How to spot fake Ralph Lauren: seven checks

A genuine Ralph Lauren item is recognised by details that agree with each other: the polo player embroidery, the neck label, the care label with its RN number, the buttons, the collar and the fabric. No single check is decisive, so the seven checks below are read together.

The checks apply to polo shirts, shirts, jumpers, hoodies and jackets alike. Where a check matters more for one type of item, that is stated in the section.

1. The polo player embroidery

The logo shows a polo player on a horse with the mallet raised. It first appeared in 1971, on the cuff of a women's shirt, and since then it has been embroidered on the chest of most Ralph Lauren items. On a genuine item the embroidery is dense and slightly raised, without gaps between the stitches, and the rider, the mallet and the legs of the horse are clearly separated. A pony that looks stretched, squashed, blurred or lumpy is a reason to look closer.

The size of the logo differs by item. Most shirts and jumpers have the small pony, and some polo shirts have the larger Big Pony. The size of the logo on its own says nothing about whether an item is genuine.

2. Thread colour and placement

The thread of the polo player either contrasts with the garment or matches it in a tonal shade. A colour that is almost right, but slightly off, is a reason to look closer. The logo sits straight and in the same place on comparable items, and a pony that is tilted or placed noticeably high or low does not match the way it is applied on genuine items.

3. The neck label and the line

The neck label names the line, and the line narrows down the age of an item. Polo Ralph Lauren is the main line. Polo Sport began in the early 1990s, Purple Label in 1994 and RLX in 1998, so an item with an RLX label cannot date from before 1998. Lauren Ralph Lauren and Chaps are separate lines with their own labels. Each line is described in more detail in Ralph Lauren lines explained.

The lettering on a genuine label is sharp and evenly spaced, and the label is stitched in straight with neat edges. Spelling mistakes, uneven spacing or a label design that does not fit the line or the type of item all call for a closer look.

4. The care label and the RN number

The care label gives the fibre content, the care instructions and the country of manufacture. The fibre content should match the fabric: a jumper labelled as cotton that feels like acrylic does not add up. On items made for the American market, the care label often shows an RN number. RN stands for Registered Identification Number, which the United States Federal Trade Commission issues to identify the company responsible for a textile product.

The RN number can be looked up in the public register of the Federal Trade Commission. It identifies a company, not a date, so it confirms whether the number belongs to the company named on the neck label. Care labels have been required on clothing sold in the United States since 1972, which gives a general lower limit for items with a sewn-in care label made for that market.

5. Buttons

On polo shirts and button-down shirts, the buttons are consistent in colour, size and finish along the placket, and they are sewn on firmly with even thread. Buttons that feel light and hollow, or that differ from one another, are a reason to look closer. A missing or replaced button is a matter of condition, not of authenticity, and is stated in the condition description.

6. The collar and the seams

A polo shirt collar holds its shape and stands without curling at the points, and the stitching on the underside is clean and even. The same applies to the seams of the whole item: straight topstitching, finished seam edges and no loose thread ends. On a button-down shirt the collar points sit flat against the shirt when they are buttoned.

7. The fabric and the knit

The weight of the fabric fits the type of item. The piqué of a polo shirt has a clear, even texture, an Oxford shirt has a noticeable weight, and a cable knit has a full, dense knit. Fabric that feels unusually thin or loosely woven for the type of item is worth a second look.

What to check first by type of item

Item	Check first	Then
Polo shirt	Polo player embroidery and buttons	Collar shape and piqué texture
Oxford or button-down shirt	Polo player embroidery and collar points	Buttons, weight of the cloth and care label
Jumper	Polo player embroidery and neck label	Density of the knit and fibre content on the care label
Hoodie	Polo player embroidery	Weight of the fabric, ribbed cuffs and care label
Jacket	Neck label and care label	Zip, lining and embroidery

The checks are read together. An item where the embroidery, the labels, the buttons and the fabric all agree with each other and with the line is consistent with a genuine item, and an item where one of them does not fit needs a closer look.

How items are authenticated at leverene

Every Ralph Lauren item at leverene is authenticated through LegitApp before it is added to the store. The cleaning, measuring and final check are described in How leverene works.

LegitApp works with resale businesses to verify branded clothing, and its authentication covers the details described above. The Ralph Lauren guide explains the lines and the labels in more detail. Ralph Lauren items can be browsed by type, such as jumpers, polo shirts and shirts, for men and women, or on the Ralph Lauren page. The same approach for another brand is set out in spotting fake Burberry.

Frequently asked questions

Can a fake Ralph Lauren be recognised from the pony alone?

The pony alone is not enough. The embroidery is checked together with the neck label, the care label, the buttons and the fabric.

Is Polo Ralph Lauren the same as Ralph Lauren?

Polo Ralph Lauren is the main line of Ralph Lauren Corporation, which was called Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation until 2011. Both names on a label refer to the same company.

What does the RN number on a Ralph Lauren label show?

The RN number identifies the company responsible for the item, as registered with the United States Federal Trade Commission. It does not give a production date.

How can the age of a Ralph Lauren item be told?

The line on the neck label gives the earliest possible date: an RLX label means 1998 or later and a Purple Label 1994 or later. The wording and layout of the care label narrow it down further. Dating an item from its labels is explained step by step in how to read a Ralph Lauren label.

Is every Ralph Lauren item at leverene authenticated?

Every item is authenticated through LegitApp before it is added to the store.

Items can be returned within 30 days.