How Knockoff Jerseys Became Better Than Real Ones

And what that says about the state of modern sports

A few months back, I saw a TikTok that stopped me in my tracks.

Some guy held up a fake MLB jersey he got off the TikTok shop for $30. Stitched nameplate. Seemingly solid fabric. Patches with logos. It made my mind spin. The quality seemed too good for the price.

For the last few years, I’ve felt something was off every time I picked up an authentic sports jersey. They didn’t feel like the ones I grew up wearing — thinner fabrics, flimsier details, names and numbers that peeled off. I figured maybe I was being nostalgic. But then I saw more and more fans online saying the same thing.

This week’s video is about more than bootlegs. It’s about what happened to the real, authentic jerseys you buy at the team stores — and how Fanatics — the company now making the official jerseys for nearly every major sports league on Earth — quietly took over the merch game.

I wanted to answer the question: why are knockoff jerseys suddenly getting more popular?

I took three jerseys — a $20 bootleg off TikTok, a high-end fake from eBay, and a Fanatics replica — to sports vintage store Mr. Throwback in New York City to find out what’s really going on.

What started as a fabric comparison turned into something much bigger — a story about monopolies, fan frustration, and how much control one company now has over the stuff we wear to show love for our teams.

This is a story about nostalgia, monopolies, and the slow erosion of what it means to be a fan. And it starts with a jersey that doesn’t feel quite right.

On a side note! Last week, YouTube spotlighted the channel on its trending page as a “Creator on the Rise” which was a big surprise to me.

This wouldn’t be possible without every single one of you, so I really appreciate every moment you’ve taken to watch even a second of a video. It means a lot to me, and I don’t take it for granted.

Thanks again for your support.

Joon