Real vs Replica
Jordan 1 Retro High 85 Varsity Red
A re-creation of the OG "Banned/Bred" AJ1, the AJ1 High 85 "Varsity Red" (BQ4422-600) features an ultra high-cut and comes in uniquely numbered dust bags. With a limited release, this wildly popular pair naturally led to a demand for replicas - some were so well-produced they even confused and were mistakenly endorsed by consignment stores.
That said, there are a few key markers which differentiate the real product from replicas. First, the inking on the inside label tends to be lighter on genuine pairs. As seen above the numbers 5, 6, 9 on the replica - because of the darker inking - have thicker, less clean cut shapes.
Spacing of numbers and letters on the inside label are also a tell-tale sign. On the real product, they are printed almost right after the colon, but further away from the colon on the replica (as you can see from length of the arrows).
Under the remark section on the inside label, the letter "J" should be aligned between the "A" and "R" above it. The "J" is aligned directly under the "R" on the replica.
To prevent replicas from catching up, we won't disclose all the details here. If you have questions or a pair that needs authenticating, head over to the LEGIT app where our professional sneaker veterans can get back to you.
