Yves Saint Laurent has issued a statement in response to the ruling by the New York Federal Appeals Court, highlighting their favorable outcome in the ongoing ‘red sole’ dispute.
“Contrary to certain reports, the ruling from the New York appellate court is a complete victory for the prestigious French fashion brand, Yves Saint Laurent. The court has upheld all arguments presented by YSL in this matter, and the brand is immensely pleased with this decision,” the statement reads.
In 2011, Christian Louboutin initiated legal action against Yves Saint Laurent, seeking an injunction to prevent the sale of YSL’s monochromatic red footwear in the United States. However, an initial ruling made by the judge that August rejected Louboutin’s request. Following this, Louboutin moved to appeal the decision. As of yesterday, the appellate court has firmly ruled that YSL maintains the right to market monochromatic red shoes, effectively dismissing Louboutin’s claims once again. YSL has been producing single-color shoes (in hues such as red, purple, and blue) since the early 1970s. This legal victory empowers YSL to continue selling its red shoes without constraints.
The court acknowledged the distinctiveness of the Louboutin red sole, which is defined by its contrasting color with the rest of the shoe—a characteristic that has never applied to any footwear by Yves Saint Laurent. This point has consistently been upheld by YSL throughout the proceedings and was reiterated by the appellate judge in their rationale for the ruling.
