How to Spot Fake Fear of God Essentials Hoodies + What to Do Next

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Use our easy checklist to find out if your new hoodie is legit or not

Co-authored by Patrick Klima and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: July 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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Real vs. Fake Essentials Hoodie

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Signs of Fake Sellers

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Quick Verification Checklist

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What to Do

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Where to Buy

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FAQs

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Video

Fear of God Essentials hoodies are luxury apparel that just can't be beat for their warmth, softness, and durability. They're also a sought-after item among streetwear enthusiasts. That kind of attention invites counterfeiters to make fake Essentials hoodies and trick unsuspecting customers into buying them. We're here to help you avoid this scam and purchase only real, brand-name hoodies from Fear of God Essentials. Let's dive into a comparison of real vs. fake Essentials hoodies, plus other signs that a seller or retailer may be peddling fake Fear of God products, so you know to stay far away from them.

Fake Essentials Hoodie: Quick Signs

Tags: Thin and papery quality, gray font, and improper letter spacing
Front print: Large and crowded letters with a noticeably thick font
Hood badge: Thin letters and poor stitching around the badge
Material: Thin, cheap cotton or polyester that doesn't hold its shape
Stitching: Weak, uneven seams with gaps between stitches
Sizing: True-to-size or too small of a fit in your normal size
Cost: Price is "too good to be true" (i.e., cheaper than the typical $120-$180)

Section 1 of 6:

Comparing Real vs. Fake Essentials Hoodie

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The hang tag is the cardstock tag that hangs from the sleeve of the hoodie when you purchase it. It's attached to the sleeve by a length of string and features the Essentials logo with "Fear of God" printed underneath it. Check the font in the logo against an image of an authentic Essentials hoodie hang tag online. If the font looks too thick or the letters are printed too close together (or too far apart), it may be a fake. The logo should also be perfectly aligned in the center of the tag.^{[1]
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The large tag at the back of the collar is printed with "ESSENTIALS" and "FEAR OF GOD." The label is stiff and doesn't easily bend, and the font is clear and easy to read, as is the font on the size tag next to it. The size tag is slightly translucent and has a lighter quality than the neck tag. If you can bend the neck tag easily, the lettering is unclear or off-center, or the size tag is completely opaque, these are signs that the hoodie is counterfeit.^{[2]
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The wash tag (also called the care label) is stitched inside the hoodie on the left side of the torso. Look carefully at the font. A real Essentials hoodie wash tag is printed with thick, black font, whereas some fakes use thin, gray font. Another helpful strategy is to compare the wash tag on your hoodie to pictures of legitimate ones online, so you can ensure the letters on yours aren't too far apart or too close together. Finally, look for misspellings of words, like the name of the fabric or the name of the country where the hoodie was made. Foreign counterfeiters commonly misspell English words when they try to recreate an American product.^{[3]
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Front print The Essentials logo printed on the front of a classic Fear of God hoodie is clean, not too thick, and easy to read. The letters are also only about 3.5 cm (1.4 in) tall. On a counterfeit hoodie, the lettering might be noticeably thicker and disproportionate to the space available on the torso. They might also be 4 cm (1.6 in) tall, which is the wrong size.^{[4]
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- The print design on the front of the hoodie varies. For example, one design features "ESSENTIALS FEAR OF GOD" printed in large lettering in the center of the torso. Another design has the logo positioned on the right side of the chest in much smaller lettering.
- Check the print of your hoodie against photos of real Essentials hoodies with the same design. Look for inconsistencies in letter sizing and spacing, logo alignment, and font weight and color.
The badge stitched to the hood on a real Essentials hoodie features the Essentials logo by itself (without "Fear of God" underneath it). The letters are dark and thick, and the stitching around the badge is neat and precise with no gaps. On a fake hood badge, you may notice the letters look slightly thinner and not as dark as the real logo. You may also see gaps or tiny loose threads in the stitching around the badge.^{[5]
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Real Fear of God Essentials hoodies are made with a blend of cotton and polyester. The outer material feels soft to the touch and breathable when worn, yet still sturdy. It's thick and holds its shape, even after several months of use. The interior fleece is also soft and insulated, so that when you wear the hoodie, you're warm and cozy.^{[6]
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Research source} A counterfeit Essentials hoodie may be made with a cotton-polyester blend, but the results are usually poorer. The material tends to look and feel thin when you touch it, giving it an overall cheaper quality.^{[7]
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When Fear of God makes hoodies, they use precise, clean stitches that don't come apart easily. You also won't find any blown or uneven seams or loose threads in it, especially if it's brand new. If you do notice these flaws in the pouch, hood, sleeves, cuffs, waistband, or interior seams, chances are you own a fake Essentials hoodie.^{[8]
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Fear of God Essentials hoodie sizes are made to be worn oversized. If you buy a hoodie in your size and it feels too large when you put it on, that's actually a good thing! It means it's most likely legit. If, on the other hand, it fits true to size or is too snug, check for other signs that the hoodie you're wearing is fake.^{[9]
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A real Essentials hoodie hood doesn't close all the way. This is an intentional part of the hood's design. But, on a counterfeit Essentials hoodie, the edges of the hood sometimes overlap when you spread it out on a flat surface.^{[10]
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The wrist cuffs on a real, high-quality Essentials hoodie are thick, sturdy, and hold their shape. On a fake one, they might be thin and stretchy.^{[11]
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Essentials hoodies for men and women tend to cost around $120-$180 each. Expect to pay within that range when you're buying it brand new. Beware of retailers who offer "real" Essentials hoodies for an extremely low price ($50 or less), even if they're used. According to vintage clothing expert Patrick Klima, "if you're paying a price that's too good to be true on streetwear, it's fake."^{[12]
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Patrick Klima
Vintage Clothing Expert

