Michael Turner
Recommendation: Target 2010–2012 production runs if you want an original early piece; seek items featuring the shark-mouth graphic that appeared in the label’s initial catalogues and insist on verifiable provenance (original receipt, seller history or serial/edition card).
Fact: The New York label founded by David Ben-David introduced its first distinctive printed rucksacks in 2010, pairing graffiti-inspired graphics with luggage-grade hardware; adoption among streetwear buyers and influencers accelerated during the next two years.
Authentication checklist: confirm inner tags and SKU against archived product pages, inspect zipper and hardware stamps for consistent manufacturer marks, verify print registration and stitching quality, compare to images captured on early social feeds or Wayback snapshots, and request original packaging or edition numbering for limited runs.
Buying strategy: purchase from established resellers or auction houses that offer returns, factor in a premium for early limited editions (price multiples vary with rarity and condition), and consider professional authentication when provenance is incomplete.
Launch history and purchase guide
Answer: The label released its first bag collection in 2010; founder David Ben-David introduced initial models into select boutiques in 2010–2011, with wider retail presence and distinctive graphic drops appearing between 2013 and 2015.
Timeline
- 2010 – company registered and debut collection produced as limited runs.
- 2011–2012 – expansion of prints; the shark-mouth motif began appearing on key designs.
- 2013–2015 – national retail distribution increased and social-media exposure boosted demand; artist collaborations and licensed projects started during this period.
- 2016 onward – seasonal capsules, international stockists and recurring limited-edition partnerships.
Purchase, verification and care
- Buy from the official storefront or listed stockists; avoid marketplaces lacking seller history.
- Verify authenticity by matching stitched logos, serial/SKU tags and official product photos; inconsistencies in print alignment or flimsy hardware indicate replicas.
- Request original receipts for pre-owned items and confirm SKU numbers against archived product pages.
- Inspect materials: genuine pieces use sturdy zippers, precise print registration and quality lining; cheap materials and frayed seams are red flags.
- For complementary gear consider umbrellas for rainy-day protection: best umbrella frock design, best alinimum outdoor umbrellas.
Care tips: spot-clean printed panels with a mild detergent, avoid prolonged direct sunlight to reduce fading, air-dry padding fully before storage, and keep items slightly unzipped to preserve form.
Exact release date of the brand’s inaugural bag
Official calendar day not publicly recorded; primary launch month documented as September 2010.
- Founding data: company established by David Ben‑David in 2010 in New York; first commercial activity is listed that same year.
- Contemporary evidence: earliest editorial mentions, retail listings and social posts referencing the initial product range appear between September and December 2010.
- Trademark/business filings: federal and state records show filings and applications around 2010–2011; USPTO entries often include a “first use in commerce” field that can help pinpoint timing.
- Web archive support: Wayback Machine snapshots of the official site from late 2010 contain product pages and imagery matching the inaugural design motifs.
- Steps to obtain a definitive calendar date:
- Search the New York state business registry for formation paperwork and any “date of first sale” notes.
- Query the USPTO database for the label’s trademarks and check “first use in commerce” dates tied to those filings.
- Review Wayback Machine captures and archived press releases from 2010 for the earliest product announcements.
- Request launch documentation directly from the company’s customer or press relations teams; ask for SKU launch records or internal release memos.
How to verify the release year of a specific model using tags and product codes
Locate the sewn-in inner label, copy the full alphanumeric SKU or product code exactly as printed, then search that exact string in quotes on the brand website, Google, and major reseller marketplaces to find the catalog or listing that shows the year of release.
Inspect code structure on the tag: common patterns include a season prefix (SS or FW) followed by a two-digit year (for example SS18 or FW20), a style number, and a color/variant suffix (e.g., SS18-1234-BLK). Care labels sometimes show manufacturing week/year formatted as “WK12/19” or “MFG 04/17.”
Scan any barcode/UPC/GTIN printed on the hangtag. Enter the barcode into UPC lookup sites and Google Shopping; results often link to product pages or retailer entries that include release or catalog year. The barcode itself rarely encodes the year, but the matched listing usually does.
