Uniqlo has filed a lawsuit against Shein, alleging the fast fashion giant copied Uniqlo’s viral Round Mini Shoulder bag, according to a Tuesday press release from Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing.
The complaint, which was filed on Dec. 28, 2023 in Tokyo District Court in Japan, demands that Shein cease the sale of the alleged imitation products and compensate Uniqlo for damages incurred as a result of the sales, per the release. It claims violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act of Japan, which regulates unfair usage of a well-known sign, misleading representation regarding the place of origin or the imitation of a third party’s product.
Uniqlo’s half-moon shoulder bag was ranked 2023’s top bag, according to a report from Lyst, which measures social media mentions, consumer searches, product views and sales, and engagement statistics to create its rankings. The bag went viral “through old-fashioned word-of-mouth,” Lyst said, gaining more than 119 million views on TikTok and frequently selling out. The bag is sold for $19.90 and comes in nine colorways.
“Fast Retailing takes a resolute stance against any act that infringes on its intellectual property and will take appropriate measures in response, including legal action,” the release stated.
A spokesperson for Shein said the company “respects the intellectual property rights of others and takes all claims of infringement seriously.”
“We are currently investigating this matter," the spokesperson said in an email to Fashion Dive.
Shein, which has reportedly filed a confidential bid to become publicly traded in the U.S., is facing multiple legal challenges over alleged copyright infringement, including one under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO. Many of the ongoing legal complaints against Shein are copyright complaints from individuals, per court documents.
However, the fast fashion giant has also faced copyright complaints from some of its competitors in the lower-priced apparel space, including H&M. Temu also sued its rival in a case that was later dropped.
Meanwhile, Fast Retailing is charting a retail expansion for Uniqlo in North America. It has plans to open 20 more locations in the U.S. and Canada in 2024, as part of its goal to have 200 stores in North America by 2027.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a statement from Shein.
