, we want to see just how good your knowledge is. One of the Air Jordan 1 Court Purples below is real and one is fake. We want you to pick which one you think is which.
The Price
Now, although this sneaker was hyped, the reselling price on it is not too crazy at the moment. With this being one of the most stocked Air Jordan 1s in a while, there are a fair few pairs on the market. That doesn’t deter fake Jordan makers from trying to get you to buy.
Most fake manufacturers, and most fake Air Jordan 1s, are often priced below retail and market value as a way to entice customers. The real Air Jordan 1 Court Purple retailed at €170 and is on KLEKT at the moment start from €210. Don’t be tempted just because you’ve spotted a pair for a lower price online. Remember, if it’s too good to be true then it usually is.
The Reveal
If you said that the shoe on the right was real…congratulations, you were right! This was definitely one of the tougher fake Air Jordan 1 comparisons that we’ve carried out. Although this fake AJ1 was good, there are a few telltale signs that Dr KLEKT picked up on. Without further delay, let’s take a closer look at how to spot a fake Air Jordan 1 Court Purple.
The Box
One of the biggest areas to check on any fake Air Jordan is the packaging. More often than not, the box can be one of the key giveaways when it comes to carrying out a legit check. Here, we’ll show you how to spot a fake Air Jordan 1 just from the box alone.
The Structure
Now, this may seem like a small detail, but how the Air Jordan 1 box arrives is a big deal. Most fake Air Jordan 1 manufacturers will not care how the shoes arrive as long as they do arrive. For the most part, fake Jordan 1s will have damaged boxes, dents and even holes in the top. If the box looks badly damaged and its a “new” sneaker, then be cautious.
The Font
If you want to know how to tell fake Air Jordan 1 Court Purples, the font on the box can be a big giveaway. As you can see on the fake AJ1 box, the font is faded and far too thin. It looks patchy in some sections and the overall appearance of the font is poor. However, if you take a closer look at the real Air Jordan 1 box, you can see the clear difference in quality.
The real box has a crisply defined font throughout and uses a clean print. On closer inspection, you can also see that the font is much thicker than the fake. Although this is only a small detail, it can make all the difference when carrying out a legit check on an Air Jordan 1.
The Laces
One of the best parts of the Air Jordan 1 Court Purple is the second set of laces. Whilst we personally think that they should have been white, it’s hard to top that eye-catching second set. However, the laces are also one area that you can take a look at if you want to know how to tell fake Jordan 1 Court Purples.
On the real Air Jordan 1 Court Purple, the secondary laces use a tie-dye pattern made up of white and purple. The effect is quite unique and would definitely make for a statement set of laces all on their own. However, on the fake AJ1 Court Purple, you can see that the laces are completely different. The fake pair comes with a set of purple laces, something that was easy to spot straight away. If you’re looking for signs of a fake Air Jordan 1, this is one of them.
The Sole
We mentioned that this was one of the better fake Jordans that we have seen, but there are still some differences to check for. One of those areas is the sole, a detail that replicators usually get wrong. We’ll show you what we mean below.
The Definition
You can see that the real Air Jordan 1 Court Purple has smooth edges around the entire sole. This means that Nike has taken the time to ensure that the edges are not rough to the touch. Rather interestingly, this fake Air Jordan 1 has a very defined sole unit. Now, what we mean by that is that the edges around the midsole sole are quite cleanly cut. This fake, for once, actually had a better finish than the real, but it was a big giveaway when comparing the two.
This definition can also be seen on the “Nike Air” logo on the sole unit. As with all Air Jordan 1s, the Nike Air is a signature detail. On this particular fake AJ1, this logo is too clearly defined whereas the real Air Jordan 1 is a lot smoother and subtle. When touching this logo, it is rough, making it very uncomfortable. If you want to know the difference between a real vs fake Jordan 1, this can help.
The Sole Line
On every Jordan 1, the sole features lines. With this particular fake, the line that surrounded the sole was far too thin. If you take a closer look at the image below, there is a line that flows from the midsection of the sole in a semi-circle. On the fake, this line was far too thin, whereas on the real it was much thicker.
The UV Test
As with all of our Real vs Fake guides, we’ve got one final test to carry out. When it comes to checking fake sneakers, UV light can show you signs that you otherwise would not have known about. If you want to know how to tell fake Jordan 1 Court Purples, and how to tell fake Jordan 1s in general, a UV light can help you out. They’re relatively inexpensive and they can show you some things that your eye otherwise wouldn’t pick up on.
The Midsole
On pretty much every fake Air Jordan, the manufacturer will leave a little calling card. This could be a keychain in the box or something like a UV stamp as you can see below. Now, depending on the replicator, they may decide to put this on the shoe or the box.
You can see that on the fake shoe, there are a number of UV characters on this box. They have stamped the midsole multiple times, making it easy to spot the fake. However, if you look at the Jordan 1 real vs fake, there are no stamps at all. This is one simple thing that your eye would not be able to pick up on in normal light.
The Insole
Another simple difference that this UV light showed up was the insole colour. When you take a look at the real Jordan 1 Court Purple, you can see that the “Nike Air” does not light up. However, on the fake Jordan 1 Court Purple, this logo glows a bright red. This is a small detail but one that the replicators have failed to master.
Recap
If you want to know how to spot a fake Jordan 1 “Court Purple” just remember to check for the following details:
- The Price – if it’s too good to be true then it usually is!
- The Box – check the overall structure of the box, is it damaged? Also be sure to take a look at the font, it should be thin or faded
- The Laces – make sure that the laces are tiedye and not a solid purple
- The Sole – the sole should be smooth to the touch and subtle in detail, not rough or too bold on the lines. Make sure that the sole line is thick rather than thin!
- The UV Test – check for any stamps on the shoe as well as the insole; nothing should light up!
Final Thoughts
That concludes this Real vs Fake guide! We hope that you found this guide useful and you now know how to tell fake Air Jordan 1 Court Purple sneakers. As with all our fake education posts, we want to show you just how good fake sneakers are. If you’re looking at getting a new pair of Air Jordan 1s, or just don’t want the hassle of authenticating yourself, then head over to KLEKT!
