Prps Jeans – Which Are Real and Which Are Counterfeit?

Prps Jeans are an up-market ‘super-denim’ denim products that are the culmination of decades of research and design into growing and shipping the cotton; the weaving of the cotton into denim and then the craftsmanship behind turning the raw denim into a wearable product.

The cotton used in creating Prps (pronounced as either ‘P-R-P-S’ or ‘Purpose’) clothing is grown especially and organically in Africa. Specifically, countries like Uganda, Zimbabwe and Benin are good, regular sources. African cotton is chosen as Africa has a climate that is very favourable to the growth of the cotton, and the strength, versatility and endurance which this grants to the grown cotton. Once the cotton is fully grown and harvested, it is sent to the Prps production plants in Japan.

Once the cotton arrives, it is woven into denim. This is done on vintage looms, looms that were used during the 1960s and earlier. Loom technology has changed since these times, and denim weaving has become much more efficient, being able to produce more denim from less cotton and being able to do so in a more consistent fashion and with less waste. However, Prps believes that the end result from the vintage looms creates much better denim. The inconsistencies, little tears and waste are all part of the Prps jeans vision of natural, non-mass production.

With the denim complete, the Prps jeans artists get to work. These artists are some of the best tailors in Japan, handpicked by Prps’s founder for their skill, wisdom and ambition. Although the jeans may follow the same basic patterns and cuts, no two pairs of Prps are identical. Each abrasion, cut, tear, stain, strain, bent button, busted fly, crease, crinkle, rip, dye and wash are created by hand. No two Prps jeans are the same, and some are not even close. Each item goes through a very aggressive and rigorous aging and wash process. This creates an authentic looking product that truly represents the hard work that goes in to every stage of production, right from the growth of the cotton.

Unfortunately, Prps has been targeted by counterfeiters. These counterfeiters steal the basic design of a jean and attempt to reproduce them. Compared to genuine Prps, these fakes have none of the love or care that every other pair of jean receives in its production. The denim used is the cheapest the criminals can find, the people creating the jeans are usually poorly-paid people that are used to mass-production – quantity over quality. When the counterfeits are produced by or for the large organised criminal gangs, the factory workers are often children, paid only in a day’s worth of food.

Fortunately for the savvy consumer it is easy to spot and so avoid replication Prps jeans. There are a few signs that the fakers will almost always miss, and very few of which will get all of them in every item. If you’re on the market for some Prps bargains then be sure to keep a look out for the following signs, if not it’s very likely that you’ll end up with the fakes.

• The Logo The Prps logo is found on a patch on the waistband, usually at the back. This patch is always made from leather and has Prps printed on it in a bold, readable colour. If the patch is not real leather (like if it has a cloth or plastic feel to it) then the item is a fake.
• The Waist-Adjustors Prps will quite usually have waist-adjustors so that the wearer may slightly alter the tension and tightness of the garment. Fakes will often have this too, although they will be missing some vital details. Firstly, check how well the studs stay fastened – if they pop out accidentally or with little effort then they’re not real. Prps also only use two studs – if the jeans you’re looking at have more or less, they’re not real. The studs themselves will have ‘SELTEX’ embossed onto them; if they do not then they are not real.
• Inside Pocket The inside of the front pocket will have ‘PRPS’ and the size of the jean stamped onto it. This will usually look slightly washed off and will appear in a very strong, bold looking type face. If it is missing or is not showing in a strong font (for example, it is shown in the same italic font as on the waistband) then it is likely to be inauthentic.
• Prps Tag The Prps tag follows a very distinct pattern. First of all, the tag is printed on a dark beige/light brown coloured tag. The tag has a light creased effect, very visible but nothing too strong that it alters the physical direction that the tag is set upon. Towards the top of the tag, near the printed ‘Prps’, there should be a red sun-ray pattern emanating from the uppermost curve of the first P, the rays of which will form a rough triangle when they reach and stop at the edge of the surrounding rectangle. If the rays go to the edge of the tag, or they are not present (perhaps the pattern is something else, or a solid block of colour) then the jeans are not real.

This is by no means a definitive list. The most important thing you can do to protect yourself against this type of scammer is to only buy from a reputable, well-known and prominent store. Pay close attention to the price – everybody likes a bargain but if the price is too low there is something wrong. A low price does not represent the value of the genuine article, and so is likely to be unauthentic.

If you do fall victim to buying a counterfeit Prps jean, you should waste no time in telling the authorities. Most fake clothing is created and sold by criminals in organised crime; the proceeds from which are often reinvested back into other forms of crime. Not only will you be left out of pocket, you will have sponsored crime and to top it off you will be left with a substandard product.

Prps are one of the most innovative, environmentally conscious design houses in the world, and their products are (rightly so) always in demand. Protect yourself against the unscrupulous people that feel they should immorally profit form another’s success and at your expense by learning how to look out for the differences between genuine and counterfeit products.

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