Fast Retailing Initiates Legal Action Against Shein for Alleged Plagiarism of Uniqlo’s Shoulder Bag

Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, has taken legal action against the prominent fast fashion entity Shein, accusing them of copying Uniqlo’s highly popular shoulder bag. The Chinese e-commerce giant is now facing a lawsuit demanding an immediate halt to the sales of the allegedly imitated product, along with compensation for damages inflicted upon Fast Retailing.

The official complaint was filed by Fast Retailing on December 28, 2023, as disclosed on the company’s website today. Shein is alleged to have marketed a shoulder bag strikingly similar to Uniqlo’s, causing significant harm to customers’ trust in the quality of the Uniqlo brand and its offerings, as asserted by Fast Retailing.

Uniqlo’s shoulder bag achieved remarkable recognition in 2023 by making an appearance in the Lyst Index. Notably, it became the most affordable product ever featured in the platform’s ‘Year in Fashion’ review. Priced at around 15 euros, the gender-neutral half-moon bag stands out as the best-selling bag to date. Interestingly, its popularity did not stem from influencer endorsements but rather from traditional, yet powerful, word-of-mouth advertising.