Expert Interview}

Section 2 of 6:

Signs of Fake Essentials Hoodies Sellers

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The seller's website is unsecured. For a website to be secure, its URL needs to start with "https." If it's missing the "s" at the end, that means the site doesn't encrypt (secure) the data it receives from its visitors. A legitimate Fear of God retailer or secondhand marketplace will always use "https," so that when you enter your credit card information and other sensitive data, cybercriminals won't be able to see it.^{[13]
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- Another sign that a site is secure is the lock logo. This is typically visible to the left or right of the address bar at the top of your browser (where you type in a website's URL).
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The seller can't (or won't) provide you with a receipt for a new Essentials hoodie. If you're considering an Essentials hoodie from a third-party seller (like someone on eBay, Poshmark, or Facebook Marketplace), ask for proof of purchase. A seller who recently purchased an authentic Essentials piece to sell as new should still have the receipt for it. If they don't or refuse to give it to you, move along to another seller.
- If the hoodie is a few months or years old, the seller may not have the receipt anymore. In that case, ask them to provide clear images of the tags and logos to ensure the product is legit.
When you find a website or a secondhand seller listing an Essentials hoodie, read past customer reviews! If you see a lot of negative reviews, you may not want to risk buying from them. On the other hand, if you see mostly positive reviews, but they all use the same words and phrases, they might be fake. Some retailers and sellers buy fake reviews to make them seem more legitimate. If their reviews are fake, chances are the Fear of God hoodies they're selling are fake, too!^{[14]
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Section 3 of 6:

Fake Essentials vs. Real Essentials Checklist

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Refer to this checklist when you need to authenticate an Essentials hoodie. Counterfeiters are getting better and better at making Essentials hoodie replicas look and feel like the original product. This means you have to be extra vigilant and check your hoodie thoroughly for any signs that it might be fake. To make authenticating it easier, use this checklist to remember the signs of a fake Essentials hoodie.
- Hang tag: A fake Essentials hang tag may be made of poor materials like thin paper instead of cardstock, or be attached to the hoodie by plastic instead of ribbon or string. The logo on the tag may also be off-center or have improper spacing and font thickness.
- Neck tags: The large neck tag with the Essentials logo on a fake hoodie may feel thin and papery, and it may also bend easily. The lettering may be too close or too far apart, and the font may be too thick. The size tag may have the same problems with lettering, and it may also appear opaque instead of slightly translucent.
- Wash tag: The wash tag may have improperly spaced lettering with thin, gray font, along with misspelled words.
- Material: The material may feel thin, rough, and cheap to the touch.
- Stitching: The seams may be uneven or messy in some parts of the hoodie, with loose or dangling threads or gaps between stitches.
- Hood badge: The lettering on the hood badge may be thin and slightly lighter in color than it would be on an authentic Essentials hoodie. The stitching around the badge's border may have gaps.
- Front print: The logo or design printed on the front of the Essentials hoodie may be too large and thick in proportion to the rest of the torso.
- Wrist cuffs: The wrist cuffs may be stretchy, thin, and not sturdy enough to hold their shape.
- Hood size: The sides of the hood on a fake Essentials hoodie may overlap.
- Sizing: The fake Essentials hoodie may be true to size or too small, instead of fitting oversized like the real product.
- Cost: Fake essentials hoodies may cost significantly less than the typical retail price of $120-$180.

