As I am a regular visitor to the Paul & Shark outlet north of Milan I guess I know what I'm on about so hopefully this guide will help you out.

90% of Paul & Shark items on ebay are fake, of that there can be little doubt. However, as with everything, you can ensure you're not getting ripped off by following some simple guidelines.

• Always ask the seller for the item code, if he refuses or ignores e-mails, then the items are most probably fakes.

• Every single Paul & Shark item sold has an identifying code on the swing tags. For example, item code i04p702, colour 050, which is navy blue, size tgu, which is a cap size or S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL. They also have lot numbers like 04884-3 on the washing label and the neck label. They start with cop, 103, e05 or e05. Then following this about 5 more numbers go after it.

• The Paul & Shark website give you the facility to email them item codes. They will respond quickly to confirm, we hope, that the code is real and detail about that item.

• You cannot buy genuine Paul & Shark garments for ridiculous buy it now prices of £20 or £40 pounds. A genuine, non market stall rip of Chinese piece of junk costs money. If it's being sold cheap it's because it's a fake. No ifs and no buts.

• Every garment has either a blue loop or a white loop behind the neck label, so you can hang your garments up. Fakes no not have this. It's a sure fire giveaway.

• All Paul & Shark items are made in Italy.

 

• All Paul & Shark items have their swing labels attached by a twisted blue string. Fakers don't use it and their labels are attached with a typical cheap plastic tag.

• Last but not least remember the ‘golden rule’, if something is too good to be true then it always is.

Paul & Shark is expensive gear, that's why we wear it. Avoid looking a muppet by avoiding the obvious cheap and nasty fake rubbish.