Authenticity guide

Adidas Authenticity Guide

A guide to Adidas tags, neck label / size writing, product codes and common shirt checks.

Reviewed by Revive Sports · 11 July 2026

Adidas code placement

Adidas product codes are often near the washing labels or neckline. Placement varies by era, so season context matters.

Genuine badge, washing label and product code reference

This genuine Adidas reference shows the sort of details to compare against: clean badge embroidery, a readable washing label and a legible product code tag. Use these photos alongside the Manchester United example carrying the copied HS5184 code to compare label alignment, print quality, stitching and badge finishing.

Genuine Adidas washing label reference — Genuine example: washing label print and stitching used as a positive comparison.

Genuine Adidas product code tag reference showing GT7125 — Genuine example: product code tag showing GT7125.

HS5184 copied onto an unrelated shirt

HS5184 genuinely identifies the CR Flamengo 2023/24 home replica, so the code is expected on that product. This Manchester United example is not genuine and carries the unrelated Flamengo code: its washing labels and neck tag are sewn in wonky, while the badge embroidery is sloppy and the yellow detail touches the crest edge. Use the identity conflict and those construction details together; the code alone is not a verdict.

Not genuine Adidas HS5184 washing label sewn in wonky — Not genuine example: washing labels sewn in wonky with poor alignment.

Not genuine Adidas HS5184 neck tag stitching — The neck tag and overlock stitching look messy and poorly finished.

Not genuine Manchester United shirt carrying copied Adidas code HS5184 — Copied-code example: HS5184 belongs to the Flamengo 2023/24 home replica, not this Manchester United shirt.

Not genuine Adidas inner neck print and size writing — Check the inner neck print alongside the code, labels and badge.

Red shirt code and label warning signs

These Adidas red shirt examples show not genuine code and label warning signs. Treat the code tag, small QR label and wash-label stack as a set: the codes should support the exact shirt, the label print should be clean, and the small code label should look correctly finished.

Not genuine Adidas red shirt code tag showing GK9155 — Not genuine example: code tag detail including GK9155.

Not genuine Adidas red shirt label stack with W350AOU3 code — Not genuine example: small QR/code label and wash-label stack with W350AOU3.

FI5295 copied onto unrelated shirts

FI5295 genuinely identifies the Colombia 2020/21 away replica, but the code has been documented on unrelated shirts that were not genuine. Use the shirt-identity conflict, code tag, washing labels, overlock stitching and badge embroidery together: the code should support the exact design, labels should be cleanly printed, and construction should match known genuine Adidas examples.

Not genuine Adidas code tag showing FI5295 — Copied-code example: FI5295 appears on a shirt other than the Colombia 2020/21 away replica.

Not genuine Adidas grey shirt code tag showing FI5295 — Independent copied-code example showing FI5295 on an unrelated Adidas shirt.

Not genuine Adidas FI5295 washing label close-up — Wash label print and stitching should be checked alongside the code.

Not genuine Adidas FI5295 full washing label — Not genuine example: full washing label stack from the same reference shirt.

Not genuine Adidas FI5295 code tag and overlock stitching — The code tag and surrounding overlock stitching should match genuine construction.

Badges and three-stripe details

Check embroidery, heat-pressed crest quality, stripe material and shoulder placement against genuine examples.

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