How to Spot Fake CP Company: Certilogo, Labels & What to Check

If you’re buying CP Company, particularly second-hand or from an unfamiliar seller, it’s reasonable to want to know whether the item is genuine.

The problem is that there isn’t one stitching pattern, lens detail or label trick that can reliably authenticate every CP Company piece.

Collections change. Labels change. Fabrics change. And older garments won’t necessarily have the same authentication features as newer ones.

The safest approach is to start with official authentication where it’s available, then use the condition, construction and seller as supporting checks rather than treating them as proof on their own.

Here is what you should actually look for. Browse genuine CP Company at FiveFinger Urbanwear.

Start with Certilogo

For newer CP Company pieces, Certilogo is the most important place to start.

CP Company introduced its Certilogo authentication system from the Spring/Summer 2019 collection. Garments using the system include a smart label containing a QR code or Certilogo code that can be checked online.

You can scan the code with your phone and follow the authentication process.

Don’t simply look for a Certilogo label and assume that means the garment is genuine. Actually run the authentication check.

Certilogo itself warns that seeing a code in an online photograph isn’t enough to prove authenticity. A copied photograph or code could potentially be reused by somebody selling a different item.

If you’re buying second-hand online, the safest approach is to authenticate the physical label once the garment is in your hands.

What does a CP Company Certilogo code look like?

Certilogo labels commonly feature a CLG code, which Certilogo describes as a 12-digit numerical code preceded by “CLG”.

Depending on the label, you may be able to scan a QR code or enter the CLG number into Certilogo’s authentication service.

Follow the instructions presented during the check rather than relying on screenshots sent by a seller.

If Certilogo confirms the garment as authentic, that gives you much stronger evidence than trying to judge it from the lens or stitching alone.

What if the CP Company item doesn’t have Certilogo?

This is important because the absence of Certilogo does not automatically mean an item is fake.

CP Company only introduced the service from SS019, so older genuine pieces may not have a Certilogo label.

C.P. Company’s own guidance says that if an item does not have a Certilogo label, you can contact the company and provide photographs for its quality-control team to assess. The brand currently asks for at least a photograph of the attached price tag and a photograph of the complete item.

So if you’re looking at an older jacket, overshirt or sweatshirt, don’t reject it solely because you can’t find a QR code.

The age of the garment matters.

Can you spot fake CP Company from the lens?

The lens is one of the first details people look at because it is so closely associated with CP Company.

It can certainly reveal poor-quality counterfeits. Things such as rough finishing, badly positioned components, or obviously cheap materials should make you cautious.

But the lens alone isn’t an authentication method.

A convincing counterfeit can copy visible design features, while genuine garments can vary between seasons and models.

Also remember that not every CP Company garment uses the same lens configuration. Some jackets feature goggles in the hood, some pieces have the familiar sleeve lens, and others use different branding altogether.

Treat the lens as one part of the inspection, not the final answer.

Check the labels but don’t rely on one label detail

Labels can also help you identify something that doesn’t look right.

Look for obvious problems such as:

• Misspelt branding
• Poor printing
• Badly finished stitching
• Unusual spacing or typography
• Care information that looks incomplete or inconsistent
• Labels that look crudely attached

But be careful with online guides that claim every real CP Company label must look exactly one particular way.

CP Company has been producing clothing for decades, so labels and garment construction have changed over time.

A label from a recent CP Company jacket shouldn’t necessarily be expected to look identical to one from an older piece.

Again, Certilogo or confirmation from the brand is much more reliable than trying to authenticate a garment based on one stitch or font.

Look at the overall quality of the garment

Counterfeits are often easier to question when you look at the garment as a whole rather than concentrating on one feature.

Inspect areas such as the:

• Stitching
• Zips and fastenings
• Pockets
• Lens or goggle construction
• Internal labels
• Fabric
• Hems and seams

Loose threads don’t automatically mean something is fake, and perfect stitching doesn’t automatically make something genuine.

What you’re looking for is a collection of warning signs.

If the branding looks wrong, the hardware feels poor, the fabric seems unusually cheap, and the construction is untidy, you have more reason to investigate before buying.

Be cautious of prices that look too good to be true

Price isn’t proof either, but context matters.

C.P. Company’s own advice on counterfeit websites specifically warns buyers about sites selling products at prices significantly below the prices on the official C.P. Company website. The brand also advises caution around sites carrying large amounts of older stock that hasn’t been available officially for some time.

That doesn’t mean every discounted CP Company item is fake.

Legitimate retailers have sales, clearance stock and previous-season products.

The warning sign is when the price doesn’t make sense alongside other concerns about the seller.

A £500 jacket being offered brand new for £50 by an unknown website deserves more scrutiny than a legitimate previous-season piece reduced by an established retailer.

Check who you’re buying from

This is one of the simplest checks and probably one of the most useful.

C.P. Company recommends checking its store locator when you’re unsure whether an online retailer is authorised.

When you’re assessing an unfamiliar website, look at more than the product page.

Check whether the business has clear:

• contact information
• returns information
• company details
• payment options
• delivery information
• genuine customer history (Check Our Reviews on Trustpilot)

Be particularly cautious of websites created to look like official CP Company stores.

That is a much more useful warning sign than trying to decide whether a sleeve lens looks one millimetre too high.

Can you authenticate CP Company from an online photo?

Not reliably.

Photos can help you identify obvious warning signs, but they can’t give you the same certainty as authenticating the physical garment.

Certilogo specifically states that simply receiving a photograph of a Certilogo code does not guarantee that the product being sold is authentic.

For second-hand purchases, Certilogo also offers a Seal of Authentication system that sellers may be able to display in a listing. Even then, Certilogo recommends checking the physical tag again after receiving the garment.

So don’t send money purely because somebody has messaged you a photo of a QR code.

What should you do if Certilogo says your CP Company item is fake?

If the authentication process identifies the product as counterfeit, keep the result and contact the seller or marketplace immediately.

Certilogo provides assistance for counterfeit purchases and may provide a report that can be used when requesting a refund.

Keep:

• your order confirmation
• payment records
• messages with the seller
• photographs of the garment
• photographs of the authentication label
• the authentication result

If you bought through a marketplace or payment provider with buyer protection, follow its dispute procedure as well.

The safest way to buy CP Company

There are plenty of visual details worth checking, but authenticating CP Company shouldn’t become a guessing game about stitching or lenses.

For recent garments, use Certilogo where available.

For older items without Certilogo, C.P. Company itself provides a route for authenticity enquiries.

And before buying, pay attention to the retailer, the price and whether the listing makes sense.

If you’d rather remove that uncertainty altogether, browse the CP Company collection at FiveFinger Urbanwear and buy through an established UK retailer.

Frequently Asked Questions