Adidas is being sued in the USA over the “authentic” NHL jerseys on sale to fans, which are claimed to be closer to “replica” standards as they differ significantly from the shirts worn by the NHL players themselves.
Adidas Being Sued over Quality of "Authentic" NHL Shirts
Classaction.com has reported the plaintiff’s claims that the “authentic” NHL jerseys are different with regard to fit, fabric and stitching. The jerseys the players wear are produced in Canada, while the ones sold to fans are made in Indonesia.
The photo above shows the pro players' shirts (top) compared to the "authentic" versions (bottom) that are sold to fans.
As the lawsuit tells it, Adidas’ “authentic” NHL jerseys are “closer to counterfeit” jerseys than to those worn by the pros.
The plaintiff maintains that the labeling of these shirts as authentic is misleading, and the actual value of the product is not equal to the monetary value placed on it by Adidas. They argue that this misleading advertising and promotion has led to Adidas increased profits for Adidas which they would not have made if not for the “authentic” status of the shirts, and that it would be more accurate to describe them as "replicas".
The lawsuit is being taken against Adidas America, who are also responsible for the production of MLS kits. They have attracted a lot of criticism over the last couple of seasons for the very visible differences between authentic and replica jerseys.
Please Never Happen Outside The US: Comparing Every Adidas MLS 2022 Authentic With The Replica Kit
Authentic Adidas Football Shirts - Match Issue vs Player Issue
Real Madrid player issue authentic shirt
When it comes to football shirts, the same complaint cannot be made. Authentic Adidas kits available to fans are virtually identical to the match issue versions worn by the players, with only some very small differences. One such difference is that the match issue shirts have a number printed on the inside of the collar, and they generally don’t have wash labels, but his information is printed on the inside of the shirt instead.
Authentic and Player Issue Adidas football kits only have unnoticeable differences
However, the differences between authentic and replica Adidas football shirts are certainly noticeable. 21-22 authentic shirts made for Adidas’ elite teams have the following features:
- Made for the pros - slim-fit, as light as possible
- Heat-transfer badge
- Heat-transfer Adidas logo, 3-Stripes, and sponsor name
- Breathable, air-cooling HEAT.RDY technology
- Light front to back drop in hem length to improve freedom of movement
- Ribbed crewneck, slim-fit design
- Ribbed sleeve cuff with tipping
- Made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials
21-22 replica kits for elite teams are characterised by the following aspects:
- Made for the fan
- Woven cannon on the chest
- Woven Adidas logo
- 3-Stripe tape on shoulders
- Stay dry with AEROREADY technology
- Straight hem shape - regular fit
- Ribbed crewneck
- Ribbed sleeve cuff with tipping
- Made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials
In-Depth | Adidas Arsenal 2021-22 100 GBP Authentic vs 65 GBP Replica Kit
What is your opinion on the quality of Adidas authentic and replica kits from your own experience with them? Let’s hear it in the comments.