Spotting the Fakes: 10 Tell-Tale Signs of Counterfeit 8th Street Samba by Ronnie Fieg for Adidas and Clarks Originals

The sneaker world buzzed with excitement when Ronnie Fieg, the famed New York City shoe designer, announced his latest collaboration with Adidas and Clarks Originals. The 8th Street Samba, released on Christmas Day 2023, encapsulates the essence of street style combined with high-end fashion, making it an instant hit and a highly sought-after collectible. Fieg, well-known for his previous collaborations and close ties with NYC sports teams, brings a touch of local sports culture to his designs, further elevating their status in the collector's market.

As a skate boarder who's never given up the joy, a pair of 8th Street Samba By Ronnie Fieg For Adidas and Clarks Originals have been on my radar for a while. It's one collaboration globally that makes British shoemaker Clarks super cool.

However, with popularity comes the inevitable rise of counterfeits. Discerning the genuine from the fake is crucial, especially for collectors and fashion enthusiasts aiming to get their hands on this iconic piece. I found mine on a secondhand market place, Ebay in this case. The seller had great feedback and communicated with me no problem. They were a good deal, which should have been the first red flag but they didn't have the collectible box and the explanation seemed very plausible. I wanted the sneakers so I over looked the fact that when other people were selling the same shoes for double the price they were probably too good to be true.

Here are ten tell-tale signs to help you identify a counterfeit 8th Street Samba:

1. Colour of the Crepe Sole

The authentic 8th Street Samba features a distinctive crepe sole known for its muted, natural tan color. Counterfeits often miss the mark with a crepe sole that appears too yellow, indicating a lack of attention to the specific materials used by Adidas and Clarks Originals.

2. Shape of the Toe

The toe shape of the genuine 8th Street Samba is crafted with precision, offering a sleek and slightly elongated appearance. Fake versions tend to have a toe shape that is too rounded, disrupting the shoe's profile and aesthetic balance.

3. Material Quality

Ronnie Fieg is known for his meticulous selection of high-quality materials. The upper part of the authentic sneakers should feel premium, be it suede or leather, and should exhibit a fine texture and robust colour depth. Counterfeits usually have cheaper materials that feel rough, stiff, or overly glossy. My countefeit sneakers the suede wasn't sturdy, it was soft, kind of floppy and felt thin.

4. Stitching Quality

Examine the stitching closely. Authentic 8th Street Samba shoes will feature uniform and flawless stitching, with each thread perfectly aligned and secured. Poor stitching, loose threads, or uneven lines are common in fake products.

5. Brand Logos and Imprints

Both Adidas and Clarks Originals logos should be crisp, properly aligned, and correctly spelled. Fakes often have misprints, fuzzy lines, or incorrect logo designs, which are dead giveaways. I was told to look out for depth in the embossing on the Samba logo in the suede. My fakes were pretty impressive and you honestly couldn't tell here on mine.

6. Insole Details

The insoles of the authentic shoes often have branding details that are sharp and accurately placed. Counterfeit versions might have blurry or incomplete branding, or even completely miss these subtle details. My insoles were floppy and cheap looking. On the real thing the insoles are sturdy and the ergonomics distinct.

7. Lacing System

Check the laces and their pattern. Genuine 8th Street Samba sneakers will have high-quality laces that match the colour and finish of the overall design. Fakes often use cheap laces that are either too shiny or dull.

8. Packaging

Originals come in high-quality packaging that includes branding elements consistent with Adidas and Clarks Originals standards. The 8th Street samba box is very artistic, distinct and collectible. Mine didn't have the box, purchased on a secondhand market place the seller explained this was one of the reasons for the cheaper price. I haven't actually seen a pair of fakes with a box although counterfeit boxes might be flimsy, poorly constructed, or have incorrect branding information.

9. Barcode and Serial Numbers

Every authentic pair will have a unique barcode and serial number that link back to a legitimate manufacturing batch. Counterfeits may have non-existent or duplicate numbers that do not verify in the brands’ official databases. I was alerted so I scanned the QR code in the sneakers and this took me to Adidas website (although not actually the Ronnie Fieg Samba). It was the actual product code that gave my sneakers away completely as fakes. The product code, which on authentic trainers is different for the left and right shoe, if they are the same this is a big red flag.

10. Price Point

If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Authentic Ronnie Fieg sneakers are generally priced higher due to their quality and exclusivity. Extremely low prices can often indicate a counterfeit product.

In my experience the sneakers didn't look that obvious as fakes although the red flags were when I first put them on they were too big, even though I'd done my research found out from You Tube reviews the sneakers fit true to size and I'd bought the correct size 6.5, which even on the US sizing system is the same in the UK. The product code on my sneakers took me to a women's adidas football boot not to the 8th Street Adidas Ronnie Fieg Samba Sneaker.

Collecting sneakers, especially those as iconic as the 8th Street Samba by Ronnie Fieg, is not just a passion but an investment. Ensuring the authenticity of your purchase protects this investment and supports the genuine artistry behind these creations. Some people don't mind but I cannot stand fakes. And I hate being duped not just by the people that make these copies but by the people that sell them too.

My advice is always buy from reputable sources if you can and use these tips to spot any fakes that might come your way.

For me, I am saving up for the real thing. When the 8th Street samba was released 2 years ago it sold out on pre order. Now a pair if you can find them is going to cost you at least £200. If you find a pair for less than this they are probably going to end up being counterfeit.