Denim Fears “The Floral Wreath” Sweatpants
Price: $15.48
Buy the Real Thing At: DenimTears.com, Levi.com, and Doverstreetmarket.com
Unfortunately, some people might be fooled by these sad pairs of fake Denim Tears sweatpants. From a distance, it kind of does look like the real thing. But up close, it’s clear that the cotton wreaths (pardon me, FLORAL PRINTS) definitely look a little glossy and flat compared to the puff-prints found on actual Denim Tears sweats. These Temu joints frankly look like a pair of distressed pajamas. Considering that these are completely made out of polyester, the sweats likely feel super-thin to the touch versus the all-cotton sweatpants Denim Tears is making. So please, put that $15 toward a meal at Chipotle instead of these sweatpants. And for god's sake, don’t even entertain Temu’s take on Denim Tear’s jeans where cotton wreaths are literally photoshopped into the product photos. If you want something similar, consider Denim Tears’ collab with Japanese label Readymade.
Cortaze “Gothic Mountain” Beanies
Price: $2.38
Buy the Real Thing At: Crtz.xyz
As the British streetwear label Corteiz continues to gain more popularity, there will be even more bad actors selling gaudy Corteiz fakes. These “Gothic Mountain” knit hats on Temu are some of the worst Corteiz knockoffs ever made. It’s one thing to buy fake Corteiz. It's another thing to buy a bootleg “Alcatraz Skully” that can’t even depict the brand’s logo correctly. Outside of Temu, there’s unfortunately a lot of websites that claim to sell real Corteiz apparel or present themselves as the official e-commerce store for Clint419’s brand. Even for this meager price, it’s not worth it to risk getting clowned by Clint419 himself.
“1977” Hoodies
Price: $21.09
Buy the Real Thing At: FearOfGod.com, Pacsun.com, and SSENSE.com
Essentials are still the most affordable offerings from Fear of God since most pieces retail for under $100. If you’re a smart shopper, you’ll likely be able to pick up Essentials for even lower prices when it goes on sale at stockists like SSENSE or PacSun. Clearly, some Temu shoppers are either unaware of the real “1977” hoodies, can’t wait for a sale on Essentials, or are just looking for an even deeper discount on Lorenzo’s basics. If Essentials hurts your pockets that badly, maybe just try your luck at Marshall’s instead of putting your hard-earned bread toward a Temu sweatsuit of all things.
Rik Owens Famones
Price: $19.07
Buy the Real Thing At: RickOwens.eu
Ramones are one of Rick Owens’ most popular sneaker styles. They're worn by nearly every Zoomer who’s trying to dress like a member of Opium. If you know someone who ended up buying a replica, it’s not surprising. These designer Converse-inspired sneakers cost a whopping $1,140 at retail. Nevertheless, reps aren’t it, especially when considering legit pairs are crafted out of high-end materials like buffed calfskin leather. While these Temu dupes vaguely boast the maximalist and gothic look of the original, it looks more like something straight off the racks of H&M or Forever 21. If you desperately need some Ricks, consider stepping away from the designer’s mainline offerings and shopping from his lower-priced DRKSHDW diffusion line instead. A pair that looks similar to Ramones retails for a little under $800 on SSENSE and is currently on sale. Used pairs are also available on Grailed for lower prices, but don’t forget to take extra steps to authenticate secondhand pairs as well.
Fouis Vuitton Forwards
Price: $19.25
Buy the Real Thing At: LouisVuitton.com
Times may be tough, but never tough enough to seriously consider buying sneakers that look like an AI-generated version of $1,260 Louis Vutiton Trainers. Incredibly poor offshoots inspired by an iconic LV sneaker design by Virgil Abloh constantly appear on Temu. No one is ever going to even think these are comparable to the real thing. If you must get something that looks similar, for cheaper, stick to New Balance 550s or the original Avia 880 sneakers that inspired LV’s silhouette.
Speedemon BS-6
Price: $26.37
Buy the Real Thing At: Salomon.com
Not the Speedemons! Yes, even the ever-popular Salomon XT-6 has been duped by Temu sellers. Low-key, it’s kind of impressive that the lacing on these fakes vaguely resembles Salomon’s “Quicklace” system. But man, these likely wouldn’t withstand a hike or even a walk in the park. Please don’t ever consider adding these to your sneaker rotation.
International Hustle Tribe Zip-Up Hoodie
Price: $11.15
Buy the Real Thing At: Stussy.com
Nope, this isn’t T.I. Hustle Gang merch. It’s just a very shoddy knockoff of a basic Stüssy zip-up that reads “Hustle” instead of Stüssy. There really isn’t much to say here except that you absolutely have no hustle or ambition if you’re copping an all-polyester Stüssy knockoff on Temu. To the 220-plus swagless individuals who really purchased this, please stop buying “streetwear” on this app in 2024.