June 21, 2019
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French fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton is taking Belle International (China) and Best Able Footwear, two Chinese shoemakers, to court for allegedly manufacturing and selling sneakers that copy the design of its popular and trendy Archlight sneakers.
Both companies are subsidiaries of the Chinese shoe giant Belle International. The sneakers in question retail for upwards of $1,000 and have risen in popularity due in large part to influencers and celebrities seen sporting them everywhere from the streets of London to the red carpet at the Met Gala.
Louis Vuitton alleges the companies began selling the lookalikes in July of 2018, and is asking the court to order they both stop selling the shoes and return or destroy any remaining and existing merchandise. The outcome is as yet undetermined.
Authors: Sarah Stothart and Yonca Umur