5 tips for spotting fake Converse All Star trainers

The Converse All Star is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most recognisable trainers of our time. Worn by some of the biggest celebrities of the 60s and 70s, Converse sneakers have become a pop culture icon and a timeless piece of fashion. The company was later acquired by the giant Nike, allowing this iconic shoe to take off again, notably through partnerships with Comme des Garçons. However, the timelessness of Converse has not escaped the notice of counterfeiters, who are constantly rushing to replicate this pair of shoes in order to make a profit. But there are ways to spot a fake Converse from the real thing. In this article, we give you 5 of them.

Make sure the seller is reliable

The first thing to do to avoid getting ripped off is to check which shop you want to visit to buy your Converse shoes. To this end, the Converse brand has added a shop locator tool to its official website to allow customers to find authorised Converse retailers near the area.

If you prefer to shop online, no problem, there are solutions. Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular. Especially if you're looking for a coveted vintage model, buying second-hand is well worth it! Sometimes real treasures can be found at bargain prices, and sometimes they are simply much cheaper than in the shops themselves. When buying online, you can't examine, touch or carefully try on the item you want. Therefore, the first step before finalising the purchase, like the Converse trainers here, is to take a closer look at the seller. You may need to read the online seller's comments and reviews first. Also, look at the photos they use as fraudsters tend to steal or alter a photo to make their product look authentic.

The Converse All Star logo

On high Converse shoes

One of the most important features for checking the authenticity of your Converse All Star shoes is the logo patch, which is only found on high Converse shoes.

• An original Converse shoe always has a round Converse logo patch.
• The badge itself consists of a thin layer of white, round rubber. The rubber is firmly applied to the fabric and should not come off even if it is heavily deformed.
• The circle of an original Converse shoe measures approximately 4.6 cm in diameter.
• On the logo patch are the letters "Converse All Star" in red capitals and the model name "Chuck Taylor" in navy blue script. In the centre is a five-pointed star, a typical Converse look. In fake Converse high-tops, the emblem is often not coloured and fades with the finger when rubbed.
• The ® symbol is often found on the logo of fake Converse shoes. It's the sign of a registered trademark. But Chucks has not incorporated the "R" into its logo since 2008. All the original models produced after 2008 therefore certainly no longer have the "R" integrated into the logo. So keep your eyes peeled! However, if you're looking for a second-hand vintage Converse model, it will be marked with the old logo.

On the left is a counterfeit Converse with the ® on its patch, on the right the patch with the Converse logo on authentic Converse shoes.

On low Converse shoes

On the All Star low-top trainers, the Converse logo patch is placed on the tongue.

• It's a thin, rectangular canvas fabric carefully stitched onto the tongue that says "CONVERSE" in white on a red background and "ALL STAR" in navy blue with the star logo separating the two words.
• This particular colour combination of the badge is only used on the white and natural ivory versions of the All Star bass.
• The two-tone versions of the All Star trainers feature the rectangular logo patch in black and white, while the monochrome pairs have the logo in the same colour as the shoes.
• The letters should be clear, close together, slightly elongated and give the impression that the spaces between them are too small.
• The thread around the print must never be loose. The dots must be uniform, and if the print is blurred or the thread is loose around the print, it is the work of counterfeiters.

On the left a Converse logo on a counterfeit, on the right a Converse logo on a genuine Converse.

Converse soles

The insole

The insoles of Converse All Star shoes must be the same colour as the canvas lining. On a real Converse shoe, the insole will always have the wording "Converse" printed in plain navy blue capitals. This is of course with the exception of the monochrome black model, which has the insole lettering in white. But be aware if you're buying a second-hand pair. The insignia on a used pair will appear blurrier than on a new pair, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's counterfeit.

On the left is the insole of a fake Converse, on the right the insole of a real Converse.

The outsole

You can also tell from the outsole whether you're dealing with an original pair of Converse sneakers or a fake. Converse All Star trainers feature a unique embossed sole pattern. This pattern looks like a combination of various motifs, including diamond shapes, diagonal lines, criss-cross lines and horizontal lines. The original Converse All Star trainers also have a small area on the outsole that shows the Converse logo. You should see the lettering "CONVERSE ALL STAR" and the five-pointed star badge. There should also be a small 6-pointed hexagonal star in the corner, which is usually missing from counterfeits. If any of these details are missing, it is almost certainly an imitation.

On the left is the outsole of a fake Converse, on the right the outsole of a real Converse.

The label behind the tab

Whether low or high, genuine Converse shoes will always have a serial number on a label on the inside of the tongue. If you have two different numbers, something is wrong. This label contains information about where the shoe was made, the model number, the shoe size, the shoe material, the QR code and the unique serial numbers for each shoe. If the country of manufacture appears in the middle of the label or towards the bottom of the label, it may be a fake Converse.

Also note the zigzag stitching around the edge of the label. If it's badly done or twisted, there's a good chance it's counterfeit.

On the left is the label behind the tongue on a fake Converse, on the right the label behind the tongue on a real Converse.

Seams and paint

Classic Chuck Taylors always feature striking decorative stitching, the colour of which can vary depending on the model. Basically, the stitching must be carefully treated and the sole must be separated right down the middle. Wobbly lines or dirty seams indicate a poor finish and therefore a fake. The seams are generally white, except for the monochrome and ivory versions which have tone-on-tone seams.

The paint on the rubber sole should also be straight and solid. If it's shaky, doesn't look straight or is uneven, it's almost certainly an imitation Converse.

On the left is a fake Converse, on the right a real Converse.

How can you guarantee the authenticity of your Converse All Star shoes when buying online?

You can buy your Converse All Star shoes for less than in-store on a number of classified ad sites such as Vinted or Leboncoin. However, as you don't actually have the shoes in front of you, you need to be wary of sellers who may take advantage of the situation to sell you counterfeit Converse. In fact, some will take advantage of the situation to entice you with attractive prices or hide the problem with stolen photos. To avoid this, we advise you to follow our guide above to identify fake Converse, and also to use a secure payment method when making your purchase.

Obvy is certainly the most secure method of payment between private individuals, guaranteeing you a transaction with complete peace of mind. Thanks to a system that secures your funds in a digital safe at the time of the transaction, you can cancel the transaction at any time in the event of a problem. So you can get back the money you paid in, free of charge. What's more, in the event of an attempted scam, Obvy has all the necessary information about the seller so that you can lodge a complaint. Happy shopping!