How to Spot Fake Converse Shoes: 10 Ways to Tell Real All Star Sneakers

From its humble beginnings as a Massachusetts rubber shoe company specializing in galoshes in the early 1900s, Converse has grown into one of the world’s most iconic sneaker brands, with factories around the world.

Kaia Gerber teams her black Converse All Star high tops with an orange blazer, jeans, and baseball cap while out in New York City on September 5, 2019 (Credit: WENN / Instar)

Converse’s most recognizable creation is the Chuck Taylor All Star, first introduced in 1917 as a basketball shoe. More than a century later, the design has transcended its sporty roots to become a global fashion icon—a sneaker that bridges generations, trends, and cultures.

Affectionately known as “Chucks,” “Chuck Taylors,” “Cons,” or simply “All Stars,” the canvas-and-rubber classic remains one of the best-selling and most instantly recognizable sneakers of all time—a wardrobe staple spotted on everyone from athletes to A-list celebrities.

Millie Bobby Brown wears a pink sequined Calvin Klein by Appointment dress with white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers at the 24th SAG Awards in Los Angeles on January 21, 2018 (Credit: WENN / Adriana M. Barraza)

Chuck Taylor’s versatility resonates with individuals from diverse backgrounds, spanning everyday people to A-list celebrities and global fashion icons. It pairs with just about everything in your closet, whether casual or classy.

Off-duty cool: Katie Holmes pairs a light-wash denim jacket and jeans with classic white Chuck Taylor All Star high-tops, April 27, 2017 (Credit: WENN / TNYF)

Unfortunately, along with popularity comes imitation and counterfeit goods. And with the high demand and popularity of Converse All Star, it has become a frequent target of counterfeiting.

Where to Buy Authentic Converse Shoes (and Avoid Counterfeits)

While some shoes are easily recognizable as fake, some skilled counterfeiters make convincing knockoffs.

To avoid falling prey to counterfeiters, the best way is to shop at authorized, reputable retailers. Aside from the Converse official website, you can also purchase on Zappos, Amazon, and Nordstrom.

The pink Converse Chuck Taylor All Star high-top, featuring embroidered red hearts — a playful twist on the brand’s most iconic silhouette (Credit: Chanonnat Srisura / Shutterstock)

Before throwing your hard-earned money on a new pair of Converse All Star sneakers, know how to spot fake Converse All Star shoes. Below are easy ways to tell if your Chucks are the real deal:

1. Verify the Retailer: Shop Only from Trusted Stores

The first thing to avoid getting scammed is to check the store you’re buying from. Converse has added a store locator tool to its official website, allowing customers to find authorized retailers nearby.

If you prefer to shop online, you might want to read the seller’s feedback and reviews first.

Also, examine the photos they use, as scammers often steal or edit images to make their products look authentic. Better yet, buy from trusted and established online retailers like Zappos, Amazon, and Nordstrom.

You can also buy Converse shoes on eBay, but read our eBay shopping guide before purchasing to ensure you’re not buying a fake product.

2. Compare Prices to Spot Suspiciously Cheap Deals

The original Converse Chuck Taylors are typically sold for $55 for low-tops and $60 for high-tops. Anything cheaper than that should set off the alarm bell unless it is stated that they are running a promo or the shoes are discounted.

Converse stores and authorized retailers usually offer the best marked-down prices and clearance sales, with discounts up to 75% off the original price. You can also find discounted Converse shoes on sale at Nordstrom Rack.

3. Inspect the Packaging for Branding Accuracy

All fresh, original Converse All Star shoes come in a properly labeled Converse box. It’s a black box with brown stripes around the bottom. Prints of the company’s wordmark logo should be seen on the top, front, and right sides of the lid.

Authentic black Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low-top sneakers displayed with retail packaging featuring the brand’s iconic logo (Credit: Mas Yudhi / Shutterstock)

The side of the box should also display information about the shoes, including size, style, and color, along with a barcode and a QR (Quick Response) code. There should also be a print of the All Star shoe sole on the bottom part of the box.

The package also has tissue wrapping and, at times, stuffing paper inside the shoes.

