When you are purchasing a football shirt, it’s always important to make sure you’re buying a genuine product.
With so many fake shirts in circulation on the modern market, it can be hard to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t. In this article we will show you the key things to look out for, when shopping for modern and classic Kappa football shirts. So you won’t end up being disappointed with a counterfeit kit.
Please note that these methods will work for 99% of Kappa shirts available but as with anything there are always a few rare exceptions. If you are not 100% sure on the authenticity of a shirt you can always send us a message and we’ll be happy to take a look! We can also help you authenticate Nike Football Shirts and Adidas Football Shirts.
The Inside labels (Modern)
Kappa shirts can be one of the more tricky brands of kits to authenticate. One reason for this is the inside labels do not always have a product code on even if the shirt is real. If this is the case, be sure to check if the wash labels match up with other Kappa shirts for sale like the ones pictured below. More often than not, modern Kappa shirts come with multiple inside labels, so any kit that only has one or none at all could be a sign that it’s a fake shirt.
The Inside Labels (Classic)
For older Kappa kits from the mid to late 1990s, you can often find out if the shirt is genuine by taking a look at the inside neck label. For jersey's with a black neck label, there should be a small yellow triangle shape with 6 diagonal dots inside it. If the black label does not have this, there is a high chance that the shirt is fake or a modern remake. Retro re-releases of classic Kappa shirts are extremely common, so it’s very important to double check that you are purchasing the original shirt and not a reproduction.
Other common labels found in Kappa jersey’s from the 90s will look similar to these shown below:
2000s Original Kappa Jersey Wash Label
Original Kappa jerseys from the 2000s will often have a wash label inside that looks similar to the photo below. As there won’t be a product code, it is key to look at the quality of the stitching around the label and the standard of the text printed on the tag itself to help you make a judgement on its legitimacy.
Outside Tags (Modern)
All brand new Kappa shirts should come with cardboard tags attached. These tags are almost always hanging from the collar and will look similar to the photograph shown below. Legitimate kits will have a tag showcasing a barcode and a product code. If you perform a google search of the product code on the tag, it should come back with images of a jersey matching the one that you are checking. If the google search shows images of other shirts, it’s likely the shirt is fake.
Outside Tags (Classic)
Outside tags on classic Kappa shirts will not have product codes on like the modern ones do. There are often multiple labels attached to the shirt with various different designs, with a common one being the famous Kappa “Omini” logo shown in the images below. Be sure to check the condition of the labels themselves, sometimes kits that have been in storage for many years will show signs of age on the tags such as creasing, discolouration and tears. Although a properly preserved mint kit may show no signs of wear at all on it’s labels or material.
Quality and Stitching (Modern)
If you are unable to get a look at the shirt’s labels, the next best thing to analyse will be the overall quality and stitching of the jersey itself. Pay extra attention here to the shape and colours of the badges on the shirt, when comparing them to examples from a reputable seller. A fake kit will have badges and text that are often distorted in shape and slightly off in colour. If you are able to, be sure to take a look at the stitching quality especially around the neck, hem and inside of the jersey. If you are viewing a shirt in person, be sure to get a feel of the shirt’s material itself. If it feels cheap and badly made then it probably has been!
Quality and Stitching (Classic)
Spotting a fake from a real classic Kappa shirt can be tricky using the eye test alone, but not impossible. While most modern remakes can be close to the real deal, there often are some giveaway signs that the jersey isn’t original. One of these is the quality of the material itself, most reproduced Kappa jerseys are made using cheap fabrics with less quality control than original shirts, so be sure to look out for loose threads and stitching errors.
For Kappa shirts from the 2000s, you should pay particular attention to the “Kappa’ wording that often appears around the collar of shirts from this era. If the text looks slightly distorted or not very clear, it can be a sign that the kit is a fake or a reproduction.
Hopefully this article will have given you more confidence when it comes to authenticating old and new Kappa kits! If you have any questions about specific shirts or want our professional opinion on the legitimacy of a kit, feel free to drop us a message via our contact form or social channels. Be sure to check out our other football shirt authentication guides listed below.
Many thanks to www.retrofootballshirtstore.com for lending us some pics for this!
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