The LEGAL RUNWAY

Welcome to the glamorous and occasionally absurd drama of fashion law, where catwalks intersect with courtrooms, and stilettos become legal weapons. In this highstakes arena, brands don't just compete for the latest trends; they're locked in battles that rival any reality TV showdown. Over the last few decades, the global fashion scene has witnessed a whirlwind of legal skirmishes, from trademark tiffs to design clashes. Imagine a famous shoe brand poised to pounce on another for releasing a shoe with suspiciously similar stripes. Here, a misplaced buckle isn't just a fashion faux pas; it's a declaration of war! Welcome to “COUT-cue” - where fashion, wit, and courtroom theatrics collide!

- Lavipal Singh & Amit Chopra

In the fast-paced world of fashion, courtrooms have become the new battlegrounds. Brands, designers, and retailers are duking it out for dominance, with drama worthy of any haute couture collection. Superdry, for instance, isn't feeling so “Osakaawesome" after accusing ASOS of lifting their iconic “Osaka” branding in London. Despite ASOS promising to cut it out, Superdry dragged them to the High Court for damages and an injunction. Nothing screams fashion drama like a fight over a Japanese city’s name emblazoned on sweatshirts! Meanwhile, over in New York, The Shoe Surgeon is learning that sneakers are serious business after tangling with Goyard and Nike. Goyard wasn't thrilled about its luxury canvas turning up on custom sneakers without a designer nod. Nike, too, accused The Shoe Surgeon in California of casually slapping its iconic swoosh onto unauthorised sneaker designs. Turns out, one can't just wade into these waters and expect to avoid the legal undertow.

In a plot twist worthy of a fashion thriller, Fashion Nova finds itself in hot water in California after Chrome Hearts spotted a suspiciously familiar design, particularly a two-piece worn by Kim Kardashian. Chrome Hearts isn't taking this knockoff lightly, claiming their edgy gothic crosses and cemetery motifs were blatantly “borrowed.” Fashion Nova might be fast, but Chrome Hearts wants to be the only brand turning heads with their dark, dramatic threads.

While we're discussing fast-fashion feuds, then Shein vs. Temu is the reality show you didn't know you needed. In the District of Columbia, Shein has accused Temu of everything from IP theft to shady business practices. Temu fired back, branding Shein as the fashion industry's ultimate playground bully. Forget soap operas, the Shein-Temu spat is serving more drama than your typical fashion week runway!