How to Tell Real vs Fake Canada Goose Jackets: 7 Authenticity Checks

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If you’ve ventured outside in an area with a winter climate, you must have noticed the iconic red, white, and blue arm circular logo patches.

Having become a fashion must-have in the past decade, Canada Goose’s best-selling parkas and lightweight down styles are among the most popular winter products at Nordstrom and Backcountry, and for a good reason.

Producing extreme weather outerwear since 1957, the Canadian brand originally designed parkas for scientists based in Antarctica, which means these parkas are the real deal.

Canada Goose has around 50 stores around the world and can also be found in many department stores (Credit: Kaskip / Shutterstock)

But if you’re not spending your winters in the Arctic, no worries. Canada Goose offers a complete line of products, ranging from streamlined streetwear to rugged for more heavy-duty use.

Where to Buy Canada Goose jackets

The brand’s success has, unfortunately, made it a target of counterfeiters. To protect yourself from a potential scam, make sure you buy from an authorized retailer.

In addition to Canada Goose’s official website, the top online retailers of Canada Goose products include Amazon, Farfetch, Saks Fifth Avenue, and of course, Nordstrom.

While not all unauthorized retailers sell counterfeit items, it is good practice to always be careful.

Does Canada Goose ever have sales?

If you’re wondering if it’s possible to buy discounted Canada Goose jackets, the answer is simply no.

Just like Louis Vuitton, the brand prides itself on never having gone on sale, and Canada Goose does not have any outlets. Any website claiming to be an outlet for Canada Goose is a scam.

You will not find any Canada Goose jackets for sale on Black Friday. The only way to buy discounted Canada Goose jackets is to work for Canada Goose. Every employee reportedly gets access to an exclusive employee sale where jackets and clothing are discounted 50-90% off.

Follow our simple 7-step guide below to help you determine the authenticity of your jacket.

1. Check the packaging

Canada Goose parkas and accessories get shipped in a hard white box that bears the brand’s emblem in the middle. The jacket inside should be folded neatly and preserved in clear plastic.

2. Check the Arctic logo disc or patch

The Arctic disc or patch is one of the key features of a Canada Goose coat. The patch, which shows the brand’s trademark logo, should have clean embroidery and the correct font. Some coats have the badge on the left arm, some on the right.

The maple leaves and brand name should be the same size and be evenly spaced. Knockoffs will usually have poorly replicated patches, with uneven embroidery and inaccurate colors.

Rachel Bilson with the Canada Goose logo on her left arm and singer-songwriter Mabel McVey with the patch on her right arm (Credit: WENN / Michael Wright)

The outer ring of the logo contains “CANADA GOOSE” on the top and “ARCTIC PROGRAM” on the bottom, both in capital letters. Each side of the logo has five maple leaves.

The Canada Goose logo does not represent an outline of Canada but is a reflection of the brand’s geographical roots. Designed by David Reiss in the 1980s, the emblem shows the inverted North Pole.

Well-embroidered patch on an authentic coat (Credit: Canada Goose)

In an interview with the British newspaper The Independent, CEO Dani Reiss (son of David) explained that “the white landmass is the ocean, and the blue dots are islands.” He also says, “the badge makes people feel like they belong to a club.”

Uneven embroidery on a fake parka (Credit: Canada Goose)

In November 2019, MarketWatch reported that counterfeiters are using $5 iron-on patches bought on eBay to fake $1,000 Canada Goose coats.

“Like many world-leading brands, our success has led to our products being copied by counterfeiters,” Canada Goose told the financial information website in a comment.

Sacha Baron Cohen, Jimmy Fallon, and Emma Stone wearing Canada Goose jackets (Credit: WENN / TNYF / C.M. Wiggins / Wheatley)

“We take the protection of our brand and our trademarks seriously, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to protect consumers from the dangers of counterfeit goods.”

3. Check the stitching and seams

A telltale sign of counterfeit goods is a bad stitching job. Genuine coats will always display even stitching that’s usually done by machine.

4. Check the hologram

Another important feature of the Canada Goose parka is the hologram, which counterfeiters will find hard to replicate.

The hologram security tag is a feature that was implemented in 2011 to help fight counterfeiters. You will find it in every Canada Goose jacket and accessory that was made after 2011.

Hologram security tag on an authentic parka (Credit: Canada Goose)

In the second half of 2017, the company started sewing a new unique hologram label into every product as proof of authenticity. It features a Polar Bear image and elements that can be seen from different angles.

No hologram and messy tag on a fake product (Credit: Canada Goose)

5. Check the zipper and other hardware

Canada Goose uses only YKK zippers on its outerwear. Aside from the YKK zipper brand, inspect the quality of the zipper and other hardware. Replicated goods will typically have defective hardware because of the cheap materials used.

6. Check the fur quality

The fur ruff — though controversial — is an important detail of most Canada Goose jackets.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an American animal rights group, frequently criticizes the company’s use of fur.