4. Examine the Logo Patch for Authentic Design Details

Authentic high-top Chuck Taylors feature the round logo patch on the inner ankle — not the outer side.

This placement isn’t arbitrary; it was originally designed to provide extra protection and support for athletes’ ankles. Any pair with the patch on the outside is a clear counterfeit.

Authentic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star high-top sneaker featuring the classic navy star ankle patch on white canvas

The signature Converse patch features a crisp white circle stamped in rubber, framed by bold red “CONVERSE ALL STAR” lettering and finished with Chuck Taylor’s navy-blue script and a five-pointed star — a timeless emblem recognized across generations.

“CONVERSE ALL STAR” in red uppercase letters and “Chuck Taylor” signature in navy blue script with a five-pointed star

Note that this red, white, and blue badge is not used on monochromatic Chuck versions. Instead, monochrome pairs feature the logo in 3D and the same color as the canvas upper.

Black Converse Chuck Taylor All Star high-top featuring a tonal 3D logo patch and matte black hardware

On low-top All Star sneakers, the Converse All Star logo patch is placed on the tongue.

It is a thin, rectangular canvas fabric, neatly sewn onto the tongue, that reads “CONVERSE” in white against a red background and “ALL STAR” in navy blue, with the star logo separating the two words.

This particular color combination of the badge is only used on the white and natural ivory color versions of the low-top All Star.

Low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All Star tongue logo patch featuring the classic red, white, and navy color scheme

The two-tone versions of the All Star sneakers feature the rectangular logo patch in black and white, while the monochromatic pairs have the logo in the same color as the shoes.

Red low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All Star featuring a black-and-white tongue logo patch with star detail

5. Check the Heel Logo and Placement

Every Converse Chuck Taylor sneaker has a rubber patch on the heel. This rectangular patch features the same branding as the fabric logo patch on the low-top All Stars.

It is labeled with a small “CONVERSE” lettering on top and “ALL STAR” with a trademark star logo in between on the bottom.

Authentic white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers featuring the signature rubber heel patch with red and navy branding

The heel patch’s font color shifts to match the shoe’s design, maintaining a clean, tonal balance.

Authentic pairs feature crisp, straight lettering and a perfectly molded patch that follows the curve of the midsole. Any uneven printing or traces of excess glue along the edges are telltale signs of a counterfeit.

Authentic green Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low-top sneakers featuring the signature white rubber heel patch with black branding

For monochrome versions, the back logos are in 3D.

White monochrome Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low-top featuring a tonal 3D heel patch and matching white midsole

6. Inspect the Inner Tongue Label and Stitching

Whether low- or high-top, the tongue should have a small patch on the inside. This patch contains information about the shoe’s country of manufacture, model number, size, material, QR code, and a unique serial number for each shoe.

Also, notice the zigzagged stitching around the border of the tongue. If it’s done loosely or crookedly, chances are it’s fake.

Authentic Converse sneaker tongue featuring the inside patch with product details, size, and QR code

7. Evaluate the Toe Caps and Toe Guards

Converse shoes’ distinctive white toe caps must be made of solid rubber material. It should also be positioned straight and parallel to the bottom laces.

Fake Chucks usually have bigger toe cap sizes than genuine All Star shoes. Monochromatic Chuck Taylors, on the other hand, have toe caps that match the canvas.

Authentic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers featuring signature solid white rubber toe caps and clean black piping

The rubber toe guards must be solid. It should have diagonal lines at the top, a crisscrossed diamond pattern at the middle, and a smaller diamond pattern at the bottom.

This should be neatly trimmed and bonded to the shoe, with no excess glue anywhere.

Authentic white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers featuring the signature solid rubber toe caps and textured diamond toe guards

8. Look Closely at the Soles for Pattern and Markings

The insoles of Converse All-Star shoes should match the color of the canvas lining.

The inner soles of authentic white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, featuring the signature navy “CONVERSE” print

They should also have the “CONVERSE” wordmark printed in capital letters in navy blue, except for the black monochrome model, which features the insole inscription in white.

