In this sixth instalment of our series on counterfeit football shirts, we tested all 12 fake and official kits with ten wash cycles, looking to see if counterfeit shirts can survive even moderate wear and tear. While the official brand protection messaging claims that fakes start to deteriorate after just a few washes, we wanted to see just how true that is—and how they would stand up against their official versions.
The Washing Machine Test: What We Looked For
Over ten wash cycles, we evaluated the durability of each fake football shirt in three specific areas:
- Shrinkage/Stretching: Did the shirts lose or gain any millimetres in size after multiple washes?
- Fabric Condition & Construction: Did the fabric or stitching show signs of damage, like loose threads or pilling?
- Heat-Press Printing Durability: Would the heat-pressed sponsorship logos, badges, and other brand marks hold up or start peeling, cracking, or fading?
Our test was carried out in a typical home washing machine, using a mixed cycle for about 90 minutes (⚽ coincidently) with Tesco non-bio washing liquid (25ml per wash) at 30°C, following manufacturer instructions. All shirts were hung and dried on a clothing rack for at least 4 hours before their next wash.
Shrinkage/Stretching: How the Counterfeits Held Up
After ten washes, we measured each shirt. We then compared them against the measurements we recorded during the size comparison testing, allowing a margin of 5mm for elasticised materials. Four out of six counterfeit kits showed noticeable shrinkage or stretching:
- Liverpool Fake: 10mm lost from the front collar to the bottom and 13mm lost on the back collar.
- Real Madrid Fake: A 7mm loss in the chest area.
- Inter Miami Fake: A 12mm reduction across the chest.
- Brazil Fake: 8mm lost in the front and back length and 6mm across the chest.
The official shirts, however, retained their original measurements without any notable shrinkage or stretching, confirming their stability under repeated washing.
Fabric Condition & Construction: Consistency Issues
Despite pre-wash observations of inconsistent stitching on some counterfeit shirts, most of these kits’ construction held up better than expected. However, the counterfeit Inter Miami shirt was particularly vulnerable. It developed heavy pilling (bobbles) —small fibre balls that mar the fabric’s surface—on the back panel only, hinting at the variability in materials used in counterfeit production.
The official shirts emerged looking almost new, with no visible pilling or wear on any fabric panels or stitching.
Heat-Press Printing Durability: Where the Counterfeits Faltered
The heat-pressed designs were the most visible point of failure for the counterfeits. Four out of the six fakes encountered deterioration:
- Manchester United Fake: The front shirt sponsor logo bubbled and broke in several areas, with one letter even starting to peel. The sleeve sponsor, however, remained mostly intact with only minor fold-line damage.
- Inter Miami Fake: The sponsor logo developed multiple cracks, signalling that further washes would likely make the design look even more worn.
- Real Madrid Fake: The dye on both sponsor logos bled into the shirt fabric, creating a jagged and faded look around the sleeve sponsor in particular.
- Liverpool Fake: Minor cracking appeared in the front sponsor logo, the Premier League badge lost some of its colour, and the sleeve sponsor showed additional damage along existing fold lines.
Interestingly, the small “Aeroready” logos on counterfeit Adidas shirts looked fine but showed early cracking when stretched, which we didn’t observe on official kits.
What Does This Mean for Parents?
For parents considering a cheaper counterfeit shirt, the results may serve as a warning: while these knockoffs may look convincing out of the box, the heat-pressed designs and less durable materials could mean they wear out quickly, especially under the rougher treatment of a child’s daily use.
Questions to Consider:
- For those buying counterfeits, could selecting designs without heat-pressed elements prolong the shirt’s lifespan?
- Would more frequent wear and active play push these counterfeits beyond their limits even faster than our controlled tests?
- Is the longevity of an official kit worth the extra expense, especially for a child who might quickly outgrow it?
What’s Next?
Next, we’ll explore the economics of kit prices and how they’ve outpaced inflation, exploding the ‘real cost’ of following your team.
Viewing Part 6 of 8 in our 'A Tale Of Two Shirts' Series
| Part | Study | Article |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
||
|
2 |
||
|
3 |
||
|
4 |
||
|
5 |
||
|
6 |
Washing Machine Test |
How Many Spins Will The Fake Football Shirts Last? |
|
7 |
||
|
8 |
||
|
A1 |
||
|
A2 |