Section 4 of 6:

What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Fake

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Klima recommends searching the internet for guides or images that can help you authenticate your suspicious hoodie at home. You can, for example, "look up the tags and… compare them to other [Essentials hoodies] to figure out" if yours is legit.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Patrick Klima
Vintage Clothing Expert

Expert Interview} To get started, perform a Google search for your Essentials hoodie, including the color. Next, peruse the results for images of tags, badges, lettering, and logos. If your hoodie's details don't match up, that could confirm your suspicions that you own a counterfeit.
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Ask the seller for proof of authentication or a refund. Email or send a direct message to the seller from whom you bought your hoodie and ask them to authenticate the product. If they can't provide proof like a receipt or the original tags, ask for a refund and get your money back.
- Pay close attention to the seller's refund policy before you buy something from them. If they don't offer refunds, that's a red flag that the product may be fake or they're scamming you in another way.
While Fear of God doesn't offer a service to authenticate your Essentials pieces, some third-party companies do. Download apps like Legit Check by Ch or Legit App to your smartphone or mobile device for easy, on-the-go verification that your hoodie is real. Taking this step will give you the ultimate peace of mind.
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Report the counterfeit item to the seller platform and/or Essentials. If you bought your hoodie online from a site like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook Marketplace, report a problem to customer service or through the site’s "Report a Problem" or "Report Item" feature. Often, these platforms have guidelines against selling fake items and will investigate the seller.
- While Fear of God doesn’t have a dedicated space to report counterfeit items, you can email them about the issue at shop@fearofgod.com or send a message through their contact form. They may not be able to help you out with your item if you didn’t buy it through them, but reporting it will help them stamp out future fakes.
- Also consider reporting the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-382-4357.

Section 5 of 6:

Where to Buy Real Essentials Hoodies

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The best place to buy an Essentials hoodies and be 100% sure it's authentic is the brand's official website, fearofgod.com. Here, you can find the newest hoodies in the Essentials line in men's, women's, and children's sizes. Plus, you can also catch sales and older hoodies on clearance.
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Authorized retailers Another great place to buy real Essentials hoodies is an authorized retailer. These are retailers that have a contract or partnership with Fear of God to sell their apparel. They include Nordstrom, PacSun, and Urban Outfitters. Amazon also sells a limited number of authentic Essentials pieces.
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Secondhand stores If you search carefully, you can sometimes find real Essentials hoodies on secondhand websites like eBay, Poshmark, or Depop, or in physical storefronts like Goodwill. Remember to look over the product or product images carefully and check for signs of a counterfeit before you buy it.

Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do Fear of God Essentials hoodies run big? Yes. Fear of God Essentials hoodies are well known for being oversized, which helps them fit more loosely and comfortably.
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Is Fear of God Essentials a luxury brand? Yes, Fear of God Essentials is considered a luxury brand.
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Why are Essentials hoodies so expensive? Essentials hoodies are expensive because they're made with high-quality and high-performance materials (like organic cotton) and precise, detailed construction. Essentials also maintains high standards with its suppliers, often opting for suppliers that use environmentally friendly production practices.^{[16]
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Does Amazon sell Essentials hoodies? Yes, Amazon sells a few authentic Fear of God Essentials products. If you're not sure if an Amazon hoodie is from Essentials, double-check the brand name and make sure you're in the Luxury Stores section of the website.
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Does GOAT sell fake Essentials hoodies? GOAT is a clothing and shoes reseller that claims to authenticate every Essentials piece it acquires. However, some customers report receiving fakes through their website, which has resulted in GOAT dropping their prices. They may not be the most reliable place to buy authentic Essentials hoodies.