Authentic black monochrome Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers featuring tonal “CONVERSE” insoles and matching black logo patches

Converse All Star sneakers boast a unique waffle-patterned sole. It resembles a combination of various patterns, including diamond shapes, diagonal lines, crisscrossed, and horizontal lines.

Authentic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star outsole featuring the signature brown waffle-pattern sole with diamond and line detailing

Original Converse All Star sneakers also have a tiny part on the outsole that shows the Converse logo. You should see the “CONVERSE ALL STAR” lettering and five-pointed star insignia.

A small hexagonal star should also be in the corner, which is usually missing in counterfeits.

Close-up of the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star outsole showing the embossed “CONVERSE ALL STAR” logo and signature star detail

9. Inspect Stitching and Paint for Craftsmanship Quality

All Authentic Converse sneakers feature sturdy stitching on the upper. The stitching is usually white, except for the monochrome and ivory versions, which feature tonal stitching.

Authentic white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low-tops featuring sturdy double stitching on the canvas upper and polished metal eyelets

The paint on the rubber piping should also be straight and solid. Fake ones are usually faded and uneven.

Authentic pink Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low-top featuring straight, solid paint along the rubber piping and classic white midsole

10. Examine the Eyelets — Matte, Not Glossy

If the eyelets, including the medial eyelets, are polished, they are definitely a knockoff. Authentic Converse All Stars have matte eyelets. They are also neatly aligned on the upper and don’t come off easily.

Authentic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers featuring neatly aligned matte metal eyelets and clean stitching

Converse Today: The Nike-Owned Brand Loved by Celebrities and Athletes

Acquired by Nike in 2003 for $305 million, Converse is now a subsidiary of the American multinational corporation.

A curated display of the Sage Elsesser x Converse One Star Pro collection at the New York City launch event, February 10, 2017 (Credit: Derrick Salters / WENN)

Converse offers several main product lines, including the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star, known for its classic canvas-and-leather sneakers.

The Jack Purcell line features sneakers with a distinctive smile design on the toe cap. Converse One Star offers sneakers with a one-star logo, often with a retro-inspired look.

The CONS line is designed for athletes and skateboarders, focusing on durability and performance. Chuck 70 offers a modern take on the classic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, often featuring premium materials.

Converse also allows customers to customize Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, and it frequently collaborates with designers and brands to create limited-edition collections, resulting in unique, sought-after designs.

Nike acquired Converse in 2003, bringing the iconic Chuck Taylor brand under the global sportswear giant’s umbrella

When Nike acquired Converse, the heritage sneaker brand was generating just over $200 million in annual sales. Two decades later, that figure has soared more than tenfold to $2.08 billion in 2024.

This growth can be attributed to several factors, including Nike’s global reach, marketing expertise, and supply chain efficiencies.

It’s worth noting that Nike’s overall revenue for 2024 was $51.1 billion, with Converse accounting for approximately 4% of that total.

The Meaning Behind the Converse Name

The company is named after its founder, Marquis Mills Converse, who founded the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts, specializing in galoshes.

Also known as dickersons, gumshoes, rubbers, or overshoes, it is a type of rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet.

Why Marquis Mills Converse Created the Brand

Marquis Mills Converse was an American entrepreneur who founded the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in 1908.

He was inspired to create rubber-soled shoes after he fell down the stairs while wearing slippery shoes. This incident led him to believe that there was a need for footwear with better traction.

The Origin of “Chucks”: How Chuck Taylor Redefined Basketball Shoes

In 1923, a basketball player named Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor walked into Converse’s Chicago office complaining of sore feet.

He was hired to improve an earlier version of the Converse All Stars, released in 1922 as one of the first basketball-specific shoes.

In recognition of his hard work, Taylor’s signature was added to the All-Star patch on the classic, high-topped sneakers in 1932. Since then, they have become known as Chuck Taylor All Stars.

Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor worked as a salesman and ambassador for the brand until his death from a heart attack in Port Charlotte, Florida, on June 23, 1969. The design of the Chuck Taylor All Star has remained essentially unchanged since its introduction in the 1920s.

Converse Quick Facts (Q&A)

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