How To Detect Fake Ralph Lauren Polo Sneakers And Shoes

Counterfeit products are an issue across various brands, and Ralph Lauren sneakers are no exception. Identifying fake Ralph Lauren sneakers involves a combination of visual inspections and comparisons to authentic products. Here are some key points to consider when trying to determine if a pair of Ralph Lauren sneakers is genuine:

  1. Examine the Logo: Authentic Ralph Lauren products often feature a polo player riding a horse logo. On counterfeit items, the mallet held by the rider tends to be more circular than rectangular, the horse’s tail may be difficult to see, and the horse’s right back leg might appear bent.【1
  2. Molded Branding: Authentic Polo Ralph Lauren shoes usually have “Polo” molded onto the lower heel, surrounded by a rectangular shaped outline. Additionally, the inside sole of the shoe, particularly in the heel area, should display the “Ralph Lauren” logo. Significant deviations from these specifics are red flags for counterfeit products.【2
  3. SKU Number Consistency: All authentic sneakers come with an SKU number, which can be found on labels inside the shoes. This number should match the one on the box of the shoes. If there is a discrepancy between these numbers, it’s a strong indication that the sneakers might be fake.【3
  4. Stitching Quality: The stitching on authentic sneakers is usually precise and even. Counterfeit sneakers, on the other hand, often have less accurate and uneven stitching. This is because counterfeit manufacturers may cut corners to save costs, impacting the quality of stitching.【4

By paying attention to these details, you can increase your chances of distinguishing authentic Ralph Lauren sneakers from counterfeit ones. It’s important to buy from reputable sources and to be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, as they often are indicators of counterfeit products.

Lacoste Releases New L005 Tennis Shoe

Verge Magazine UK has an update on the release of Lacoste‘s new L005 tennis shoe:

Introducing Lacoste’s L005, the latest addition to the dynamic L family. A fresh addition to the L family, and the new little sibling of the adored L001 shoe, the L005 re-contextualises tennis codes for a contemporary consumer. The L005 highlights Lacoste’s commitment to constantly updating and reworking its icons; playing with brand signatures in the constant pursuit of creativity.

The shoe is retro in style but contemporary in mood, appealing to a youthful audience who do not like to be defined. This is a truly new vision of tennis for the younger market; a collision of court codes united to form a strikingly stylish shoe.

The shoe is available now priced around $100.  Read more at Verge Magazine.

If you are worried about whether your Lacoste shoe is counterfeit, read our article on detecting fake Lacoste sneakers.

How To Identify Fake Lacoste Sneakers in 2024

Lacoste Carnaby Evo Shoe

Updated: March 15, 2024

I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries recently about how to tell whether the Lacoste sneakers you’ve bought are fake, so I’ve decided to put together this post on how to identify counterfeit Lacoste shoes. It’s important to be careful, because high-quality Chinese counterfeits are readily available, as you can see from this article. So, here’s how to ensure that you are getting genuine Lacoste sneakers.

Where Did You Buy The Shoes?

Start with where you are buying the sneakers. If you bought the shoes from a street seller or on Alibaba, you can be almost certain that they are fake. Lacoste shoes are only sold at Lacoste’s own stores or at certified retailers. You can determine if a store is an approved seller by checking it out on Lacoste’s website. Buying from an authorized retailer, is the number one way to ensure you have Genuine Lacoste footwear.

Check The Logos

Most fakes have cheaply made crocodile logos with badly defined body parts. The crocodile should be a deep, dark green with obvious individual teeth and claws. The top jaw is smaller than bottom and is angled slightly upwards. The tail will be rounded and be pointing in the same direction as the jaw rather than at the crocodile. You can see an example of a genuine logo below.

Genuine Lacoste Sneaker Logo

Unfortunately, Lacoste has been confusing the issue recently by using multiple versions of the logo in different materials on shoes. This is particularly true of collaborations like the recent one with Concept.  So, if your item’s logo doesn’t look like the classic one pictured above, you should check it against some of the newer versions shown on my Lacoste Crocodile Logo page. While the colors differ, the quality of the logo and its coloring are still good indicators of the sneaker being genuine.

There are other logos and Lacoste branding that you should check also. Look at the Lacoste Logo from the back of a genuine sneaker shown below.

Lacoste Sneaker Logo

Notice the quality of the stitching on the logo. That’s brings me to the next thing you need to check.

Is The Quality Of The Construction And Materials High?

Lacoste shoes can be made of canvas, PVC or leather, but they all share one thing in common: their construction and materials are of high quality. A common fault of fake sneakers is inferior stitching. Genuine Lacoste sneakers have small, even, solid stitching as shown in the example below.

Genuine Lacoste Sneaker Stitching

Uneven stitching or loose threads is an indication of a counterfeit shoe. A good place to check the stitching is inside the shoe, since the manufacturers of fakes often skimp on the non-visible stitching. If you see uneven stitching around the inside of the shoe, or bunching of the lining, you can be pretty sure you have counterfeit sneakers.

What Does The Label Look Like?

A Genuine Lacoste shoe will have a label on the tongue like the one shown below:

Lacoste Shoe Label

The label should have both European and US sizes. It will also have a high quality, printed logo with sharp defined edges.

Packaging

Genuine Lacoste sneakers generally come in a heavy cardboard, green box stamped on top and side with a high-quality Lacoste Logo in white. See the image below for an example, and note the quality of the printing of both the Lacoste name and the crocodile.

