TOKYO – Uniqlo, part of the Fast Retailing Company, has sued Shein in Japan, accusing the Chinese retailer of copying its popular round mini shoulder bag.
The entities that operate the Shein brand must immediately cease sales of “imitation products” and compensate for damages, Fast Retailing said in a statement on Jan 16.
The bag, sold for around 1,500 yen (S$14) in Japan, has become a global hit, with Uniqlo warning consumers about counterfeits and similar products being sold online.
Videos of fans praising its deceptively small size have gone viral on social media, with one clip on TikTok of a young woman unpacking numerous large items racking up more than a million views.
Fast Retailing joins rival H&M in suing Shein for copyright infringement in Hong Kong, where litigation aimed at mitigating the threat posed by the Chinese rival has been under way since 2021.
Representatives for Shein, which was founded in China and is now based in Singapore, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.
Uniqlo filed the lawsuit against Roadget Business, Fashion Choice and Shein Japan on Dec 28 at the Tokyo District Court.
“The company filed this complaint because it has determined that the form of the imitation products sold by Shein closely resembles that of its own product,” Fast Retailing said in the statement.
“The sale of the imitation products by Shein significantly undermines the high level of customer confidence in the quality of the Uniqlo brand and its products.”
Shein, founded in 2008 in China, has quickly conquered the global fast fashion market by catering to young customers through social media.
Valued at US$66 billion (S$88 billion) in 2023 with revenues reportedly over US$23 billion, the online retailer is eyeing a major initial public offering in New York potentially in 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported in November.
The firm has been accused of exploiting unpaid labour, obscuring production processes and encouraging overconsumption as it faces the wrath of environmental and human rights activists.
In December, Chinese-owned online retailer Temu sued Shein in a US court, accusing it of “mafia-style” intimidation tactics to keep the upper hand in the local market. BLOOMBERG, AFP
