Fear of God Essentials has gained enormous popularity in recent years. The minimalist designs and comfortable fit make Essentials hoodies, joggers, and T-shirts highly sought after. Unfortunately, that success also has a downside: there is a lot of counterfeit circulating, especially on marketplaces, social media bilingual shops, and dubious online stores. In this blog, you’ll read how you can check in five steps whether your Essentials item is real or fake. We discuss everything from material and labels to stitching and price so you can shop original Essentials with peace of mind at Snrkickz!
Why there are so many fake Essentials circulating
In the world of streetwear and high-end basics, Fear of God Essentials items are coveted status symbols. The industrial hype around collaborations, limited drops, and association with stars like Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber means demand far exceeds supply. Online stores and sellers offering unofficial merchandise capitalize on that demand:
Limited editions: Essentials items are produced in relatively small quantities. Those who don’t dare to buy them at full price (€100 – €200 for a hoodie) look for alternatives.
High profit margins for counterfeiters: A well-made fake hoodie may cost €15 – €20 to purchase, but is sold online for €60 – €80, a profitable move.
International impact: Since many drops take place in the US, bots and medium-sized parties arise that buy up large loads and further distribute them with false sales tags.
Because counterfeiters are getting better, it is essential to know what to look for in authenticity. The following five pillars help you spot a fake Essentials at the first inspection.
Quality of the Fabrics and Materials
Volume and weight of the Hoodie or Jogger
One of the most obvious signs is the fabric density. An original Essentials hoodie feels thicker and heavier than a cheap cotton one:
Original: A Fear of God Essentials hoodie typically has a fabric density around 350 g/m². You immediately notice that the fabric is heavy and robust, without sparse fluff.
Fake: Counterfeits often feel much lighter, as if there is only one layer of thin cotton. When you squeeze it, you notice the lack of volume in the fleece.
Lining and Fluffy Fleece
The inside of a genuine hoodie has a soft, densely packed fleece structure:
Original: The fluff is consistent, dense, and feels soft against your skin. The seams around the sleeve ends and hem are neatly finished, without loose threads.
Fake: Cheap versions often have a grainier fleece with less softness. Sometimes you see that the fluff is unevenly pressed, causing some areas to have more or less fluff.
Color and Shade Consistency
Essentials usually comes in a limited color palette—neutral tones like black, sand, gray, brown, and off-white. A genuine color is even and without color spots:
Original: A branded off-white or Sand-colored Essentials has a light cream tone, without yellow, green, or pink hues. Black is deep black, without looking grayish.
Fake: Counterfeits sometimes have a more pastel-like off-white that leans towards cream or yellow. A black hoodie can have a dull, slightly faded black shade.
Labels, Tags and Logos
Hangtags and Barcode
New Essentials items always come with two hangtags: one large paper card and a smaller stiff card with a barcode. Check the following details:
Font and spacing:
Original: The Fear of God logo and “Essentials” are in a sharp, clean font. The spacing between the letters (kerning) is even and the edges of the letters are razor-sharp.
Fake: Fonts are sometimes slightly thicker or the edges show fraying. The spacing between letters can be inconsistent, for example, there is too much space between the “E” and the “s”.
Barcode and product code
Original: Listed on the smaller hangtag, often in EAN-13 or UPC format. You can scan the barcode with a standard barcode app. The scan leads you to an official product page (for example a retailer or distributor system).
Fake: The barcode is sometimes made up or unusual: it does not lead to a known retailer or gives an error message. If the barcode can be scanned but does not match the specified color or size, this is a sign that it is a fake item.
Material information and country of origin
Original: Printed in English and often also in a second language (for example French) on the hangtag. Here you find “Fabric: 80% Cotton / 20% Polyester” (or another percentage depending on the item) and “Made in Honduras” (or “Made in USA” for certain drops).
Fake: The information is sometimes translated phrase-by-phrase into broken English or misspelled. It also often says “Made in China” when the original is never produced there.
Stitching of labels
Original: The brand label (black fabric with white “ESSENTIALS” text) is tightly and precisely stitched, without odd loops. The seams lie straight and invisible against the inside of the hoodie.
Fake: Many counterfeits simply stick the label onto the fabric, or the stitching contains loose threads. Sometimes the label is placed unevenly, just a bit too close to the edge of the fabric.
Washing instructions
Original: The label contains clear, standardized symbols (hand wash—machine wash, max 30 °C, do not bleach, etc.).
Fake: The label may deviate from standard norms. For example, symbols that are drawn slightly differently, or instructions as if it is a 100% cotton item, while the composition was listed differently on the hangtag.
Stitching, Seams and Finishing
Precise Finishing
One of the clearest signs of a fake is sloppy stitching:
Original
The seams around the hood opening, shoulders, and sides run exactly in a straight line. Each stitch is evenly sized, without “gaps” or overlaps.
The hem of the hood and the cuff at the sleeves have double stitching, which provides extra durability.
Fake
Seams can run wavy or be crooked.
Stitches sometimes have uneven spacing: sometimes short, sometimes longer, and in some parts you see loose threads.
Hem edges are sometimes finished with single stitches, making the whole feel more fragile.
Hood and Drawstring
The hood on an original Essentials item has a specific design:
Original
The hood is wide, with a slight oval pattern on the inside. The drawstring often has metal aglets with a matte black coating or—on certain limited drops—shiny nail tips.
Look for subtle embossing on the aglets: often there is a tiny “F” or “FG” (Fear of God) engraved.
Fake
The hood looks tighter, especially at the front edge. The drawstring is a thinner cotton cord without metal reinforcements, or with a cheap plastic tip.
If there are metal aglets, they lack embossing or it is incomplete.
FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Fear of God Essentials
1. Is it really that difficult to recognize fake Essentials?
Not necessarily, but it does require you to be very attentive to fabric quality, labels, and stitching. The counterfeits are getting better, but those who check step by step (fabric density, care labels, hangtags, barcodes, and packaging) can determine with certainty whether something is authentic.
2. Where can I buy guaranteed original Essentials?
Official retailers: At SnrKickz, you can be sure you only shop 100% original Fear of God Essentials. We work directly with authorized European distributors and official resellers, so all our hoodies and joggers come directly from official stock. Each item is carefully checked for materials, labels, and stitching before shipping, so you never have to deal with counterfeits.
3. Can I return a fake Essentials item at official shops?
No. If you accidentally receive a wrong product from an official retailer (very rare), they usually offer a warranty arrangement. But if you buy from an unreliable seller claiming to have “official Essentials,” their own return policy applies—which is often less favorable. Therefore, always buy only from trusted parties.
4. What if a hoodie is “brand new with tags” but much cheaper?
Be extra careful. Asking for extra close-up photos (labels, aglets, stitching) can help. If the seller refuses or provides very low-quality photos, that’s a bad sign. A common trick is to show an “iPhone HD studio photo,” but as soon as you ask for a photo of the scanned barcode, the message disappears.
This is what you need to do!
A fake Essentials hoodie or jogger often lacks the distinctive quality of fabric, stitching, and labels. By paying attention to the weight of the fabric, the details on hangtags and care labels, and the refinement of stitches and aglets, you can recognize an original Fear of God Essentials item. Always check the price and sales channel: if it is far below the retail price, it is likely a counterfeit. Want to be sure you’re buying an authentic piece? Then choose Snrkickz!