Yesterday (Jan 16), Japan’s Uniqlo said that they’re suing Chinese rival Shein for copying their bestseller crossbody pouch known online as the “Mary Poppins carryall”.
Videos and TikToks on the bag that looks small but can pack a load went viral on social media, especially the one TikTok of a young woman unpacking large items. The clip garnered over a million views.
The lawsuit filed in Japan against Shein Japan and two subsidiaries "demands the immediate cessation of sales of the imitation products, and compensation for damages incurred", said Uniqlo in a statement.
The bag has reportedly become Uniqlo’s best-selling bag ever, repeatedly selling out.
Shein
Shein was founded in 2008 in China and was based in Singapore. The brand quickly conquered the global fast fashion market by catering to young customers through social media.
The firm has since been accused of exploiting unpaid labour, obscuring production processes and encouraging overconsumption as it faces the wrath of environmental and human rights activists.
Last month, Chinese-owned online retailer Temu sued Shein in a US court, accusing it of "mafia-style" intimidation tactics to keep the upper hand in the local market.
The Chinese brand in Japan has yet to give a comment on the sue.
