Skip to main content
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Levi Strauss Sues Italy’s Brunello Cucinelli Over Trademarked Tab

Levi Strauss & Co. enters the activewear market.
Levi said consumers will likely be confused, and it will likely lose sales and suffer “incalculable and irreparable damage” to its goodwill and reputation unless Brunello Cucinelli stops selling its infringing clothing. (Shutterstock)

Levi Strauss has sued Brunello Cucinelli, accusing the Italian luxury fashion brand of infringing its trademarked rectangular pocket tab.

In a complaint filed on Tuesday night in San Francisco federal court, Levi provided 14 photos of Brunello Cucinelli clothing containing “nearly identical” copies of its tab, which the retailer of denim and other clothing trademarked in 1938.

Levi said consumers will likely be confused, and it will likely lose sales and suffer “incalculable and irreparable damage” to its goodwill and reputation unless Brunello Cucinelli stops selling its infringing clothing.

The lawsuit seeks to end sales of infringing products, unspecified damages including lost profits, and other remedies. Levi said repeated attempts to resolve the dispute without litigation were unsuccessful.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brunello Cucinelli had no immediate comment on Wednesday.

Levi’s brands also include Dockers and Beyond Yoga.

The San Francisco-based company has in recent years filed several lawsuits to protect its tabs, including cases against Kering’s Yves Saint Laurent and LVMH’s Kenzo. Both of those lawsuits ended in settlements.

The case is Levi Strauss & Co v Brunello Cucinelli USA Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 24-00399.

By Jonathan Stempel and Eliza Anzolin; Editing by Bernadette Baum


Learn more:

Levi’s CEO Chip Bergh to Retire

Michelle Gass, who currently serves as the president of Levi’s, will succeed Bergh in the role, effective Jan. 29 of next year.

In This Article

© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Retail
Analysis and advice from the front lines of the retail transformation.

Adidas Prepares for Samba Slump

As the German sportswear giant taps surging demand for its Samba and Gazelle sneakers, it’s also taking steps to spread its bets ahead of peak interest.


Op-Ed | The Rise of the Unwasteful Brand

A profitable, multi-trillion dollar fashion industry populated with brands that generate minimal economic and environmental waste is within our reach, argues Lawrence Lenihan.


view more

Subscribe to the BoF Daily Digest

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
The State of Fashion 2024
© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.
The State of Fashion 2024