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Kim Kardashian wins £2.1m lawsuit against ‘fast fashion’ giant Missguided

Entrepreneur tweets about the ‘devastating’ effect of brands ‘ripping off’ designers' work

Katie O'Malley
Thursday 04 July 2019 10:38 BST
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Kim Kardashian West at her first-ever KKW Beauty and Fragrance pop-up opening at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles on June 20th, 2018
Kim Kardashian West at her first-ever KKW Beauty and Fragrance pop-up opening at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles on June 20th, 2018 (Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian West has been awarded $2.7m (£2.1m) in a lawsuit against fashion retailer Missguided USA.

The reality star took the brand to court, claiming it was a “fast fashion” company using her name to sell clothes and was “notorious” for “knocking off” designer clothing she wore.

Kardashian West’s lawsuit said Missguided USA does not “merely replicate the looks of these celebrities” but “systematically uses the names and image” of stars to promote its website.

Newly released court documents state that the brand failed to defend itself and a default judgement was made, awarding the media mogul £2.1m in damages as well as about £47,000 in legal fees.

A ruling delivered at the California Central District Court by Judge Virginia A Phillips added Missguided USA is banned from using Kardashian West’s “trademarks in connection with the sale, marketing or distribution of its products”.

In February, the 39-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star tweeted a photograph of herself wearing a gold dress, designed by her husband Kanye West, and jokingly commented on fast fashion brands’ speed to recreate designs she wears.

“Going through old fitting pics & found this gold look that Kanye made for me for my Miami trip last summer (I went w the neon vibes instead),” Kardashian West tweeted.

“P.S. fast fashion brands, can you please wait until I wear this in real life before you knock it off?”

Hours later, Missguided posted a photograph of a model in a similar dress along with the caption: “The devil works hard but Missguided works harder.”

The star later said that it is “devastating” that some fashion companies “rip off” the hard work and creativity of “true designers”.

Businessman Nitin Passi founded Missguided in Manchester in 2009.

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The brand has launched several collaborations with celebrities including Nicole Scherzinger, R&B singer Pia Mia and model Jourdan Dunn.

The Independent has contacted Missguided for comment.

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