I bought fake and real Gazelle in China! This is how it went
I’ve always been a big fan of Adidas. A few years ago, I snagged a pair of white leather Sambas with pink stripes when they first started trending. They’re still some of my favorite shoes—super easy to style and perfect for almost any outfit. But let’s be honest, they’re not exactly the comfiest if, like me, you live in a city where walking is your primary mode of transport (hello, Shanghai). Still, I wore them to death.
So, when I spotted these bright hot-pink Gazelles online, it was love at first sight. I instantly added them to my cart. But here’s the thing—I’ve learned the hard way not to make impulsive purchases anymore (shoutout to my younger self for buying way too much nonsense). So, the Gazelles sat in my cart for months.
Then came 11.11—China’s legendary shopping season (think Black Friday but on steroids). Everything online is heavily discounted, and it’s basically a shopaholic’s dream. I finally gave in and bought the Gazelles from a well-known online store that only sells authentic goods.
Not long after, I was casually scrolling through Pinduoduo—a budget-friendly app that’s infamous for its abundance of fakes—and guess what I saw? The same hot-pink Gazelles. Naturally, I had to see for myself what the difference was. So, I bought the fake pair too, just for fun and a little experiment.
Here’s the breakdown:
The authentic pair cost $124 (899 CNY), but thanks to the 11.11 discount, I snagged them for $69 (502 CNY).
The fake pair? Just $22 (157 CNY).
When it comes to spotting the difference between real and fake, sometimes it’s all in the details. After buying both the authentic and fake versions of Adidas Gazelles, I got to play detective. Here’s what I found:
1. Material
Surprisingly, the fake Gazelles were made of leather too! However, there’s a noticeable difference:
Real Gazelles: The leather on the stripes is completely dyed, meaning the edges are the same hot-pink color as the front.
Fake Gazelles: Only the front is tinted, while the edges show the natural, darker leather color.
The finish on the real ones is soft and smooth, while the fake ones have a rougher, grainy texture, not as delicate or polished.
2. Laces
Real Gazelles: Thin and elegant, with a gentle look that complements the shoe.
Fake Gazelles: Thicker and less refined, making them look less sleek overall.
3. Color
Real Gazelles: The pink is vibrant and eye-catching.
Fake Gazelles: Dull, like the color had already been washed out.
4. Inner Sole
Fake Gazelles: The inner sole is slightly larger than the real ones. Bonus feature? They included some hair as a “souvenir”—probably from the person packing them. Sweet, right? (Kidding. Seriously, if you’re missing hair from boxing these, hit me up; I have it.)
5. Soles
The soles were practically identical! If there’s any difference, it’s probably in the material quality. The fake ones are a bit shinier, while the real ones (already worn, hehe) have a natural finish.
6. Logo on the Side
Real Gazelles: The logo is smaller, with more defined texture and detail. It shines more, making it a bit harder to spot under certain light.
Fake Gazelles: The logo is larger, with less texture and a slightly off font. While the rougher leather makes it harder to see in pictures, it’s clearer in real life because it doesn’t reflect light as much.
7. Packaging
Real Gazelles: Came in a sturdy Adidas shoebox, carefully packed.
Fake Gazelles: The shoebox was stuffed into a plastic bag, leaving it all dented and beat up.
Plot twist: The printing quality on the fake box was actually better than the real one! Lesson learned, if you see a perfectly printed Adidas box, beware, it might be fake!
8. Paper
Real Gazelles: Yellowish-gold logo printed on matte paper.
Fake Gazelles: White logo printed on glossy paper. The feel? Honestly, not bad, it didn’t scream “cheap.”
Thanks for sticking around for this wild ride! I hope my first blog post entertained you. If you liked this, don’t wander too far—there’s plenty more fake stuff to compare in the future. Stay tuned!