Lacoste Shoe Box - Green

Every Lacoste shoe I have bought came in a green box. However, I’ve also seen boxes on the internet that are white, so you may get a box like the one below:

Lacoste Shoe Box - White

Inside the box, the shoes will be wrapped in high-quality, tissue paper with the Lacoste Crocodile Logo imprinted as shown below.

Lacoste Tissue Paper From Shoe Box

If you don’t get the Lacoste box, then the shoes are almost certainly fake. Be aware, though, that empty Lacoste boxes are readily available on Ebay, Alibaba and other sites, so this is not a definitive sign of quality. However, the vast majority of the boxes sold don’t include the tissue paper.

Other Resources

If you are interested in authenticating other Lacoste fashion items, check out my article on detecting fake Lacoste bags or my article on detecting fake Lacoste polo shirts. I’ve also written a detailed article on detecting counterfeit Lacoste items if these instructions are not good enough.

Lacoste Launches New Court Drive Sneaker

Court Drive Sneaker

Note: Worried that the Lacoste sneaker you bought is fake? Check out my post on detecting counterfeit Lacoste sneakers.

Lacoste is launching a new Court Drive sneaker this Fall. According to Lacoste, “the brand new Court Drive trainer was made to enhance your freedom of movement.” According to Sourcing Journal, this is one of five new sneakers that Lacoste will be releasing for the Fall/Winter collection. Here’s the press release:

In a perfect blend of technicity and style, the Court Drive proudly assumes its inspiration rooted in running and tennis. With its streamlined design and sculpted sole, this trainer will not go unnoticed. Subtly referencing a tennis net, the honeycomb-textured vamp references the sports heritage of Lacoste.

The design and materials, which include mesh, were chosen to bring freedom of movement and an unprecedented sensation of lightness.
A tricolour crocodile on the exterior side of the upper perfectly complements the subtle touches of blue, white and red on the tongue and outsole.

A sculpted raised midsole increases the feeling of lightness and stability derived from the Court Drive. On the outsole, raised graphics inspired by the texture of a tennis net reinforce the sports heritage of this lifestyle trainer.

Available in seven different colours, the Court Drive’s palette ranges from efficient and understated white to bold yellow with on-trend fluorescent colour blocks that will delight colourmatching fans.

True to the athleisure trend combining comfort and style, the Court Drive will win over trainer enthusiasts everywhere with its unique, bold silhouette.

The Court Drive will be available on 1 July in Lacoste networks and shops and on lacoste.com, from €110.

Lacoste and Concepts Collaborate On A New Collection

Concepts Logo

Updated: 08/14/2020

The Lacoste X Concepts collection has officially launched on the Lacoste store:

A textile capsule collection made up of iconic pieces completes the collection. Hoodies, T-shirts, swim-shorts, baseball caps and outerwear shine light on the meeting of American streetwear and French elegance. Reflective materials, pastel tones and iridescent co-branding give this collection a stylized language that makes all the difference. Designed for those in the know.

Buy it Now!

Previous Story

Lacoste and Concepts have announced the release of a new, collaborative collection. Concepts posted the following announcement on their blog:

We’re kicking off our first collaboration with Lacoste – the marriage of two distinct brands with connected histories and a shared value for commitment, expertise, and excellence. The collaboration is rooted in our shared connection to the city of Boston – in August 1923, a journalist writing for the Boston Evening Transcript first nicknamed Rene Lacoste “the Alligator,” ultimately inspiring the brand’s iconic logo. 1996 is also a unique year for both brands – September of that year marks the opening of our store in Cambridge MA and it was also the year Lacoste launched their first running shoe, the Velocity.

In addition to the Storm ’96 sneaker (our take on a re-imagined Velocity sneaker) and summer slides, our inaugural collaboration with Lacoste features a range of apparel driven by our streetwear identity and Lacoste’s French fashion savoir-faire. We pulled inspiration from New England summer destinations like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, resulting in colors like igloo green, sand, praisun, and tanzanite blue, as well as reflective hits that capture the essence of the sun’s reflection during nightfall. Consisting of apparel classics like hoodies, t-shirts, swimming shorts, a windbreaker and tracksuits, they are all elevated with modern 3M iridescent treatments for a streetwear edge.

Available at Concepts, online and in all stores, as well as lacoste.com on August 14th at 10 AM EST.

License Global‘s story emphasizes the shared Boston roots of the companies:

Inspired by the companies’ shared Bostonian roots, the collection is comprised of t-shirts, polo shirts, swim shorts, hoodies, windbreakers, a track suit, slide and caps. The collection includes dual branding and the color palette is inspired by Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod with items reflecting the sunsets known at those summer destinations.

Sole Collector’s story focuses on the re-launch of the Velocity sneaker:

The Storm 96 is a remake of the Velocity sneaker, first introduced in 1996 as Lacoste’s debut running shoe. Keeping the nineties retro vibe in the form of a chunky white heel, the collaborative Storm 96 features beige, white, and grey leather panel details with a contrasting black panel featuring the iridescent Lacoste x Concepts logo. Hits of red appear on the outsole and interior. To celebrate the pairing of brands, the tongue tags carry the unique Lacoste x Concepts branding.

You can read more of the coverage of the launch at High Snobiety, License Global, and Sole Collector.

More coverage from Complex UK and UK GQ who note how hard it will be to get a pair of the Storm 96 sneakers:

Available from 14 August at lacoste.com, don’t miss out on snapping these up. And you’re going to have to have your wits about you if you do want to cop a pair – not only will you need to enter a raffle to try and buy them, but they already have an ultra-rare status as both brands are only releasing 650 pairs worldwide.

Note: Worried that the Lacoste sneaker you bought is fake? Check out my post on detecting counterfeit Lacoste sneakers.