Content

• Steps
• Advice

Lacoste brand crocodile t-shirts are famous and expensive, so they are often copied. Whether someone is selling you an alligator T-shirt for the genuine price, the features on it can help you distinguish whether it's real or fake. Real Lacoste t-shirts will feature a fully detailed alligator logo on the front left side of the shirt. In addition, the real product will have 2 buttons that are stitched vertically, with sharp seams, and specific information listed on the label.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Check for a logo with a crocodile logo

1. 

   Observe details such as alligator's claws and teeth. The official Lacoste brand logo is a dark green alligator with clear teeth and claws. The crocodile's upper jaw is smaller than the lower one and up. The crocodile tail is also curved up and pointed in the same direction as the upper jaw, not in the same direction as the crocodile body. Real crocodile eyes will look like small eyes, not round.
   • If the crocodile logo looks cartoonish and lacks details, it's definitely a fake.
   • The vintage line of Lacoste brands is an exception. The crocodile logo is still of high quality but in the same color as the shirt.

2. 

   
   
   Make sure the logo has a white background. Logo is a fabric cover that is stitched subtly into the shirt. You will not see stitches when viewed from the front. Check stitches around the fill, loose thread, or pinhole marks. These are indications that it is a fake.
   • For some models, such as Vintage, the crocodile logo will be printed directly onto the shirt.

3. 

   
   
   Make sure the crocodile logo is below the second button. The crocodile symbol will be located in the center of the shirt on the left hand side. It is located between the seam below the collar and the second button down from the top. Poor quality knockoffs often put the crocodile logo in line with the bottom seam. Counterfeit goods often have sloppy seams.
   • Some versions of real Lacoste t-shirts also put the crocodile logo in line with the seam under the collar, so don't be too dependent on this recognition.

4. 

   
   
   Turn the shirt inside out to check the blurred lines of the fabric. Real shirt will not appear crocodile.There are no clear colors, threads, or embroidery. If the product doesn't look perfect, it's a fake. advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Examine the buttons

1. 

   Check that the two buttons are sewn upright. The first button will be located at the top of the collar. The second button will lie at a distance of half from the top. Each button has 2 defects which are sewn vertically, not horizontally. Buttons do not have sloppy sewing. The sewing thread is steady, sure.

2. 

   Check to see if the buttons look the same. Real pearl buttons are not like any other. You can spot the rainbow light from a distance. When you look closely, you will see that each button has its own pattern. Buttons may also have a rocky pattern on the back. The plastic buttons are mass produced and look the same.

3. 

   Touch the buttons to make sure they are made of real pearls. Real Lacoste shirts have pearl buttons instead of plastic buttons. The plastic buttons feel flatter, warmer, and also have hard edges. Real Lacoste shirts have indentations in the lap buttons while fake buttons do not.
   • If you are still unsure, try tapping your teeth with the button or taking a bite. The pearl buttons will be harder and thicker than the plastic buttons.

4. 

   Avoid buying with buttons with "Lacoste" printed on them (update: Lacoste 2017 alligator T-shirt has this letter printed on the buttons depending on the design style). Crocodile shirt buttons do not print brand names. The text on the buttons is a sure sign that they are plastic buttons and are counterfeit. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Research labels

1. 

   Real crocodile shirt sizes are denoted by numbers. Lacoste Austria is designed in France, is the country denoted by the number size. Above the crocodile image, you will see a red number, such as the number "4". If the t-shirt has letters that indicate size like S (small), M (medium), or L (Large), it's fake.

2. 

   Note the crocodile image with full details on the label. The crocodile symbol is olive green. It also has full claws, teeth, red mouth, and white scales on its back. Make sure that the crocodile outline looks smooth rather than messy. Genuine products will not have any rough lines to confuse colors.
   • Type 1 knockoffs look quite similar to the real ones, so please observe carefully. They will not have all the details of the crocodile. The crocodile icon looked clumsy. The eyes and white alligator's scales look coarse and too close together.

3. 

   Look for sub-labels that contain product's origin information. If the t-shirt has a secondary label, the label will be under the main label. The first text will be "Designed In France" (Designed in France). These words will not be obscured by the primary label. The second line will say "Made In" followed by the name of a country, usually El Salvador or Peru. Rarely, Lacoste t-shirts are made in France.
   • Not all crocodile t-shirts have additional labels. Many crocodile t-shirts today have a large label containing the logo, so incorporate other methods of identification.

4. 

   Check the laundry instruction label inside the t-shirt. This label is on the inside underneath the hem of the shirt. With this label, you will first see the words "100% cotton" printed in 7 languages. On the back of the label you will see the laundry instructions with the word "Devanlay", which is the company name. The letters on the label are not obscured by fabric.
   • Imitation crocodile t-shirts will have laundry instructions on the front of the label. These labels are also rough-sewn with loose stitching or obscured letters.
   • This label may be on the small triangular cut on the side of the shirt. Make sure that these cuts are small and that there are no outward thread.
   advertisement

Advice

• Always be wary of bargains. In the US, a real Lacoste alligator T-shirt retails for $ 60 (about 1.3 million) or higher. If the price is too cheap to be believed, it is probably a fake.
• Imitation crocodile t-shirts are often associated with poor quality, such as loose threads, speckled cuffs, or chipped seams after a few washings. However, some fakes are also of good quality, and real alligator t-shirts show signs of defects.
• Some genuine sellers sell defective packages or clothing. These items are genuine although they are usually sold at a discount.
• When in doubt, you can go online and compare your t-shirt to a genuine Lacoste t-shirt.