KAWS · Authentication
Companion Open Edition: real vs fake
The Companion Open Edition is one of the most produced and most copied KAWS figures: the 2016 release came in black, grey and brown, and Blush joined the line-up in 2017. Genuine pieces show clean vinyl casting, even paint in the colorway that drop actually came in, and a proper "©KAWS" stamp on the foot. Upload photos to LegitCheck AI and the model checks the XX eyes, the seam and the stamp in about a minute.
What to check on the Companion Open Edition
Model-specific zones — on top of the brand-level signs.
©KAWS stamp on the foot
The underside of the foot is embossed with "©KAWS" and the year; a maker mark (Medicom Toy / OriginalFake / AllRightsReserved) is not present on every release, so its absence alone is not a fake tell. Match the set, font and emboss depth against your specific drop: fakes get the font and spacing wrong or set the stamp crooked, and a completely missing emboss is a direct sign of a copy.
XX eyes
The signature eyes are two "XX" crosses with symmetrical strokes of equal thickness, set precisely on the skull-shaped head. Replicas render the crosses lopsided, uneven in width, or off-center on the face.
Colorway and paint application
The 2016 Companion Open Edition has three colorways — black, grey and brown — with Blush added in 2017. Every drop has its own palette (BFF in pink, blue, black; Holiday Space in gold, silver, black; What Party in five colors), so match the shade against the specific release rather than a general list. Paint lays down as one even, solid layer with no overspray or bleed; fakes push the grey toward blue and the brown toward orange, often with blotching.
Vinyl quality and seam
The genuine figure is cast in vinyl with an even matte finish; the side seams meet cleanly with no flashing. Visible in photos: the emboss and maker mark, print registration, color boundaries, relief, proportions and box print — on fakes the seam sits misaligned or gets flooded with paint and the surface ripples. Only verifiable in hand (not from photos): the weight and density of the vinyl, joint movement, the sound of the plastic; missing those checks does not lower the verdict.
Skull-and-crossbones motif
The skull head carries correct proportions in the skull and the crossed bones: the rounding and thickness of the motif match the KAWS sculpt. Fakes make the crossbones too thick or too thin and the modeling looks smeared.
Medicom Toy box
The box print carries Medicom Toy branding, correct artwork, and a barcode. Resealed boxes, washed-out print, or packaging that does not match the release are red flags.
Where to inspect
The key zones to photograph and check on this type of item — a schematic, not a product photo.
- 1Box printing
- 2Window and blister
- 3Paint and face
- 4Build and stand
- 5COA and sticker
The difference is in the details — drag the slider
Typical differences in workmanship: stitching consistency, edge finishing, detail quality. Left — factory quality, right — common replica flaws.
Replica 
Authentic Photo angles for the check
- 1 Overall view
- 2 Logo / tag
- 3 Details & stitching
- 4 Material
Check your Companion Open Edition right now
Snap photos of your item and get an AI verdict with a confidence score in about a minute.
FAQ
Where is the stamp on the Companion Open Edition?
The underside of the foot is embossed with "©KAWS" and the year; some releases add a maker mark (Medicom Toy / OriginalFake / AllRightsReserved) and some do not. Match the emboss against photos of the same release — there is no universal “correct” set. A blurry, shifted or entirely missing emboss points to a fake.
Which colorways are genuine?
The 2016 Companion Open Edition came in black, grey and brown, with Blush added in 2017; other KAWS lines shipped in their own palettes. Match the shade against photos of your exact drop rather than a general color list: a tone drifting into blue or orange, plus overspray or blotching, is reason to doubt it.
Can I verify the figure from photos alone?
Yes. The foot stamp, XX eyes, paint evenness and box all read well in images. Shoot the sole, a close-up of the face and the box — LegitCheck AI analyzes the zones and returns a verdict with a confidence score.
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