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Tips for recognising fake Stone Island clothing

  • 23 February 23

Recognised throughout the world, the Stone Island brand has become so popular that some abuses have been exposed through counterfeiting. Since the mid-1990s, Stone Island has been popular with casual subculture football fans in the UK and across Europe. The brand's clothing is also frequently featured in hooligan films such as Green Street Hooligans and The Football Factory. A victim of its own success, the Italian brand is nevertheless trying to curb this phenomenon by equipping its products with an authentication code. These efforts have not prevented counterfeit products from appearing on the market. So how do you spot a fake Stone Island? That's the question we're going to answer in this article. If you're thinking of spending a few hundred euros on a garment from the Stone Island brand, you probably want to know whether what you're buying is really a good deal. Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction and help you authenticate a Stone Island garment.

1. Logo patch

The patch with the logo is a good way of spotting Stone Islands fakes, but obviously these can be removed from real garments and attached to fakes, so watch out for that. Start by checking the colour of the logo. The fake logo patch has rather pale and bland colours compared to the logo colours which are more saturated.

The buttons that hold the Stone Island logo patch in place also give an indication of the authenticity of the piece. Indeed, the buttonholes themselves should look hand-sewn and be rectangle-shaped with a slit affixed to a hole in the centre of these seams. The back of the badge should be lined with black silk and the badge should be clearly stitched and visible on the reverse. Pay particular attention to the compass logo, if it looks poor quality or badly stitched, this is an indication that it is a counterfeit as counterfeiters can never reproduce these seams effectively.

2. The authentication code

To help counter the problem, Stone Island began protecting its products in 2014 using Certilogo codes supplied by the authentication specialist. Protected garments now include a label that allows customers to scan and confirm authenticity using a mobile and associated app. Alternatively, if using a PC or tablet, the code can be entered online via the Certilogo website.

This code is one of the best ways to check the authenticity of your stone island garment by using the 12-digit code, or by scanning the qr code with your phone. These codes can always be found on the wash labels inside the garment.

3. ART numbers

Written on the inside label, the ART code is also a very good way of spotting a fake Stone Island. The only requirement is that you have a good grasp of subtlety. Like a barcode, the ART number indicates the year of creation, the range and the type of product (t-shirt, jumper, trousers, etc.). This number applies to all products marketed by the CP Company group.

Each Stone Island garment must be accompanied by its own unique ART number on the inside wash label. If it doesn't have one, authenticity is questionable, although be aware that Stone Island garments made before 1986 didn't always have art numbers. Often overlooked by counterfeiters, this code can provide useful information.

The first two numbers identify the year and season in which the garment was made. If the number is odd, it's from the autumn/winter range; if it's even, it's from the spring/summer range.

The second two digits indicate the brand.

  • 13 = under sixteen

  • 14 = sidenims

  • 15 = Stone Island

  • 16 = if Junior

  • 18 = CP Company

  • 20 = cp Donna

The third number corresponds to what the element is.

  • 5 - Knitwear

  • 6 - Sweatshirts, the rest are as follows

  • 0 - Leather

  • 1 - Shirts

  • 2 - T-shirts

  • 3 - Trousers

  • 4 - Shoulder pieces

  • 7 - Long coats

  • 8 - Costume

  • 9 - Bags / Hats / Accessories

  • A - Jacket / Blazer

  • B - Swimwear

  • G - Waistcoat

  • L - Bermuda shorts

  • M - Jacket

  • S - Shoes

The following letter refers to the model.

The next two numbers tell us about the material and treatment the garment has undergone during the manufacturing process. The rest of the numbers refer to the colour of the garment and the dye numbers.

4. Buttons and zips

Stone Island is renowned for its high-quality clothing. This attention to detail continues right down to the intricate details of small pieces such as buttons, zips etc. Buttons should always have Stone Island printed around them, unless it's a really old piece. The centre should be a cross, not four holes as you see on many fake Stone Island pieces. However, this does not apply to some pieces. Zips are usually made by a reputable brand such as YKK or Lampo or will have the brand name and logo printed on them. This is true for most items. If you have the item in hand, make sure the zips are of good quality and as if they were made to last. If they look cheap, they are probably counterfeit.

Buy a used Stone Island with Obvy

Stone Island is a brand renowned for its quality clothing, and this has an influence on the prices of the brand's products. That's why it's common to buy second-hand Stone Island clothing on classified ad sites such as Vinted or Leboncoin, and if you haven't already done so, we advise you to take the plunge. If you haven't already done so, we'd advise you to take the plunge: it's a good way of finding items in good condition or almost new, while still being able to negotiate the price or pay less for the garment than you would in an official shop.

Of course, to ensure that the transaction goes smoothly, it's essential to check the authenticity of the Stone Island product using the points we've covered above. What's more, to guarantee a completely secure transaction, we advise you to use a secure payment method such as Obvy. Obvy is the reference payment method for transactions between private individuals and with professionals. If the seller tries to scam you, or if you discover on receipt of the parcel that it's a counterfeit, all you have to do is report it and you can turn around and get all your money back. All thanks to Obvy!