Coach has filed a lawsuit against Quince, alleging that the San Francisco-based direct-to-consumer brand is infringing the trade dress of two of its most recognizable handbag designs by way of lower-cost dupes. In the complaint that they filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on April 4, Coach and its parent company Tapestry accuse Quince of trade dress infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin stemming from the sale of handbags that allegedly mimic the look and feel of Coach’s Rogue and Soho Flap bags.
According to the complaint, Quince is offering up “substantially indistinguishable” products through its e-commerce platform, including the “Italian Leather Medium Convertible Satchel” and “Italian Leather Buckle Detail Shoulder Bag,” which Coach claims copy the signature elements of its Rogue and Soho Flap bags, respectively. These elements include distinctive hardware placements, stitching patterns, and overall silhouettes that Coach says are non-functional and serve to identify the brand in the eyes of consumers.
Coach and Tapestry allege that Quince has not only failed to obtain a license or authorization to use Coach’s trade dress but has actively sought to trade on the goodwill and recognition that the brand has built over decades. The plaintiffs maintain that Quince, by offering lower-priced lookalikes, is blurring the line between the two companies and creating a likelihood of consumer confusion as to the source or affiliation of the products.
For instance, the complaint states that “the Accused Products manufactured, imported, distributed, advertised, offered for sale, and/or sold by [Quince] bear confusingly similar reproductions of the Rogue Trade Dress and Soho Flap Trade Dress, such as to cause a likelihood of confusion as to the source, sponsorship or approval by Coach.” Coach further asserts that these similarities are not coincidental and are instead part of a deliberate strategy to capitalize on the “iconic” status and consumer recognition of its designs.
Interestingly, Coach and Tapestry do not allege in their lawsuit that Quince has co-opted a Coach logo or other overt elements of its branding; instead, in waging claims over the allegedly-source-indicating design of its handbags, the companies shed light on how companies are looking to crack down on dupes, which are increasingly cementing themselves as a disrupting force in the fashion and luxury markets.
With the foregoing in mind, Coach and Tapestry sets out claims trademark and trade dress infringement, and unfair competition, and are seeking injunctive relief to prevent Quince from continuing to market and sell the contested bags, as well as monetary damages that include profits derived from the sales, statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees. They are also requesting that all infringing products be recalled and destroyed.
A representative for Quince was not immediately available for comment.
The case is Tapestry Inc. et al. v. Last Brand Inc. dba Quince, 3:25-cv-03082 (N.D. Cal.).
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