As a football fan one's pride is donning the clubs', country's or even players' official jerseys to show support.
Jersey manufacturers and football clubs produce two types of jerseys - the replica and the authentic jerseys.
Both types of jerseys are officially licensed meaning they are approved by the club or national team for sale.
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The authentic jerseys are the exact match wear that the professionals wear on the pitch for match day and are made with athletic cut and performance features.
In the case of the replica, they are made for fans to don as they watch and cheer on their teams.
The professional footballers require a different jersey that are comfortable during their matches – the Authentic.
In many jersey stores, the price of jerseys differs with the replica soccer jerseys going for less compared to authentic jerseys.
Another difference between the two comes with the applications applied to your jersey, this includes the club crest, sponsor, brand or league/cup badges.
In the case of the replica, most applications are sewn-on, giving a thread-like feel. The applications are durable, able to withstand extensive wear and numerous wash cycles.
The Authentic jerseys applications are heat-pressed, giving them a smooth, synthetic feel.
Another notable distinction between replica and authentic soccer jerseys is the fitting. Replica jerseys are built to be free on one's body, while Authentic ones are tighter, slim and form-fitting.
One can also tell the difference as both are made from different fabric technologies. The replicas are made with typical fabric weight while the authentic ones are usually built with ultra-lightweight fabric.
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