5 Signs That Your Balenciaga Fur Slides Are Fake

Download Article

Fashion authentication experts Real Authentication share tips on buying authentic Balenciaga slides

Co-authored by Real Authentication and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: March 9, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Real vs Fake Slides
|
• Buying Real Slides
|
• Authenticating Your Slides
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Balenciaga has been around since 1919, establishing its reign as a fashion powerhouse for over 100 years. Balenciaga’s fur slides were first released in 2021, with subsequent models sold later. These shoes are pretty expensive, so if you’ve recently gotten a pair for a good price, you may be wondering if they’re real or fake. We talked to fashion authentication experts Real Authentication to help us learn exactly what authentic Balenciaga fur slides look like, along with telltale signs of counterfeit replicas and how to buy an authentic pair.

Balenciaga Fur Slides Real vs Fake

Download Image

Fashion authentication experts Real Authentication say that authentic Balenciaga fur slides have dense, plush fur that feels soft and full, and fake slides often use thin, wiry fur that feels stiff or looks uneven. On real slides, the logo is evenly spaced and centered, and the strap is structured and substantial.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Determining if Balenciaga Fur Slides are Real or Fake

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Examine the stitching for precision. Legit Balenciaga fur slides are stitched together with precision, featuring even and clean stitching throughout the sandal. A counterfeit sandal will typically have uneven, messy stitching, with large gaps or large sections of tight stitching, particularly around the midsole of the shoe. If the stitching looks even remotely DIY, then the sandals are likely not authentic.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Real Authentication is an app that offers authentication services for luxury goods like handbags, shoes, watches, and clothing. It was founded in 2016 and is now the world’s leading process for verifying the authenticity of luxury goods.
2. 
   2
   Ensure that the material is high quality. Real Authentication say, “Authentic Balenciaga fur slides use dense, plush fur that feels soft, full, and evenly trimmed. When you brush it, it should bounce back and look healthy, not flat or stringy. Fake pairs often use thinner, wiry fur that feels stiff or looks uneven, sometimes even straight out of the box.”

   • Genuine Balenciaga furry slides are made from modacrylic and polyester. Modacrylic is a synthetic fiber that offers plushness, durability, and flame resistance. Modacrylic is what makes up the furry layer of the slides and can be hard to successfully replicate.
   • If the fur material feels rough, flimsy, and easily falls off, you might have an illegitimate product on your hands.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Look for a sharp and defined logo. Real Authentication say, “Balenciaga logos should be clean, sharp, and correctly placed. Whether the logo is embroidered or embossed, the lettering should be evenly spaced and centered.” They add, “On counterfeit slides, logos are often too thick or too thin, crooked, or poorly aligned,” and point to letter spacing as a common issue on fakes.

   • Balenciaga wants the logo on their products to be big, bold, and impossible to miss. The logo is essentially a part of their marketing strategy, so genuine items will have clearly defined and well-printed logos.
4. 
   4
   Check for good craftsmanship. Balenciaga is synonymous with luxury, and their craftsmanship should reflect that. This means no visible glue marks and overall consistency in the integrity of the shoe. If you see glue marks where the sole meets the faux fur, it indicates a counterfeit. Similarly, if the shoes feel cheap and bendable to the point of breaking, they are probably not authentic Balenciaga.

   • Real Authentication advise checking the strap for quality, saying it should “feel structured and substantial. On authentic pairs, the strap holds its shape and sits evenly across the foot, with proper padding underneath the fur. Fake versions often feel floppy or uneven, and you may notice distortion where the fur meets the base of the slide.”
5. 
   5
   Determine the sole’s durability. The sandal’s sole is made from TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane. This is a rubber-plastic hybrid, providing both flexibility and durability. If the sole of your slides feels too stiff or too soft, it could be a problem. The stitching pattern on the sole should resemble the rest of the stitching. Uneven and unfinished sections of stitching suggest that the shoes are not certified Balenciaga.
6. 
   6
   Examine the packaging. Real Authentication say, “Packaging still matters. Authentic boxes are sturdy and well-printed, with accurate labels and branding. Dust bags should feel thick and well-made, with clean stitching and correct logos. Counterfeit packaging is often flimsy, incorrectly sized, or slightly off in color or logo scale.”
Advertisement

Section 2 of 3:

How to Buy Authentic Balenciaga Fur Slides

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Buy from an official Balenciaga store. “Where you buy Balenciaga matters just as much as what you buy,” advises Real Authentication. “Stick to reputable retailers, established luxury resellers, or sellers with a proven track record and transparent sourcing.”

   • There are about 30 Balenciaga locations in the U.S., and most of them are in major cities. If you don’t have a store near you, shop straight from the source at Balenciaga.com. You’ll have a selection of luxury bags, shoes, accessories, and more to choose from!
2. 
   2
   Expect a hefty price tag. “Be realistic about pricing,” say Real Authentication. “Extremely low pricing is often the first indicator that something is off, even when photos look convincing.” They add that “Balenciaga does not typically sell at steep discounts.”

   • Balenciaga is premium luxury, which is why you can expect to pay anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand. The Balenciaga fur slides will run you $750—on the lower end.
   • Real Authentication cautions that unless an item is especially worn, Balenciaga retains its resale value, so “if the price feels too good to be true, it usually is.”
3. 
   3
   Research companies selling second-hand Balenciaga. If $750 is slightly out of your budget, check out a few reputable stores that sell second-hand luxury goods. Sites like TheRealReal, FashionPhile, and Farfetch are trustworthy sellers, offering pre-loved items and pre-loved prices. You’ll be cozy and comfy in your high-fashion furry slides before you know it!

   • When buying second-hand, Real Authentication suggest, “Be cautious with marketplace listings that lack detailed photos, only show stock images, [or] have minimal previous sales history or seller credibility, even if the item looks convincing at first glance.”
   • “Understand return policies and protections,” Real Authentication caution. “Make sure the seller offers buyer protection, returns, or platform-backed guarantees whenever possible. This gives you leverage if the item turns out to be misrepresented or inauthentic.”
4. 
   4
   Learn about the style you’re buying if you purchase second-hand. Real Authentication say to do model-specific research before you buy Balenciaga shoes second-hand. “Balenciaga has a wide range of styles, seasonal variations, and subtle design changes over time. Details like logo placement, materials, sizing stamps, and construction can vary by model and year. Before purchasing, take the time to understand what is correct for the exact style you are buying.”

   • “Go see the item in person,” Real Authentication suggest, “or if [you’re] shopping online, be sure to ask for clear, detailed photos … of the item you will actually receive. This includes logos, interior stamps, soles, stitching, packaging, and any areas known to be commonly faked for that model."
   • Real Authentication add that "stock photos or limited angles are not enough when buying Balenciaga on the resale market.”
Advertisement

Section 3 of 3:

Authenticating Balenciaga Products

Download Article

1. 
   Use a third-party authentication service. If inspecting your new slides thoroughly and comparing them to a verified Balenciaga pair does not give you enough assurance, third-party services can help. Apps and websites like LegitApp, Real Authentication, and Entrupy offer trustworthy authentication services, usually utilizing both the knowledge of luxury experts and AI software.

   • If you’re still wondering about the authenticity of your furry slides or other Balenciaga products, create an account on one of these sites, upload a few photos of your item, and pay a small fee to get some answers.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!