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Swedish retailer H&M sues Chinese rival Shein in Hong Kong court
Business and Economy

Swedish retailer H&M sues Chinese rival Shein in Hong Kong court

by  AFP 2 min read
Retail giant H&M has sued its fast-growing rival Shein in a Hong Kong court for copyright infringement, the Swedish fashion juggernaut said Tuesday
Retail giant H&M has sued its fast-growing rival Shein in a Hong Kong court for copyright infringement, the Swedish fashion juggernaut said Tuesday. Photo: ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
Source: AFP

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Retail giant Hennes & Mauritz has sued its fast-growing rival Shein in a Hong Kong court for copyright infringement, the Swedish fashion juggernaut said Tuesday.

Shein, founded in China in 2008, has swiftly claimed a top place in the global fast-fashion marketplace, offering low-priced collections attractive to young social media-savvy customers.

H&M confirmed on Tuesday it had opened a lawsuit against Shein and Zoetop Business, a Hong Kong-based company affiliated with the online retailer.

"We have an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit towards Shein filed in Hong Kong," a H&M spokesperson said.

"We believe that Shein in multiple cases has infringed on our designs."

According to a Hong Kong court document, H&M had pointed to "the striking resemblance between the products showing they must have been copied" and the "sheer scale of (Shein's) unauthorised substantial reproduction of the copyright works".

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A representative for Shein, which is now based in Singapore, said by email the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Copyright infringement lawsuits are common in the fast-fashion world but it is often smaller, independent designers lodging complaints against giant retailers, making H&M's suit against Shein unusual.

The Swedish high-street brand is among the world's most recognisable and has for years jousted with Spain's Inditex -- Zara's owner -- for the top spot.

But Shein's rapid rise from a brand favoured by TikTok influencers to a global household name for Gen-Z -- with a reported growth of $16 billion in 2021 -- has tipped the scales, placing it on H&M's heels.

Its cut-price merchandise and relentless expansion have also brought allegations from critics of forced labour and human rights abuses.

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Three independent designers in the United States filed lawsuits against Shein this month, alleging that it has "grown rich by committing individual infringements... as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering".

Shein has also not commented on those accusations.

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Source: AFP

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