This week, a Chinese manufacturer of fake Yeezy footwear took their product to the next level opening the first-ever storefront dedicated to the sale of knockoff Yeezys.
According to a Mashable article, the store is located in Wenzhou, China and features a variety of replicas as well as original colorways and designs. Despite the similarity, the replica footwear does feature noticeable differences from the real Yeezys: The fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2s simply read “Yeezy 550” on the upper instead of the usual “SPLY-350” text. The fake Yeezys sold at the Wenzhou store cost $151, while an authentic pair retails for $220.
According to China Network, the owner of the store, Mr. Hu, registered the “Yeezy” trademark in 2013. “Some time ago, the relevant authorities have ruled that the Yeezy trademark, which we registered with our company, is valid,” he told China Network.
Mashable confirmed that an entity called Wenzhou Haifan Trading Company owns the trademark for “Yeezy” across several categories.
But Kanye West may have some precedent if he chooses to take legal action. In 2016, China’s supreme court ruled in favor of Michael Jordan after he sued a Chinese sportswear company Qiaodan, the Mandarin transliteration for “Jordan,” for using his name and logo without his consent.
In July 2016, Kanye West and adidas announced their longterm partnership and teased plans for retail stores, which have yet to materialize.
(8/28/17)
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