Imitation may be regarded as the sincerest form of flattery, but to fitted fiends it’s just a piece of hot garbage. Anything less than official is lame, and STRICTLY FITTEDS has taken to educating the masses on how to separate the real from the fugazi. On one of our sourcing runs we came across this shop near midtown Manhattan that was flagrantly flaunting their stock of knock-off fitteds caps. We’re not calling out names, this store is one of a host of wholesalers and retailers pushing knock-offs.

To their credit, none of these bore NEW ERA insignias or stickers BUT there were knock-off designs from BBC, GINO GREEN GLOBAL and NEW ERA all through the case. Our house photog SMAXX SILLY made quick work of capturing the product. We ventured inside to get a full view of what was available. To the untrained eye, or a passing glance they mimic the style and patterns of the authentic brands but do not possess the same quality. These products often pass under the radar of the watchdogs through copyright loopholes.

Your parents You work hard for your money, make an educated purchase. Check for official tags, insignias and examine the finishing details. Our advise is a classic warning in the marketplace: Caveat emptor, Latin for “Let the buyer beware.”