DSQUARED - Denim: Logo Labels

Dsquared jeans have a black rectangular fabric tag sewn inside the waistband. The label should be sewn on the wearer's left side of the waistband (the right side if you're looking at the jeans straight-on). These tags are not sewn in the center of the back like many other brands. This tag measures 2.25 inches long and just a hair over half an inch tall. The fake versions of these labels vary a bit in size and shape and are often sewn in the center of the back of the waistband.

Example (click to enlarge):

In the example above there are two key distinguishing factors between the real label and the fake label. The first is the stitching around the edges. The stitching should be straight and parallel to the edges of the fabric. As you can see in the fake, the stitching is further from the edge than it is in the authentic label. The second thing to note is the size of the text in relation to the label. In this example the fake text is larger.

Example (click to enlarge):

This one is pretty obvious. Not only is the stitching crooked, but the label is cut crooked, the letters are too large, they are located up a little too high, and the label is the wrong proportions (too short). Furthermore, if you look closely you can see that on the fabric content tag of the fake jeans it reads: "Made in Hong Kong." Well, I don't think I have to tell you that authentic Dsquared jeans are not made in Hong Kong.

These fake labels range in quality so keep an eye out.

DSQUARED - Accessories: Bags

Dsquared has become a highly profitable brand and the counterfeiters are making D2 knockoffs of everything from jewelry, to bags, to underwear. Yeah... fake underwear.

Here are some real vs. fake comparison photos of a Dsquared bag. Of course, this is just one example but the details below hold true for all styles. As this blog grows I will post more examples of different styles.

Example (click to enlarge):

First, you can dismiss the color difference in the handle. This bag was produced in two versions, one with the red handle and one with the tan handle. Below, is a photo of an authentic red handle bag on the runway. It is very hard to tell the real from the fake in the first comparison photo, so, as usual, the key lyes in the details. What is apparent from this first photo is the difference in quality of the denim. In the photos below you can also see the difference in quality of the leather trim.

Example (click to enlarge):

The stitching is the give away in this example. Knockoffs often have crooked stitching that does not run parallel to the edge of the material. You will also notice that the stripes of the fake are skinnier and there is no "Genuine Leather" or "Made in Itlay" on this fake example.

Example (click to enlarge):

Now here we're getting into minute details, but, the studs on the bottom of the authentic bag are more rounded than those on the fake bag.


Also note the shape of the leather around the inner zipper and the length of the inner zipper.

DSQUARED - Shoes: Real v. Fake Comparison Photos

DSQUARED - Shirts: Size Tags

Some of the fake Dsquared shirts out there have incorrect size tags. In shirts, this tag should be a light grey color and it should come out of the left side of the black Dsquared2 logo tag. The size tag should stick out ruffly half an inch and it should be just a little over a quarter of an inch tall. The authentic size tags vary slightly but they all keep to this approximate measurement. If you see a size tag that looks odd, chances are the shirt is fake. Keep in mind that some of the fake shirts do have the correctly proportioned size tags so an authentic-looking size tag does NOT guarantee an authentic shirt.

Example (click to enlarge):

The example above shows a fake black size tag. A large percentage of the fake Dsquared shirts on eBay have this fake black size tag. It is coming out of the right side of the logo label (not the left side, as it should). This fake tag is black instead of a light grey, and the sizing letter is on its side. The authentic Dsquared size tags always have the size positioned straight up, never on its side.

Example (click to enlarge):

The letter should be in a normal typeface, not bold, as seen in the above comparison photo. The authentic tags can vary a bit in length depending on how they are sewn in but the fake one above is extra stubby.

DSQUARED - Denim: Leather Logos

Some Dsquared jeans have these leather logos sewn on the back of the waistband. Some say "Faith," some say "DC/DC," some say "Lord2," etc... However, there should always be an embossed Dsquared2 logo below it. The key to authenticating these tags is in the stitching. These tags are leather (or sometimes suede leather) with cut-out leather letters sewn on them. The fake tags usually have shaky stitching that doesn't follow the shape of the lettering very well. The fake stitching is usually one continuous stitch, whereas the authentic labels have no stitching connecting the letters.

Example (click to enlarge):

As you can see in the example above, the white stitching on the fake tag is connected between the letters. The letters of the authentic tag are sewn separately. These tags do vary in color though so disregard the color difference in this example.

Example (click to enlarge):

The above example of the DC/DC logo also demonstrates the difference in the quality of the stitching. You can see the fake stitching is quite poorly done and it doesn't line up with itself. The authentic example is a photo of a used pair of Dsquared jeans, so the edges of the DCDC logo are a little tattered. When the jeans are new the edges are crisply cut.

All-in-all, the stitching of these logos is a dead giveaway. It's the easiest way to tell if the jeans are fake or not. I have never come across a pair of fake D2 jeans with a properly stitched DCDC / Lord2 / or Faith logo. However, only some of the Dsquared jeans have these leather letter cut-out logos though. Other have more basic tags or logos, in which case it is a good idea to also check the tags and labels before purchasing.

DSQUARED - General Info: Hang Tags

If an item has an authentic tag attached, it DOES NOT guarantee authenticity. Tags can be switched so check the rest of the pictures, the description, and the seller's feedback and items sold. However, a fake tag does pretty much guarantee that the item is fake. There are loads of Dsquared fakes on eBay, and, with some of them it can be hard to tell the difference. So, a good place to start is with the hang tags (if attached). The same tag is attached to all Dsquared items and it does not vary in size. If the seller has no close-up shots of the hang tag (or if there's another detail you would like to see) ask for them. If the seller won't supply them, or is just being a jerk, go bid on another seller's item (like mine!!).

Example (click to enlarge):

The tag is thick cardboard with a black matte finish on the front. Near the bottom is the Dsquared2 logo. The letters should be glossy and slightly raised. Above, in the example of the fake you can see that the letters are not raised because the light catches all the letters uniformly with no highlights or shadows. Below is a close-up example.

Example (click to enlarge):

In the close-up you can also notice that the "2" is in a different type face. This is good to keep in mind because a lot of the fakes have this 'incorrect' "2," not only on the hang tags, but also on the sewn labels and elsewhere.

Example (click to enlarge):

The back of the tags should be the raw cardboard color. The only real difference here is that the fake "Made in Italy" text is slightly larger and positioned lower than the original.