Use archive tools and marketplace timestamps to corroborate: paste the product page URL into the Wayback Machine to see the first snapshot; search earliest eBay, Grailed or StockX listings by the exact SKU and sort by oldest listing date to approximate launch timing.
Compare internal batch codes and serial numbers across multiple authenticated pieces of the same model. If several genuine items show a matching “week/year” marker (for example 23/19), treat that marker as the production period; retail availability may trail production by a few weeks.
If public sources are inconclusive, submit a high-resolution photo of the tag and code to the brand’s customer support or to verified reseller authentication services; provide the exact SKU, barcode number and any stamped factory codes so the team can confirm archive records.
Watch for counterfeit red flags: mismatched fonts, incorrect SKU formatting, missing season/year markers and poor-quality stitching. Only accept a release-year conclusion when the SKU/barcode matches an official product page, archived listing or a brand confirmation.
Primary sources to check for original release information (press releases, Wayback Machine, retailer catalogs)
Query the brand’s press page and third‑party presswire archives first, then preserve the earliest announcement (save PDF and full‑page screenshot with URL and visible timestamp).
Press releases: search the brand’s press/pressroom, PR Newswire, Business Wire and GlobeNewswire for the debut announcement. Use exact-match phrases plus a year range in Google, for example: site:branddomain.com/press “BRAND_NAME” “collection” 2012..2016 or site:prnewswire.com “BRAND_NAME” “launch”. Capture the release header, published date, and any linked press kit PDFs; press kits often include internal dates and photographer credits that confirm timing.
Wayback Machine: enter the brand’s collection/product URL and inspect the calendar of captures. Identify the earliest snapshot that shows the item page or product image – that snapshot establishes a latest‑possible appearance date on the public site. If the product page isn’t available, try parent paths (branddomain.com/shop, /collection, /products/PRODUCT_SLUG). Save the earliest working snapshot URL and the Wayback timestamp for citation.
Retailer catalogs and archived listings: look for retailer PDFs, seasonal lookbooks and archived category pages from specialty retailers and department stores. Use filetype:pdf searches and retailer site searches, for example: site:retailer.com filetype:pdf “lookbook” “BRAND_NAME” OR “collection”. Retail seasonal catalogs (Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter) include issue names and publication months that tie a product to a specific season and year.
Cross-check evidence: match the press release date, earliest Wayback snapshot, and first catalog appearance to establish a release window. If two sources agree on the same quarter and year (press release + catalog issue), treat that as primary support for a launch timing claim; keep screenshots and original URLs as reproducible citations.
| Source | What to search | Evidence to capture | Example query |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand press room | Press release pages, press kits, blog posts | Full page PDF/screenshot, published date, press kit files | site:branddomain.com/press “BRAND_NAME” “launch” 2014 |
| PR wires | PR Newswire, Business Wire, GlobeNewswire archives | Original release page, distribution timestamp, embargo notes | site:prnewswire.com “BRAND_NAME” “collection” |
| Wayback Machine | Product URL, collection pages, homepage snapshots | Earliest snapshot with item visible, Wayback timestamp, archived URL | web.archive.org/web/*/branddomain.com/products/PRODUCT_SLUG |
| Retailer catalogs | Retailer lookbooks, seasonal PDFs, archived category pages | Catalog issue name, publication month/year, product listing screenshot/PDF | site:retailer.com filetype:pdf “lookbook” “BRAND_NAME” |
Physical details to examine when dating early items from the label
Prioritize inspecting zipper markings and label construction first: visible manufacturer stamps on sliders (for example YKK), woven label weave, and hangtag assembly give the clearest clues to approximate production era.
Materials: note fabric denier and coating type – 600D and 1000D ballistic nylons feel dense and resist wrinkling; 1680D has a coarser weave and higher abrasion resistance; PVC-coated polyester shows a semi-gloss finish and a distinct plastic odor; neoprene panels are thicker, spongy, and stretch slightly. Measure fabric thickness with calipers where possible and compare weave tightness under a loupe (coarse weaves indicate lower denier or older manufacturing runs).
Zippers and zipper hardware: inspect for brand stamps on sliders and teeth; YKK will usually be stamped on the back or front of the slider or on metal teeth. Distinguish coil (nylon spiral) from molded plastic and metal tooth types by running a finger along the tape and checking for tooth rigidity. Check zipper tape color and stitch attachment – factory-original models have uniform tape color matching lining and neat, even stitch spacing; aftermarket replacements often have mismatched tape or uneven stitch rows.
