Gucci in legal battle with Forever 21

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Forever 21 is in hot water again.

Alongside Adidas, Italian luxury fashion house Gucci is accusing this US fast fashion retailer of using stripes that look like to their own designs.

A lawsuit has been filed against Forever 21, known for taking inspiration from designer brands, following its apparent copyright infringement utilizing a knock-off trademark "blue-red-blue" and "green-red-green" stripe webbing by Gucci.

It's the latest step by the luxury brand to defend its trademark after Forever 21 hit back against its multiple cease-and-desist letters over its copyright infringement on several items, including bomber jackets, jumpers and chokers, all with the lookalike design of striped webbing.

Forever 21 items with Gucci stripes lookalike designs/BoF photo

With Gucci’s striped webbing a key motif of the brand, signifying its quality and design, the luxury brand is clearly signaling that it will defend its image at all costs.

"Gucci has today taken steps to finally put an end to US mass retailer Forever 21’s blatant exploitation of Gucci’s famous and iconic blue-red-blue and green-red-green stripe webbing trademarks," a company statement said.

Forever 21 argued that Gucci “should not be allowed to claim that Gucci, alone, has a monopoly on all blue-red-blue and green-red-green striped clothing and accessory items… Any use of stripes or color bands on clothing sold by Forever 21 is ornamental, decorative and aesthetically functional.”

Gucci’s first use of “blue-red-blue” and “green-red-green” stripe webbing in the US was in 1963 on products including bridles, walking sticks and necktie cases.

US trademark registrations for the striped webbing were issued in 1979 and 1988, respectively.

Sneakers by Adidas (L), Forever 21 (R)/official websites‍

Forever 21 can boast a long list of complainants, claiming the company has issued copycat designs.

In July, sportswear brand Adidas took Forever 21 to federal court saying its use of a three-stripe design on a range of apparel, athletic wear and shoes was "confusingly similar" to its well-known and long-trademarked stripes.

Adding to this list are sportswear brand Puma, swimwear manufacturer Mara Hoffman and designer houses Anthropologies, Anna Sui and Diane Von Furstenberg.

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