Virgil Abloh Uses ‘WW’ Letters In Design For Off-White, Faces Trademark Lawsuit
Image via Yacinefort / Shutterstock.com
Cult streetwear favorite Off-White is now under fire, once again, for infringing on other designers’ copyright.
Walker Wear, another fashion brand, is claiming that Virgil Abloh, Off-White’s mastermind designer, has created and is retailing a jacket with a design “nearly identical” to the brand’s XXL Athletic mark design, as reported by The Fashion Law. The jacket is currently selling for US$2,234.
This famous mark was derived in 1993 under “streetwear pioneer” April Walker’s careful eye. The “WW” mark, “two centered and slightly overlapping” stylized Ws, is said to be instantaneously recognizable due to three decades of retail, alongside the fact that many prominent hip-hop artists have donned the brand’s clothing.
Walker Wear has pointed out that it also filed a trademark registration for it alongside the wording “ATHLETIC WALKER WEAR” in capital letters.
The brand also declares that because it has “invested substantial time, effort, and resources in developing the trademark and trade dress rights,” the double-W has “become widely associated with Walker Wear and acquired substantial recognition, goodwill, and fame.” “
It has also been stated that the jacket is causing confusion to customers, who are mistaking the Off-White piece as something that is actually Walker Wear. This claim is also being filed against retailers Farfetch and Saks Fifth Avenue as they sell the jacket.
This isn’t Off-White’s first time being accused of plagiarism: as the lawsuit states specifically, the brand and its founder “have an unfortunate history of deriving from the creativity of other designers.” Even its name has come under fire before.
But this history of running into infringement-related blowups doesn’t seem to daunt the many die-hard fans who eagerly follow and anticipate the release of new collections.
Off-White is being sued for allegedly infringing 30-year-old streetwear brand Walker Wear’s “WW” trademark. https://t.co/7x83VUFKKg pic.twitter.com/9D4Tvb1Ygt
— The Fashion Law (@TheFashionLaw) August 24, 2021
[via HotNewHipHop, image via Yacinefort / Shutterstock.com]
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