How to Spot Fake Levi's

Checking the Red Tab on the Back of the Jeans

Find the red Levi's tab on the back right pocket of your jeans. This red tab is present on almost all pairs of Levi’s and has become a well-recognized icon all around the world. It is a good starting point for identifying Levi’s Jeans as authentic or fake. All genuine pairs have the tab, however, on a few styles of jeans, the tab may be a different color, like green, or yellow, or white.

Ensure that the stitching around the tab is clean and consistent. If it is messy, or looks tampered with, these may be a fake pair. A lot of fake manufacturers un-stitch the denim of regular jeans and sew the tab in to make them look like genuine Levi’s

A capital E is rarely present in Levi’s pairs of jeans.. However, some recent products have a capital E, as can be seen on some jeans and shirts on Levi's official website. 1 in every 100 pairs will only have a ‘registered mark’ instead of Levi’s sign. This is because they have to change the ribbon on the machine and run through a label without Levi’s stitching on it.

Identifying the Levi’s Waistband

Look for the high-quality leather patch on the back of the waistband. This leather patch is another way of identifying an authentic product and will be consistent with most other pairs of Levi’s jeans. Some content might vary, however, they will all have very similar characteristics. The color of the leather patch is the same on all pairs of Levi’s. The patch won’t be too pale, or too dark, and the tag will not fade in the wash.

Check the design of the patch for any errors. The model/style, waist, and leg measurements of authentic Levi’s are always printed in black text. This is because they make the stock label first and then print these details onto each individual pair of jeans. Off center labels or spelling mistakes also indicate that the pair is fake. The design of the patch has varied over the years, so if you are comparing your patch to another, ensure they are from the same time period.

Feel the patch’s texture and softness. The material of an authentic patch will have a little bit of texture and feel soft and worn. The material shouldn’t feel too smooth, or too hard. A lot of fake manufacturers use cheap leather or a substitute. If the patch feels like it is covered, or has a plastic feel to it, this may indicate that your jeans are counterfeit.

Inspecting the Details

Check the top buttons details and marks. The top button on all Levi’s will be a well-finished copper or silver button that doesn't wear or fade over time. While the design of the button has changed a few times over the years, an authentic button will always have “LEVI STRAUSS & CO” embossed onto the front side. There will also be a 3 or 4 digit number (code) stamped into the back of the top button. This number on the top button can be matched to a number on the white care label on the inside of the jeans. If you can not find this it indicates a fake pair. On modern styles, this is usually a 3 or 4 digit number, however, it can sometimes vary with vintage pairs of Levi’s.

Check the overall build quality of the jeans. Levi’s has a very high standard for quality control. If there are any faults in the stitching, or on any of the metal work, chances are they are fake, or they may need to be returned to Levi’s for inspection.

Ensure the rivets are all detailed with the company initials. The rivets on both the inside and out will all say ‘LS & CO. S.F.’. This stands for Levi Strauss and Co. San Francisco. If these are plain or vary, you may have an imitation pair of jeans.

Avoiding Buying Counterfeit Levi's

Check Levi’s website for stores near you. The Levi’s website has a list of their official suppliers and outlet stores. This is the best way to ensure that your jeans are 100% authentic. If you buy your jeans from an unlicensed store, they may not be real Levi’s.

Research online sellers online to check that they are a legitimate supplier. Many fake Levi’s are sold via the internet. If you plan on buying your jeans online, do some research, and check reviews for online stores. This will be a good indication as to whether the online store is reliable. Watch out for stores that only show their good reviews, or have reviews that look automated.

Beware of a deal too good to be true. While many stores may have sales on, if you find a pair of ‘Authentic’ Levi’s jeans for a price that is just too good to be true, this may be cause for suspicion. It is a good idea to research the style you want first so you know roughly how much you will be paying. Of course the price may vary from store to store, however, they all should be in the same range.

Get the original receipt when you buy second hand. If buying your jeans second hand, online or at a garage sale, market etc, ask for the original receipt. While a lot of people won’t still have it, this can be a good way to ensure the jeans are from a licensed dealer and an authentic pair.