Real vs Fake: How to Legit Check the Air Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White ’University Blue‘ (AQ0818-140)

Real vs Replica

2025-10-24 09:38

Released in June 2018, the Air Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White “University Blue” (AQ0818-140) is one of the most iconic drops from Virgil Abloh’s legendary “The Ten” collection with Nike. Featuring Carolina blue overlays inspired by Michael Jordan’s alma mater, the pair blends deconstructed aesthetics with industrial-style text and exposed foam details — a look that has since become instantly recognizable.

Due to its hype, limited production, and soaring resale value, replicas of this model are everywhere. Here’s a detailed guide to help you identify a genuine Off-White “University Blue” AJ1 before you buy.

How to Authenticate the Air Jordan 1 Off-White UNC

1. Swoosh & Wings Logo

Authentic: The Wings logo on the outer side is slim. The “Air Jordan” text is thin, and the top tip of the Swoosh lines up with the middle of the Wings logo.

Replica: The Wings logo is noticeably thicker, and the “Air Jordan” font appears bolder. The Swoosh tip sits too high, above the Wings logo center.

2. Medial Side Print

Authentic: The inner-side text print (“Off-White™ for NIKE…” etc.) has a slightly rough ink texture with small frayed edges. Letters and numbers are printed close together — for example, the digits “985” in “1985” almost touch.

Replica: The print looks overly clean and smooth, with letters too round and polished. The “1985” spacing is too wide.

3. Size Tag

Authentic: The size tag shows “Made in China.” This pair was produced around 2017, and the number under the barcode on the left side always begins with “1.”

Replica: Says “Made in Vietnam,” with a production date from 2020. The number under the barcode starts with “2,” which doesn’t match the authentic one.

4. Insole (Top Side)

Authentic: The upper half of the insole has many small triangular bumps arranged irregularly, and the lower half features a black Nike Air logo print.

Replica: The upper half is completely smooth with no triangular texture, and the lower half lacks the black printed logo.

5. Insole (Back Side)

Authentic: The back side is blue with fine glue strip marks, giving it a textured, three-dimensional look.

Replica: The back side is white, soft, and flat, showing no glue marks at all.

6. Midsole Stitching

Authentic: The midsole material is gray with a small round positioning hole near the lower section. The stitching is tight, even, and runs in one consistent direction.

Replica: The midsole is white, and the positioning hole is placed too high. Stitching looks loose and irregular, with uneven thread lengths.

Quick AJ1 Off White UNC Legit Check Guide

1. Check the Swoosh alignment and Wings logo thickness — authentic pairs have a finer logo and centered placement.

2. On the inner text, note that genuine pairs have tight spacing and slight roughness between letters and numbers.

3. Inspect the size tag — it should read Made in China, with barcode numbers starting with “1.”

4. Look at the insole texture and print — authentic ones have small triangle bumps and black Nike Air print.

5. Examine the midsole stitching — real pairs show consistent, dense stitching and proper hole placement.

Authenticate Your Off-White Jordans with LegitApp

Spotting the difference between real and fake Off-White Jordans can be tricky—especially with high-quality replicas in the market. With LegitApp, you can upload clear photos of your sneakers (outer side, inner side, tag, insole, and midsole) and get a verified result from expert authenticators, backed by AI technology.

Get peace of mind before buying or selling—download LegitApp on iOS or Android for 24/7 authentication.