How to Identify Fake Toms Shoes

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 26, 2023

TOMS is an organization that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of TOMS shoes you purchase for yourself. When you are sold a pair of fake TOMS shoes, a shoe donation will not be made to a child in need. By inspecting labels, evaluating quality, and ensuring that your shoes are purchased through an authorized retailed, you can easily identify whether or not you have a pair of counterfeit TOMS in your possession.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Inspecting Labels

1
Verify the shoes' country of origin. TOMS has 5 manufacturing sites that are in Argentina, China, Ethiopia, India and Kenya. Carefully review your pair to make sure that they are made at one of the listed manufacturing sites above.^{[1]
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- Look for a label on the inside of the shoe that tells you the country of origin.
- Look for this information somewhere on the box.
2
Look for the "One for One" slogan imprinted inside the shoe. Fake TOMS shoes may not feature the TOMS slogan anywhere on the shoes or on the shoe box.^{[2]
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3
Verify that a pattern exists on the inside walls of the shoes. The inside fabric of TOMS shoes will contain a pattern such as stripes or animals. If no pattern exists inside the shoes, they may be counterfeit TOMS shoes.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Evaluating the Quality

1
Attempt to remove the insole from the shoe. The insoles of TOMS shoes should be sewn in, and should not come out easily. In addition, the insole may not match the inside contours of fake TOMS shoes.^{[4]
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2
Determine if the inside of the shoes have built-in arch support. If the insoles are flat and do not contain mounds to support the arches of your feet, the TOMS shoes are most likely fake.^{[5]
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3
Look for poor quality stitching. Counterfeit shoes are generally not as well made as the genuine article. One way to evaluate this is to look at the stitching. Do you notice any uneven stitching or threads that are coming lose? If so, the shoes are probably fakes.^{[6]
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4
Check the accuracy of the size. Ensure that the size printed on the inside of the shoe matches with the actual size of the shoe. For example, if you are a women's size 7, but the shoes you try on in your size are far too large or fit a woman who wears a size 8, the shoes are probably fake.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Purchasing TOMS Through an Authorized Retailer

1
Verify that the seller is an authorized TOMS retailer. If you purchase TOMS shoes from a dealer or retailer not authorized to sell TOMS products, the shoes are most likely counterfeit.
- Visit http://www.toms.com/ http://www.toms.com/ to access retailer information for TOMS shoe dealers in your local area.
- Scroll to the bottom of the website and click on the "Find a Retailer" link in the bottom, right corner.
- Select your country and postal code, then click on the "Submit" button. The website will then display a list of retailers in your area that sell authentic TOMS shoes.
- If you do not have Internet access, call TOMS customer service at 1-800-975-8667 to find the nearest authorized TOMS retailer.
2
Purchase TOMS shoes from authorized retailer. If you purchase TOMS shoes from other sources, they may be fake. Use caution when purchasing shoes from anywhere other than an authorized store.^{[8]
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- If you purchase new or used TOMS shoes from an online auction website or web store, review return policies and warranty information to protect yourself in the event you receive fake TOMS shoes.
3
Browse the TOMS shoe collection at an authorized retailer in your area. This will help you become more familiar with the look and feel of authentic TOMS shoes and assist you with identifying fake TOMS shoes in the future.^{[9]
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