British fashion designer Stella McCartney has filed an intellectual property lawsuit against rival brand Steve Madden, which sells fashions inspired by runway designs at much lower prices. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses Madden of knocking off McCartney’s Falabella Foldover tote bag, one of her best known and most popular styles.
The suit alleges that Madden’s BTotally handbag stole several key elements from McCartney’s design. According to documents filed in the case, Madden’s bag is virtually identical to McCartney’s design, but of poor quality. The court documents note several similarities between the two bags, such as a continuous chain that extends to form handles, fabric inserts at the chain handles, and the use of whip-stitching.
McCartney believes that because of its inferior quality, the sale of Madden’s handbag can cause economic harm to consumers. The lawsuit also claims that the sale of Madden’s bag can create confusion and damage McCartney’s reputation. Attorneys are seeking an injunction to discontinue sales of Madden’s handbag and an accounting of the company’s profits.
McCartney’s high-end vegan Falabella Foldover bag was introduced in 2009. It has become popular among celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Kim Kardashian, and Victoria Beckham. The Falabella collection includes bags in several shapes and styles that have generated tens of millions of dollars in sales.
Steve Madden has been sued in the past over similar allegations. In 2009, the company was sued by Balenciaga for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition for its lego shoes.
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