Sonia Edwards, a Welsh fashion designer, is presenting a case at London’s High Court claiming that Boohoo Group and a number of its brands have infringed on her signature bikini design, according to The Times.
Edwards is attempting to prevent Boohoo from selling items she claims are copies of the piece through the court action. Edwards is also seeking a court declaration that Boohoo infringed on the design rights of her company, Cwtchy Cwtchy, as well as compensation.
The product in question is a bikini top that can be worn in multiple ways, a design Edwards released in 2010 and has claimed to have seen an increased number of copies of since the pandemic.
The designer has said that five designs marketed by Boohoo infringe on this product. These include a halterneck bikini top, a rib organza mesh puff-sleeve top, a velvet ruched midi-skirt, a twist-front skirt and leather-front ruched leggings.
Boohoo-owned brands PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal, Misspap and Debenhams Brands are also named in the court action.
Edwards told the court that the retailers “had prior knowledge of my designs and access to them prior to publication on their platforms, at times the alleged infringed designs are paired with similar stylisation, giving an overall similar look to the outfit.”
Lawyers for Boohoo, however, allege that the similarities raised by Edwards are an “abstract cluster of features” instead of signature hallmarks protected under copyright law and that a multiway bikini was a “well-established” product.
Andrew Norris, representing Boohoo, claimed Edwards has been making such complaints about companies beyond Boohoo “for years,” and “has convinced herself the fashion industry has been watching her and copying her extensively.”
“The claims are for generalised ideas and concepts that would cover many designs from around the world created over many decades,” Norris added.
