The increase of fake Nautica apparel and accessories sold in flea markets and on the Internet has pushed many Nautica customers to wonder if there is a way to separate the fake from the real. Pinpointing specific areas you should look for to determine if your Nautica apparel or accessories are fake is close to impossible. However, there are some steps you can take to see if you bought an original piece or not.

Check the stitching on any logos on the outside of your T-shirt, polo or jacket. The stitching should be flawless. Iif you notice too many flaws on the logo it may be a fake. Keep in mind that there are two types of logos: the original spinnaker logo and the current J-class logo, which took over when VF Corporation from Maine bought Nautica.

Turn your T-shirt, polo or jacket it inside out and look for signs of poor threading and stitching. If you see this in your clothing, it may be fake. Nautica has high quality control standards. Clothing that is defective does not make it into stores.

Check the tag. If the tag looks discolored, stitched in a crooked position or the wording is misspelled, you can safely say that it is fake. Also check the main Nautica website and compare the price on the tag with the online price.

Check the logos on accessories like glasses by rubbing your finger against them, being careful not to scratch them. Fake logos usually fade immediately. Nautica manufactures all its apparel and accessories under strict quality control; if you see defects like this, it is a knockoff.