Most BAPE legit checks come down to four small pieces of fabric: the wash tag, the sleeve tag, the gold tag and the neck tag. We ask for a close-up of all four on every clothing listing, because that is where a rushed fake tends to give itself away. This guide goes through each one, then explains what a photo can never prove.
One warning before you start. Be careful with any guide, this one included, that hands you a single detail as proof. BAPE has been in production since 1993, tags have changed over the years, and good fakes copy the obvious details first. What works is comparing several tags against a verified piece of the same model and season.
Start with the wash tag
The wash tag sits inside the garment and usually comes as a small stack of labels. On the hoodie in our photo, one label carries the care symbols, the fabric (100% cotton), the line A BATHING APE with its registered mark, NOWHERE CO.,LTD., a phone number and MADE IN JAPAN. The second label is printed in Japanese.
