Sportswear giant Nike is accusing American shoemaker Dominic Ciambrone, better known as The Shoe Surgeon, of unauthorized use of trademarks and counterfeiting of his designs. Nike is launching a $60 million (55.04 million euro) lawsuit against The Shoe Surgeon, as compensation for the alleged damages. This was reported by the Instagram account Sneaker Legal based on a court document from the American court, published on July 15, 2024.

Ciambrone, founder and CEO of The Shoe Surgeon, is no stranger to the fashion industry. He makes custom sneakers for stars like Justin Bieber. In the past, he collaborated with Gucci to design the limited edition Gucci Basket sneakers. He also regularly gives sneaker personalization workshops in America, where anyone can learn to design sneakers themselves. Sportswear giant Nike sees a problem with these workshops.

A court document states that Nike repeatedly asked The Shoe Surgeon not to use Nike sneakers in both workshops and for sale. For SRGN Studios, a collective of artists affiliated with The Shoe Surgeon and founded by Ciambrone, this comes as a "surprise." The team says it was not contacted about the matter before the lawsuit was filed.

SRGN Studios responded to Nike’s lawsuit in a statement to FashionUnited: “It’s a dream to collaborate with legendary brands. Especially the brand that tells us to believe in something. That tells us it’s crazy until we do it. That tells us the best is yet to come. That tells us we have to be better. That we just have to do it.”

"We do not understand why Nike has chosen a lawsuit over a discussion, but we are confident that with dialogue and collaboration with the new management team, we can resolve this and turn it into a victory for the company culture." The statement continues: "Creating defines us. Our quest for greatness is the soul of every creation and authenticity is in our DNA," SRGN Studios said. The statement concludes: "Where there is unity, there is victory."

Nike Files Multiple Lawsuits

Nike is often the subject of lawsuits. Last year, the company filed a lawsuit against New Balance and Skechers. The two shoe manufacturers are accused of infringing on patented technology.

Sportswear brands Adidas and Puma were sued by Nike with similar claims, both of which eventually settled their lawsuits. In early 2023, Canadian sportswear brand Lululemon was also faced with a lawsuit brought by Nike. This case is still ongoing.

Editor's Note: This article has been modified since publication. The statement from SRGN Studios was added on July 23, 2024 at 2:45 PM (GMT +2).