Victoria’s Secret is being accused of commiting thigh-high deception.
August 28, 2012 by admin
Filed under Latest Lingerie News
Victoria’s Secret is being accused of commiting thigh-high deception.
Zephyrs, a New Jersey retailer of Italian hosiery, is suing the lingerie giant and its parent company Limited Brands Inc. in an Ohio court for using images of its sexy stockings on its packaging and displays while selling the consumer a lower-quality product.
In the complaint, Zephyrs accuses Victoria’s Secret of using cheaper, “knockoff” hosiery to cut costs — but packaging it with images of their luxe lingerie.
The company alleges that Victoria’s Secret is attempting to cut costs by a cheaper product , endangering its business and reputation.
Gioconda Law Group PLLC
A N.J. hosiery retailer is claiming Victoria’s Secret is misleading its customers by selling them chintzy legwear.
“Victoria’s Secret changed the product in the packaging but didn’t change anything else except Made in Canada on the back of the package,” Joseph Gioconda of Gioconda Law Group PLLC told Women’s Wear Daily. “It used to say Made in Italy.”
The company claims the inferior thigh-highs have irregular borders, missing heel reinforcements and shoddier construction.
The company is suing for $15 million, claiming unfair competition and false advertising.
Zephyr is also asking the court to order Victoria’s Secret to yank the misleading packaging and displays, and to issue a recall for its Lace Top Fish Net Stockings, Fish Net Thigh-Highs With Backseam, and Signature Stripe Thigh-High With Bows.
Zephyrs accuses Victoria’s Secret of using cheaper, “knockoff” hosiery to cut costs — but packaging it with images of their luxe lingerie.
The suit also claims that Victoria’s Secret is strong-arming them into signing an agreement that would demand they surrender all their designs and intellectual property.
Gioconda told the legal blog Above the Law that his client’s case has serious legs.
“As the jury’s verdict in the Apple/Samsung decision reflects, designers’ rights must be protected, regardless of whether the infringer is a small, fly-by-night operation or a large corporation,” he said.
“As the jury’s verdict in the Apple/Samsung decision reflects, designers’ rights must be protected, regardless of whether the infringer is a small, fly-by-night operation or a large corporation,” he said.
