Authenticating Nike kits

In this guide, we will walk you through the key features that make up a genuine Nike kit, from the fabric quality to the fine details in design. We'll also highlight common signs of counterfeits and provide tips on how to verify authenticity, whether you're shopping online or in-store.

The product code label

The small label located beneath the wash label is one of the most useful first indicators when assessing a kit’s authenticity. Despite its size, it can reveal a surprising amount of information.

The product code

Nike product codes are a useful starting point when verifying the authenticity of a football kit. Typically found on a small label beneath the wash label inside the kit, these codes follow a six-digit style number, sometimes followed by a three-digit color code (e.g. 894430-010). The style number identifies the core design or template, while the color code distinguishes the specific variant.

While these codes can help confirm that a kit’s design exists and matches what it claims to be, they aren’t foolproof. Fake kits often reuse valid codes, and not all genuine kits — especially older models — include the color suffix. For that reason, Nike product codes are best used in combination with other indicators like stitching quality, print accuracy, and label details.

The production code

The small label beneath the wash label doesn't just show the product code — it also contains details about when the kit was produced. Nike includes a season code that indicates the production period. Let's use the code in the example below: HO150407SYG.

Nike operates on a four-season cycle, using the following abbreviations:

• SP – Spring (January to March) – sometimes shown as just S
• SU – Summer (April to June) – sometimes shown as just U
• FA – Fall (July to September) – sometimes shown as just F
• HO – Holiday (October to December) – sometimes shown as just H

Older kits may display only the season letter followed by a single-digit year (e.g., F6 for Fall 2006). In the late 2000s, Nike transitioned to using two-digit years (e.g., HO15 = Holiday 2015).

The next four digits of this code represent the first and last months of manufacturing. In the example on the right the kit was produced from April (04) to July (07) for a Holiday 2015 release.

This code is especially useful when validating that the kit’s production date aligns with its actual season. Counterfeiters often reuse labels across various kits, leading to mismatched or illogical combinations.

Understanding color codes

As you've learned by now, Nike product codes often follow a [style]-[color] format. This means every product is made up of a base style number followed by a three-digit color code, usually separated by a hyphen. This color code identifies the primary colorway and helps distinguish between design variants.

Let’s look at an example:

• 894430-010 – Black version of the design
• 894430-100 – White version of the same base design

These codes may apply to different teams, kit types, or even training gear, depending on the color assignment. This becomes especially important when:

• A fake uses the correct style number but assigns the wrong color
• Multiple clubs share the same template but differ in colorway
• You're trying to verify that a tag matches the actual physical kit color

Refer to the chart below for a general idea of how Nike colorways are typically structured. While the exact code may vary slightly by shade, the broader pattern holds — for instance, orange kits won't use codes from the 100s range, which is typically reserved for white-based designs.

A notable exception to this rule is black and grey, as the distinction between the two can be a bit of a grey area in Nike’s color coding 😉 Some grey kits may have color codes beginning with 0 (like black), while others might start with 2 making it less predictable than other color categories.

The swing tags

A swing tag is the detachable cardboard tag typically attached to a new kit — usually hanging from the sleeve or neck area by a small plastic barb. It contains key product information like the size, barcode, product code, and pricing. In the world of football kits, swing tags are important for collectors, as they can help verify authenticity and confirm the kit is unworn or in original retail condition.

Placement

The placement of Nike's swing tags has changed over time and can offer useful clues when authenticating a kit.

Design

Older Nike swing tags were typically black, while more recent versions have adopted a brown, recycled paper look. These tags include a removable sticker that displays key information such as the product code and sizing. One important detail to watch for is that authentic tags always use a real, physical sticker, never a printed-on label. Additionally, the plastic barb used to attach the tag is consistently black on genuine Nike kits.

The code on the swing tag should match the one found on the smaller product code label. If the kit includes a color code (e.g., -100 for white), it should also be consistent across both labels. Any mismatch between these codes — or a missing color suffix where one is expected — can be a sign of a fake kit.

Size color codes

The size sticker features a color-coded bar, which corresponds to the kit's size:

This system has been in place for many years, so if the color on the sizing bar doesn’t match the size listed, or if the bar is missing entirely, that could be a sign of a fake.

Player-spec kits

Player-spec kits typically do not include standard Nike swing tags when distributed directly to teams. If they are made available for retail, they may include a store-specific tag, but not the usual Nike swing tag. In the past, some player-spec kits also featured tags attached at the neck, but this practice has been phased out and is no longer seen on modern releases.

The care labels

Nike kits include a care label sewn into the inner side seam. On player-spec kits, this label is often printed directly onto the fabric, rather than sewn in like on fan versions.