Wearing a replica Canada Goose jacket, a PETA model stands in a “bloody” steel trap at a protest in Knightsbridge, London, on March 14, 2017 (Credit: WENN)

Just like the company making UGG boots, Canada Goose claims to be committed to the responsible use and ethical sourcing of all animal materials in their products.

PETA protesters accusing Canada Goose of cruel use of fur (Credit: WENN)

All down insulation used to manufacture new Canada Goose products is fully traceable.

Full and soft coyote ruff on an authentic parka (Credit: Canada Goose)

While the company’s fur policy is changing, until now, real Canada Goose parkas have used high-quality coyote fur on the hood, while replicas from unknown manufacturers use cheaper materials like raccoon fur, which is a lot rougher and scragglier than coyote fur.

Less voluminous raccoon fur on a fake parka (Credit: Canada Goose)

7. Verify the styles and retailer

One of the best and most effective ways of avoiding counterfeit products is by arming yourself with the right knowledge.

Before clicking that buy button, verify that the website you are buying from is an authorized retailer of Canada Goose.

The brand’s website has a URL search tool that you can use to verify a retailer. Additionally, it will also help to familiarize yourself with the styles available on the website before ordering. You can also visit any official Canada Goose store to confirm the authenticity of your jacket.

Why are Canada Goose jackets so expensive?

There are mainly three reasons, the first being that Canada Goose products are designed to help keep somebody warm in extremely cold conditions, including polar expeditions, and have a reputation for being the warmest jackets you can buy.

Dani Reiss, President and CEO of Canada Goose, and Kate Upton attend the Canada Goose And Vogue Host Cocktails And Conversation About Impact Climate Change Has On The Future Of Polar Bears With Kate Upton held at SmogShoppe on February 12, 2020, in Culver City, Los Angeles, California (Credit: WENN / Avalon)

Second, their jackets are made with the highest quality materials and come with a lifetime warranty, meaning that they are covered for the practical lifetime of the product.

Many customers have worn their jackets for decades, though repairs may be required due to improper care, negligence, or normal wear and tear.

Jackets from high-quality manufacturers like Canada Goose, The North Face, or Moncler are usually going to last longer than other less expensive brands.

Canada Goose’s London store on world-famous Regent Street, right in the heart of the city’s West End (Credit: WENN)

Finally, Canada Goose jackets have become a status symbol and a prime target for robberies and counterfeiters.

During the 2018 Christmas season, The New York Post reported that thieves shoved down a tourist in Soho and stole her $1,100 Canada Goose coat.

In 2018, the company reportedly made $580 in gross profits on every $1,000 in sales.

Where are Canada Goose jackets made?

All the company’s products are made in factories located in Toronto and Winnipeg.

Canada Goose is headquartered in Toronto and has kept 100% of production at home in Canada (Credit: Shutterstock / JHVEPhoto)

While many manufacturers are moving production to locales with lower labor costs, the company prides itself on making all its products in Canada.

Dani Reiss, the Canadian CEO of Canada Goose, wrote in Harvard Business Review why the company has decided to keep all its manufacturing in Canada.

To many people, owning a Canada Goose jacket is like owning a little piece of Canada, and for that they’re willing to pay a premium.

That’s another part of what persuaded me to commit to being a “Made in Canada” brand, even as other companies were fleeing the country. I realized that although we couldn’t sustain the cost of domestic manufacturing in a world where people bought one $299 coat and kept it for a decade, we could do so in a new environment where outerwear was treated as a luxury, coveted and collected, just like high-end watches or cars. The Swiss had Rolex, the British had Range Rover—Canada could have Canada Goose.

Does Canada Goose use real fur?

Until 2021, the company believed real fur is the best choice if you want to protect yourself against the elements in the coldest places on Earth. For the environment, it may be a better option than fake fur, which is not biodegradable.

Natural fur breaks down into natural materials in the environment without causing harm. However, the company has promised to stop using real animal fur by the end of 2022.

Where is it cheaper to buy Canada Goose?

Canada Goose jackets are never on sale and are sold at nearly the exact same prices in all shops around the world. Unless you get lucky with the exchange rate, you will likely not save money by buying a jacket in Canada.

Does Canada Goose kill geese?

No, according to Newsweek, Canada Goose’s down is sourced from Toronto company Feather Industries, which in turn sources its feathers from the meat industry.

In other words, the feathers used in Canada Goose jackets are normally obtained from goose and duck farms as a by-product of the poultry industry. Live plucking is an outdated practice that is no longer used.

Here’s a helpful video on how to spot fake Canada Goose jackets:

We also recommend reading Deborah Copaken’s article in The Atlantic about buying a fake Canada Goose jacket for $925. Also, don’t miss our guide showing how to clean and store Canada Goose jackets at home!

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