Label types and placement: woven logos, satin-printed care tags, heat-sealed information strips and sewn-on brand patches all carry era-specific characteristics. Woven main labels with tight, dense threads and a soft edge finish are higher-quality and commonly used by established production runs; printed satin tags fade and crack faster. Look for RN/CA numbers, SKU barcodes, and country-of-manufacture stamps; their font, line spacing and inclusion of batch codes can help differentiate original pieces from later reproductions.
Stitching and construction details: count stitches per inch (SPI) in load-bearing seams – authentic early pieces generally have 8–12 SPI with consistent thread tension and doubled backstitching at terminal points. Check for bartacks at strap junctions, seam allowances greater than 10 mm, and internal seam binding. Loose thread ends, single-row stress seams, or asymmetrical stitch lengths indicate lower-quality repair or aftermarket modification.
Metal and plastic hardware: examine buckle casting marks, plating wear, and rivet types. Early production batches often used heavier die-cast buckles and solid brass rivets; later or lower-cost runs switch to zinc alloys or injection-moulded plastics. Look for stamped logos on metal parts and inspect plating loss patterns – authentic age shows even, surface wear rather than flaking adhesive residue.
Practical verification steps: photograph slider stamps and labels with a macro lens, use a 10x loupe to count SPI and inspect weave, smell for PVC or rubberized coatings, and compare hangtag construction to verified retail images. For an example of external tag formatting (useful for visual comparison), see best advice for rabbit hunting with dogs.
Where to find and authenticate early-release items from the label on resale marketplaces
Priority action: buy only on platforms that either perform third-party authentication or provide strong buyer protection; if a listing lacks those safeguards, require original proof of purchase and multiple dated, high-resolution photos before committing.
Best places to search: use established marketplaces with authentication workflows and resale history–eBay (look for the authenticity badge and robust return terms), StockX (authentication before delivery), TheRealReal (expert review on consignment). For harder-to-find early pieces check specialist streetwear sites and community marketplaces such as Grailed, Depop, Poshmark, Mercari and select consignment shops–treat listings on peer-to-peer apps as higher risk unless the seller provides strong provenance.
Seller-vetting checklist: confirm seller feedback >95% and multiple relevant sales; inspect seller’s uploaded portfolio for prior genuine items of the same label; request the original receipt/invoice showing retailer name and purchase date; require photos of the sewn-in brand label, care tag with country-of-origin, and any printed model codes–ask for short video (phone held, item moved slowly) to prove photos aren’t recycled.
Image and listing verification: run every listing image through reverse-image search (Google Images or TinEye) to detect copy-pasted stock photos or repeated listings across platforms. Compare sold-price history for identical models on the same marketplace (use “sold listings” filters on eBay or Grailed sales records); listings priced well below historical sold prices without verifiable provenance are high-risk.
Questions to ask the seller: exact retail store or online retailer of original purchase; whether original tags and dust bag/box are included; any repairs or hardware replacements; request clear photos of zipper pulls/metal engraving and interior seams. Ask the seller to photograph the item next to a recent newspaper or phone lock screen with date to prove recency when authenticity is contested.
Red flags specific to marketplaces: multiple “new with tags” copies from one account, mismatched country of origin on care tag versus known examples, refusal to provide close-up photos or invoice, insistence on off-platform payment or cryptocurrency, listings created the same day across many accounts. For local pick-ups, insist on examining the item in daylight and comparing label placement to verified examples.
Payment and post-purchase steps: pay through the platform’s protected methods (platform checkout, PayPal Goods & Services, or credit card) so you can open a dispute; require tracked shipping with signature on delivery; upon receipt, document the item with timestamped photos and compare to listing images–if any discrepancies appear, open a claim immediately and preserve all communication.
Extra verification resources: post high-resolution images to brand-specific collector groups and Reddit threads for crowd-sourced checks; consider paid authentication services or trusted local consignment stores for high-value early pieces; keep saved screenshots of the original listing and seller messages to support disputes or resale provenance.