Watch out for:

• Typos, text spacing or grammar issues, which are common in counterfeit labels
• Inconsistent manufacturing info — the country listed on the care label should match the one on the neck label
• Pen marks or scribbles — while these can appear on genuine player-spec kits, they may also be signs of secondhand fakes or tampering if found on retail versions

Always compare care label formatting, language, and layout with a known authentic kit from the same season to be sure.

The neck label

The neck label or size print inside the collar is a key detail when verifying the authenticity of a Nike football kit. It typically features details such as the kit size across diferent regions, the kit technology being used, and a manufacturing country.

Made in ...

The manufacturing country printed on the neck label should always match the one listed on the wash tags inside the jersey. For example, if the neck label says "Made in Indonesia", the inner care/wash tag should say the same. Inconsistencies between these two locations are a common red flag for counterfeit kits. While Nike manufactures kits in several countries (e.g., Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico), the labeling should always be consistent throughout the kit.

Size information

This size conversion chart shows how kit sizes align across different regions. When verifying a kit’s authenticity, the size listed in the neck label should match the corresponding value on the wash tags inside the kit. Pay close attention to the Japanese size (J) — counterfeit kits often get this wrong, either by mismatching it with the other sizes or using unrealistic codes (e.g., "J: S" for a US L).

The jock tag

Most modern Nike kits feature a jock tag (also known as an authenticity tag) located at the bottom right of the kit. While the design of this tag has evolved over the years, it typically includes a long alphanumeric code.

Uniqueness

Like the product code, the jock tag code can be searched online for reference. However, unlike product codes — which are shared across all copies of a kit — the jock tag code is meant to be unique to each kit. If you search it and find multiple listings showing the exact same code, that may be a red flag indicating a fake.

Design details

In more recent Nike kits, the jock tag has become more sophisticated. Kits feature a high-quality metallic strip integrated into the tag, often with a subtle holographic effect that shifts under light. Fake kits often skip or poorly imitate this detail, replacing it with a flat printed strip, or even just a piece of stitching. However, certain smaller teams or training kits might not feature a jock tag or metallic strip at all.

The overall tag design also varies based on the tier of the kit:

• Player-spec kits typically feature gold or metallic accents
• Fan versions tend to use silver or neutral-colored tags

These small design cues can be valuable indicators when trying to confirm a kit's authenticity.

Timeline

Refer to the overview below for a look at various jock tag designs and the years they were first introduced:

Logos, crests, and stitching

The club crest is one of the most noticeable and telling details on a football kit, and a common giveaway on counterfeit Nike kits. While fake kits often get the general shape right, they frequently miss the finer details that set real Nike embroidery or heat-transfers apart.

Embroidered vs. heat-pressed

Nike uses different crest applications depending on the kit type and season:

• Fan versions usually feature embroidered crests. These should be clean, tight, and sit flat on the fabric.
• Player-spec kits often use heat-pressed or silicone-style crests, which are lighter and smoother to reduce weight and irritation.

If the crest is embroidered when it should be heat-pressed — or vice versa — that’s a red flag. Authentic Nike crests have crisp, clean edges with no loose threads, fraying, or bubbling. If it’s embroidered, it should feel tight and flat. Fakes often feel thicker, stiffer, or roughly stitched.

The Nike Swoosh

The Nike Swoosh is one of the most recognisable brand marks in the world — and also one of the easiest ways to spot a fake football kit when something's off. On authentic kits, the Swoosh is applied with precision, whether it's embroidered or heat-pressed. The shape is consistent, the edges are clean, and the overall finish is sharp.

Another giveaway can often be found on the inside of the kit. Flip the kit inside out and check the area behind the swoosh or the crest. If you see excess fabric, loose backing material, or messy stitching, that's a strong red flag — especially on modern Nike kits, where internal finishing is usually very clean.

Common red flags

• Oversized or undersized crests
• Crooked placement or inconsistent spacing
• Rough or overly shiny threadwork
• Crests that peel easily or appear wrinkled (especially on heat-pressed versions)

RN56323 and CA05553

The numbers RN56323 and CA05553 are registration numbers that appear on many Nike garments, including football kits. These codes are not unique to individual items or specific products — instead, they are broad identifiers registered with U.S. and Canadian authorities. RN56323 is Nike’s U.S. Registered Identification Number (RN), and CA05553 is their Canadian equivalent.

These numbers simply confirm that Nike is the manufacturer, but they are printed on virtually every Nike garment, regardless of style, year, or category. As such, they cannot be used to verify authenticity or date a kit, and they often appear on fake kits as well. While it's good to know what they are, they offer little value when it comes to actual authentication.