Louboutin Hopes to Stomp Out Rival’s Red-Soled Shoes with Trademark Suit
Christian Louboutin is standing up to Yves Saint Laurent with a suit contending its rival violated its trademark by selling red-soled shoes.
Louboutin introduced red-soled shoes in 1992 and obtained a trademark for the sassy soles in 2008, Bloomberg News reports. The designer’s “first conception of this idea occurred when he painted red nail polish on the black soles of a pair of women’s shoes,” the complaint alleges.
The suit filed in Manhattan federal court claims Yves Saint Laurent is selling “virtually identical” shoes by the names Tribute, Tribtoo, Palais and Woodstock, the New York Post says. Louboutins are worn by “glamorous celebrities” such as Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Beyonce, the suit says, and were featured in Sex and the City.
If you want to buy a pair of red-sole shoes made by Christian Louboutin, you will have to pay as much as $3,200, the Post reports. Bloomberg found the shoes at Barneys at prices ranging from $445 to $4,000. If you want a pair of red-sole made by Yves Saint Laurent, you can get them for $600 to $800.
