Patagonia sues Nordstrom accusing retail giant of selling thousands of knock-off ‘cotton’ sweatshirts and t-shirts that are actually 100% polyester
- They are seeking up to $150,000 for each ‘work’ infringed in the federal lawsuit
- The brand and the retail giant severed an 11-year relationship last year
- They say Nordstrom sold ‘thousands’ of fake Patagonia sweatshirts and t-shirts
Patagonia has filed a lawsuit against retail giant Nordstrom and accused the company of selling ‘thousands’ of fake sweatshirts and t-shirts in their stores.
The outdoor clothing retailer is seeking up to $150,000 for each ‘work’ infringed in the federal lawsuit, which was filed in a California district court on Tuesday.
Nordstrom operates about 348 ‘Nordstrom Rack’ locations in 41 states, which are considered sister sites to the classic, luxury Nordstrom stores.
Patagonia is arguing Nordstrom is confusing customers and diluting their brand by selling knock-offs.
The brand and the retail company had ended an 11-year relationship to sell merchandise last year.
Patagonia has filed a lawsuit against retail chain Nordstrom. The company produced images in the lawsuit that show tags on the outfits claiming to be ‘100 percent cotton’ but the care tag shows them to be made from polyester after the deal ended
The company produced images in the lawsuit that show tags on the outfits claiming to be ‘100 percent cotton’ – yet the care tags show them to be made from polyester after the deal ended.
The lawsuit claims they ‘brought this problem to Nordstrom’s attention and requested that the company voluntarily recall the products or reimburse customers’ in an attempt to avoid litigation.
However, Nordstrom did not recall the ‘fake, mislabeled’ products and furthermore, Patagonia claims, failed to ‘even inform its customers that they purchased counterfeits of inferior fabrication and quality.’
Patagonia says they had been forced to sue Nordstrom ‘to prevent further harm to [its brand] and consumers.’
They argue the store’s actions are a violation of intellectual property rights and trademark infringement.
Patagonia is demanding that Nordstrom recall all counterfeit Patagonia products sold.
If the suit is successful, Nordstrom could be forced to stop selling he items and pay damages, according to MSN.
A spokesperson for Nordstrom told the Seattle Times it is aware of the lawsuit and reviewing it.
The lawsuit claims the company ‘brought this problem to Nordstrom’s attention and requested that it voluntarily recall the products or reimburse customers’ in an attempt to avoid litigation
Patagonia is seeking up to $150,000 for each ‘work’ infringed in the federal lawsuit, which was filed in a California district court on Tuesday
Nordstrom had been an authorized retailer of Patagonia clothes from 2010 to 2021. It had been selling what it had left in stock since the end of the deal.
The lawsuit comes at a sluggish time for Nordstrom, which recently cut almost 400 jobs as it prepares to shut all of its stores in San Francisco.
According to official filings, a total of 379 jobs will be axed at the department store, which is in the Westfield San Francisco Centre shopping mall, and the Nordstrom Rack outlet a few doors down.
Nordstrom is one of a host of retailers which have been hit by the so-called ‘retail apocalypse’ gripping the country.
