Stella is suing American footwear and accessories brand Steve Madden
for marketing a 'knock-off' version of her iconic Falabella bag, for
less than a tenth of the price.
Stella,
44, filed a lawsuit
against the popular US-based label earlier this week, in which she
accuses Steve Madden of selling a 'poorly-made... knock-off of [her]
famous Falabella Foldover Tote bag' in the form of its BTotally handbag, which retails for $108 - less than a tenth of the price of Stella's $1,195 tote.
'Long
after [Stella McCartney's] Falabella collection of bags, with their
distinctive trade dress, achieved prominence in the fashion industry,
and after [Stella McCarntey] obtained design patent protection for its
design, [Steve Madden] began importing and selling a tote bag, that,
although virtually identical in appearance to Plaintiff’s design, is a
poorly-made copy,' the legal papers, which were filed with the district
court in New York on Tuesday and seen by Daily Mail Online, explain.
Stella is suing American brand Steve Madden for 'knocking off' her
trademark Falabella tote bag. She is pictured in July with a clutch from
the Falabella collection
Original: The Falabella Foldover Tote,
which is the most popular design from the range, was first released in
2009. The most basic version of the bag retails for $1,195
'Poorly-made knock-off': Steve Madden's BTotally tote retails for $108, less than a tenth of the price of Stella's design
The
suit goes on to state that Stella's Falabella range has received
'overwhelming media attention' since its launch, and that the collection
has since become 'extremely popular' with a number of A-list
celebrities, including Anne Hathaway, Kim Kardashian, Kate Hudson, Demi
Lovato, Victoria Beckham, Fergie, and Jennifer Lopez.
Lawyers
for the brand are seeking an injunction to prevent Steve Madden from
continuing its sale of the BTotally bag - while also making a claim for
unspecified damages.
Stella's
first Falabella bag, which the lifelong vegetarian creates in a range
of vegan materials, was first released in 2009, and the collection of
chain-embellished accessories has continued to grow ever since.
The
brand's website has an entire section devoted to the collection, with
the fashion house describing the range as being 'defined by its slouchy
silhouette and iconic braided chain strap', while adding that the design
is a 'distinctive Stella McCartney signature'.
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