How to legit check real Affliction clothing? Spot fake counterfeits

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you identify fake knock-off Affliction clothes and reps by spotting red flags in printing, tags, materials, and overall quality. Follow these steps to ensure you’re buying authentic Affliction clothing, especially now in 2025 as it makes a comeback in style.
And if you're looking to buy some Affliction style clothes, check out our article 'Where to buy Affliction clothes?'.

This also applies to similar brands like Tapout, MMA Elite or brands similar to Affliction.

Note: this is based on u/Ok-Jackfruit7739's post on r/affliction but rewritten in a text format.

Below is a summary of the classic fake indicators of dupe Affliction clothes that we'll develop below. We also made a TikTok slideshow version that you can watch here.

1. Weird colorways or undistressed prints
2. Red crystals or excessive decorations
3. Front print on the back of the shirt
4. AliExpress and Temu listings
5. Poor tag design and misspellings
6. Overly high contrast on the print
7. Prints that don't match the shirt
8. Prints that don't overlap the collar
9. Scam accounts on social media
10. Sample shirts without size tags
11. Weird printing and undistressed shirts
12. Signature series mismatch
13. Inverted colorways and fake tags
14. Poor print quality and cheap fabric wash
15. Rhinestones or unusual decorations
16. Paper tags or fake overlays
17. Tags that are too generic
18. Inaccurate fonts on tags
19. Thick cotton and lowered prints

1. Weird colorways or undistressed prints

• T-shirts with strange or unusual colorways that Affliction doesn't typically produce.
• Lack of pre-washing or distressing.

Example: the print looks "too new" or far from the expected faded, worn appearance.

Note: Affliction only produces certain prints in specific colors, often distressed for an authentic, vintage look.

2. Red crystals or excessive decorations

• Red crystals or shiny embellishments on skulls or other designs.
• Affliction does not use red crystals, even for their Black Label Premium line.

Tip: if the embellishments look overly flashy or out of place, the shirt is likely fake.

3. Front print on the back of the shirt

• Any print that belongs on the front appearing on the back of the shirt.

Note: Affliction keeps its designs consistent. If the placement looks wrong or reversed, it's a clear indicator of a fake.

4. AliExpress and Temu listings

• Listings from cheap platforms like AliExpress or Temu are always unreliable.
• These shirts are almost guaranteed to be counterfeit.

Tip: avoid buying Affliction items from such sources; stick to official or trusted retailers.

5. Poor tag design and misspellings

• Tags with misspelled words like 'IEON' instead of 'IRON".
• Simplified or poorly designed skull graphics on the tag.
• Missing key details like the size or production notes.

Note: real Affliction tags are detailed, well-printed, and include accurate washing instructions.

6. Overly high contrast on the print

• The print looks too sharp, bold, or high contrast.

Note: real Affliction shirts have a faded, pre-washed look. The print should appear slightly worn to match the distressed aesthetic.

7. Prints that don't match the shirt

• If the print design does not match the texture, tone, or color of the shirt fabric.
• Designs that look out of sync with the overall shirt theme.

Tip: authentic Affliction designs flow harmoniously with the shirt material.

8. Prints that don't overlap the collar

• A print that suddenly stops short of the collar.

Note: real Affliction shirts have overlapping designs that cover seams and edges seamlessly. If it looks incomplete, it's fake.

9. Scam accounts on social media

• TikTok or Instagram accounts selling Affliction-style shirts for extremely cheap prices.
• These accounts often steal content and sell counterfeit products through shady websites.

Tip: avoid deals that seem "too good to be true" and verify the seller's authenticity.

10. Sample shirts without size tags

• Some real Affliction samples may lack size tags or details on the label to avoid ink waste.
• These shirts are distressed, faded, and made from high-quality materials.

11. Weird printing and undistressed shirts

• T-shirts with strange or overly vibrant colorways (e.g., bright pink).
• Lack of distressing on the fabric.
• Real Affliction shirts always include distressing for a vintage and worn look.

Tip: authentic designs are never overly bright or clean.

12. Signature series mismatch

• If the text on the back of the shirt doesn't match the text on the tag (e.g., Megadeth collaboration incorrectly printed).
• Signature series shirts have precise and consistent branding.

Tip: always cross-check the tag and print for consistency.

13. Inverted colorways and fake tags

• Odd or inverted colorways that are not part of the original collection.
• Shirts claiming to have "OG prints" but with inverted colors.
• Fake tags or unusual placement.

Note: Affliction has limited runs with specific, pre-approved designs and color palettes.

14. Poor print quality and cheap fabric wash

• Low-quality printing that looks faded, blurry, or lacks details.
• Cheap "lava wash" that doesn't match Affliction's high-quality finishing techniques.
• Tags that are fabric instead of printed, which is inconsistent with most authentic Affliction pieces.

Tip: Affliction prints are detailed, bold, and blend seamlessly with distressed fabrics.

15. Rhinestones or unusual decorations

• Excessive use of rhinestones, especially on skulls or other graphic details.
• Fake Affliction shirts often have shiny embellishments that don't match the brand's aesthetic.

Tip: authentic Affliction avoids flashy additions like rhinestones on eyes or prints.

16. Paper tags or fake overlays

• Unusual paper tags placed over regular neck tags.
• Affliction does not use overlay tags like these.

Tip: a clean, consistent tag is a hallmark of authenticity.

17. Tags that are too generic

• Generic neck tags with poor-quality fonts or inconsistent sizes.
• Tags missing details like production location or care instructions.

Note: real Affliction tags are detailed, with consistent fonts and clear production notes.

18. Inaccurate fonts on tags

• If the font on the neck tag looks off, inconsistent, or misaligned.
• Real Affliction tags use a specific Gothic font and are always consistent.

Tip: compare the tag font to a known authentic shirt for verification.

19. Thick cotton and lowered prints

• Fake shirts often use thicker cotton fabric that feels low quality.
• Prints appear smaller or poorly placed, such as being “lowered” on the shirt.

Tip: authentic Affliction shirts have soft, high-quality cotton with perfectly aligned prints.

Final tips for buyers

When buying second-hand or vintage Affliction garnments, always check:

• Tags: fonts, spelling, alignment, and care instructions.
• Prints: placement, quality, and distressing.
• Fabric: feel for soft, high-quality cotton and proper washes.
• Colorways: verify against known, original Affliction designs.

This guide covers everything you need to legit check Affliction t-shirts. If you're unsure about a piece, compare it with an authentic clothing or ask communities like our Discord server or r/SK8aesthetic for help.