Dive Brief:
- E-commerce and retail company Googly Eye Cru is requesting a jury trial against Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing and Anya Hindmarch’s holding company, alleging that last year’s collaboration between the brands violated its trademark rights, according to court documents filed last week.
- The collection, which launched in November 2023, included sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and socks, many of them featuring “Anya Eyes,” a design element featuring cartoon eyeballs, which Hindmarch often incorporates as a design element in her work.
- Googly Eye Cru, which operates both online and in its New York retail store, sells products including apparel, accessories and other items, and the bulk of the company’s pieces feature eye designs. The complaint states it has been selling items with its Googly Eye motif since 2003.
Dive Insight:
In addition to individually naming Fast Retailing, Uniqlo and the Anya Hindmarch company, the complaint also accuses 10 unnamed individuals of violating its Googly Eye trademark and engaging in unfair competition, among other claims.
Googly Eye Cru said it owns a registered trademark for the Googly Eye motif, which it obtained through a transfer agreement. The company’s attorneys argue that its mark is “synonymous with quality lifestyle and apparel products.”
Eyes are featured on hang tags and product packaging on the Uniqlo and Hindmarch collaboration. Googly Eye Cru said this creates the impression that the collaboration is part of Googly Eye Cru or related to it.
Spokespeople for Uniqlo, Fast Retailing and Anya Hindmarch didn’t immediately respond to Fashion Dive’s request for comment.
The Uniqlo and Anya Hindmarch collaboration was part of Uniqlo’s continuing partnership with designers. The company recently partnered with Loewe creative director JW Anderson on a spring/summer collection and has previously partnered with former Chloé creative director Clare Waight Keller.
