Levis jeans: how to distinguish a fake from the original

Levi's products are high quality and durable. People tend to buy it not only for reasons of prestige, but also because of its excellent consumer qualities. The popularity of the brand contributed to the appearance of a large number of counterfeits on the market. In order not to become a victim of deceivers, you need to learn to “read” the signs of authentic Levis.

Signs of distinguishing original Levi's from a fake

There are several landmarks. The following will help you make your final decision:

  • patch and other labels;
  • high quality material and perfect stitching;
  • quality of fittings;
  • price;
  • lack of ultra-modern decor.
Levi's jeans

@whowhatwear.com

What should the label be like?

The patch is located on the back of the waistband and is clearly visible. It is made from thin, slightly rough-to-the-touch leather of yellow-brown color. If it is thick and smooth, and too light or dark, this indicates a counterfeit. The text must be symmetrical and free of errors and typos.

By the way! There is no need to look for the inscription 1947 on the patch.This is an outdated solution and was abandoned long ago.

Patch for Levis

@www.postoast.com

One of the most noticeable parts of the jeans is the red tongue. On the original it is cut perfectly and sewn to the back pocket. In 99 cases out of 100, it has the Levi’s inscription on it, and only in one case is the letter R instead.

By the way! If the word “Levi’s” has a capital “E”, it is most likely a fake. Since 1971, it has only been in capital letters on the tongue.

Quality of fabric and tailoring

The only material used for work is French denim. Its structure remains unchanged for many years. Therefore, having an old pair in your hands, you can safely compare it with the new one. The quality will be identical, as will the main properties, namely:

  • resistance to mechanical damage and rupture;
  • small thickness with pronounced density;
  • softness.

The fabric has a special structure. The drawing is clear, visible from the front and back sides. The pattern consists of light diagonal lines. No less remarkable are the threads of the seams. They must be 100% cotton. This is not difficult to check; you just need to scrape the seam with your fingernail. If hairs begin to separate from the thread, you have a fake in your hands.

Decor and accessories

The brand is conservative, so it does not produce a line of jeans with ultra-modern decor. Other landmarks:

  1. The bolt is the most popular fastener of the iconic model. Counterfeits rarely have the correct number. When sewing original Levi's, the number of fasteners increases with the size. If the latter is equal to or greater than W38, the jeans are fastened with 5 bolts, excluding the top one. The number engraved on it must match the numbers indicated on all labels.
  2. Lightning may be present, but exclusively metal.Modern models do not have brand engraving on it.
  3. The design on the pocket is quite simple, but very neatly stitched. Its absence on jeans from the Levi’s Authentics Signature line is the norm. Improperly processed pocket edges should be much more alarming. In the originals they are necessarily reinforced. The method depends on the series: vintage trousers have rivets in this place, while regular trousers have a thickened seam.
  4. Material and properties of fittings. Parts - bolts, rivets - are made only from durable metal, which, unless you set a goal, cannot be bent. Traces of rust are not acceptable. They cannot exist, because the alloy of the fittings has pronounced anti-corrosion properties.
  5. Rivets. There are 6 pieces at the front. On one side there are 4, on the other - 2.
Bolts and rivets for Levis

@jeans_501

Attention! To identify a fake, it will be useful to take tweezers or a nail file with you to the fitting room. Using these tools you will not be able to bend bolts and rivets.

Dimensions and cost

The brand's production facilities are located in many developing countries, so there is no need to be intimidated by the inscription “Made in Turkmenistan”. It's best to try to figure out whether a particular pair of pants has been heat-treated. If not, then after the first wash they will shrink to about the same size, and what happened should not be regarded as a sign of a fake. In other cases, the brand’s sizing chart corresponds to the generally accepted American one: things should not differ more or less from it.

The high price is also not an indisputable guideline. The cost depends on the region and place of sale. There are plenty of budget Levi's lines in the US domestic market.

In today's world, where making money and competition is the main problem, the release of cheaper copies of expensive branded items is inevitable. Before purchasing products from well-known brands such as Levi's, you need to first study all the information about them. Only in this case will the purchase be successful, and jeans will become a source of pride and a favorite element of your wardrobe.

Reviews and comments
D Dmitriy:

Pressed paper patch.

D Dmitriy:

The post is about nothing - there are real and accurate parameters for checking pants for originality, but here it’s just chatter.

A Andrew T.:

MATERIALS
1. THERE ARE MANY TYPES AND TYPES OF MATERIAL – BOTH IN APPEARANCE AND IN COMPOSITION.
2. NO MORE MATERIALS FROM THE PAST. IF YOU CAN PUT A PAIR OF LEVI'S IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM, I'LL TAKE MY WORDS BACK.

D Denis:

Since 2018, the big E is on all jeans, as a nod to the past

A Alexander:

Dmitry6, please provide a link to these “specific and precise parameters for checking pants for originality”!

D Dmitriy:

About the belt label - nonsense. It can be made either from knitted leather (the notorious cardboard) or from natural leather (usually on products sewn in the USA, or on the LVC line).The size and model number imprint can be shifted (that's part of the charm). French denim is nonsense. Denim is produced all over the world, and LS&Co? they buy it where it is cheaper. Not at the expense of quality, of course. By the way, one of the highest quality is Tajik. That's why there is a factory there too. The only thing is that non-shrink denim for the STF line is woven in the USA, Mexico and Egypt.

IN Valdemar:

Complete nonsense of Dunno. I go with a friend to a modern Levi’s store. I choose 4 models of jeans (with the exception of model 501 and ask them to bring them the same size and length. When they are laid out on the table, we look: not a single pair matches in size and length. Currently, except for the “title” models, everything is sewn anywhere from any shit.. Therefore, the obtained parameters after cooking cannot be predicted. The bulk of sales and profits for stores of this brand come from sales push-ins for the price of jeans

A Alexander:

Modern American Levi’s is the same as Doctor’s sausage or Alyonka chocolate made in the USSR and modern.
Same name, everything inside is different. They sold the looms to Japan, and now Japan produces 21-25 oz jeans. (ounces), and they themselves make consumer goods - from 10 oz rags, like “Well Wait” jeans in the USSR.

A Alexander:

Maybe it's Levi's?

Materials

Curtains

Cloth