Chanel Ordered To Pay Out in Counterfeit Case!

Chanel, London

The luxury fashion house of CHANEL has been ordered Friday to pay £258,000 (€2000,000) knitwear company World Tricot as part of a long-running counterfeiting suit between the two brands.

French luxury house Chanel "counterfeit" a former subcontractor Lure, World Tricot, who continued seven years seven years to combat principle.

What makes this case interesting is World Tricot, one of Chanel's former suppliers, accused the French fashion house of copying one of its designs back in 2009 - a white crochet pattern. Putting the luxury fashion house the other side of the counterfeit fence, having been the subject of mass counterfeit targets.

The Court of Appeal found that the pattern of the jacket is "a slavish copy of the sample belonging to the World Tricot society" and that it was "founded to support the embroidery issue is a collective work created initiative within the company.

Workshops World Tricot Lure Company. Jacques Balthazard Archives

The founder of World Tricot, Carmen Colle, claimed since she recognized in the window of a Chanel boutique in Tokyo crochet pattern she had proposed to brand in 2004 but it was finally rejected, despite their initial enthusiasm.

"It was not a fight against Chanel but for the right of creative artisans," responded Mrs. Paste that could not hold back his tears discovering decision.

His lawyer Pascal Créhange welcomed "a judgment that will set a precedent": "It is a way of recognizing the creativity of all those who, in the shadow of their workshop, have imagination."


"It does justice to the small hands that have more expertise," added his colleague Ms. Hortense Bessière.

Chanel said in a statement that it had not yet decided on a possible appeal. The statement goes on to say, it always claimed to have "guided" World Tricot in creating the pattern.

World Tricot clothing, accusing Chanel cotnrefaçon, November 6, 2009 in Paris © AFP / File / Patrick Kovarik

"We have never faced a situation like this before, knowing that we work with around 400 suppliers. This very specific case does not reflect the quality of our relationships with our suppliers, "said Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel fashion business.

Combat Ms. Colle, who had managed to make a small business work reintegration of women in difficulty for the big names in haute couture, met many supporters in France.

The former host of neighbourhood could not help thinking Friday to "mess" of the seven years of litigation, "all doors closed" since she was attacked Chanel, she says. World Tricot is in liquidation.

At trial, the court sentenced him to pay Chanel World Tricot 400,000 euros compensation for breach of contract that bound them. The Court of Appeal rejected this time the subcontractor on this point.

Alure (Haute-Saône) where the adventure started World Tricot in the late 1980s, with the financial assistance of Abbe Pierre and Secours Catholique, Ms. Colle stimulus gradually a new workshop will present his first collection this week weekend in the small town of Franche-Comté.

In April 2010, a "charter of good practices" was signed between luxury homes and converters, to "rebuild relations" between contractors and subcontractors.

Reaction Chanel puts this case "very specific"

The fashion house Chanel relativized Friday appealed his conviction for infringement of a small subcontractor, World Tricot, after seven years of litigation, emphasising the new and "very specific" in this case.

"We have never faced a situation like this before, knowing that we work with around 400 suppliers. This very specific case does not reflect the quality of our relationships with our suppliers, "said Bruno Pavlovsky, head of the branch mode Chanel.

Chanel said they would decide "soon" whether or not it appeals to the Supreme Court.

"This story is bad. This is a misunderstanding concerning a sample hook and the first court had recognised our role in creation ", told AFP service communication Chanel.

"Chanel is working nearly 400 suppliers and most over 15 years, some for over 30 years," he added, noting that "the case with World Tricot is very specific, very technical and completely new ".

Chanel was pleased however to have prevailed on the issue of trade relations with Knitting World: The Paris Court of Appeal did not consider that Chanel had broken so offending trade links with World Tricot, contrary to the judgment of first instance. "It is important for our image with suppliers," said Chanel.

The house will still have to pay 200,000 euros in damages to World Tricot infringement.

In December 2011, the Paris Commercial Court had dismissed World Tricot on charges of forgery and was ordered to pay 200,000 euros in compensation to Chanel for "clear defamation" brand. But he was also sentenced to pay Chanel World Tricot 400,000 euros compensation for breach of contract that bound them.

Have we heard the last of this we think probably not. Have your say.

For luxury authentic products & services, visit http://www/luxuryonlinestore.net

Additional content thanks Lalsace France