How to spot a fake! Samukelo Ndlovu gets caught up in the curious case of Air Force 1 sneakers

Wearing fake sneakers is considered close to sacrilege in the fashion world. This weekend, actress Samukelo Ndlovu trended for the wrong reasons when many social media users questioned the authenticity of a pair of Nike Air Force 1 trainers she proudly posted on her Instagram page.

‘Sneakergate’ caused such an uproar that sneaker experts who have worked for the brand weighed in on how to spot a fake. The actress still kept the images of the sneakers up and didn’t respond when her followers told her she’d been duped.

Followers even posted their original Air Force 1 sneakers simply to compare the differences between the real and a fraudulent pair of trainers. Specifics like the colour of the box were even mentioned in the conversation as ‘sneaker-heads’ all over the internet compared shoes and boxes.

Some pointed out that the heel of the shoe was incredibly thick, and the front seemed too soft. The shape of the laces was even pointed out while there was speculation that the sneakers might be some sort of never-seen-before obscure limited edition.

The counterfeit footwear industry is in itself a large seemingly lucrative industry, judging by the number of fake shoe sellers on social media platforms. Understandably, many buyers seeking a good bargain are duped into buying a fake, especially from online stores.

According to this website, spotting a counterfeit Air Force is easier than it seems. The site offers a fully downloadable guide into buying an authentic Air Force 1 and avoid getting scammed.

How to spot a fake Nike Air Force 1:

1. Fake box labels will have any different colour than the authentic box label’s light-grey. Although some sellers have said they can also come in the black box but very rarely a red box or no box.

2.The “NIKE” text, on the fake Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, the Swoosh logo more elongated than the logo on the authentic pair.

3. Counterfeit Nike Air Force 1 sneakers will have their Nike Swoosh logo looking different at the frontal curving.

4. The two perforations on the side of the fake sneakers are placed a lot lower than they have to be.

5. The front of the shoe referred to as the toe box is the area in which your toes fit inside the sneakers will either be too big (over-inflated) or too small on the fake shoe. Sometimes the leather appears extremely soft and is caved in on a new pair

6. Generally, a fake Air Force 1 pair will have their text on the size tag looking too thin. It’s important to verify the size tag on the interior side of the Air Force 1 shoes.