Ganni believes that Steve Madden has violated Ganni's rights to the design of a shoe named "Buckle Ballerina". The picture shows Ganni's fashion show at Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2017. (Archive photo). Photo: Sofie Mathiassen/Ritzau Scanpix
Steve Madden sues Ganni in US amidst Danish copy claim
U.S. shoe conglomerate Steve Madden has filed a lawsuit against Danish fashion company Ganni in a New York court, retaliating after Ganni sued them in Denmark for copying a ballet shoe design. Ganni’s lawsuit aimed to stop the sale, marketing, and import/export of Steve Madden’s ‘Buckle Ballerina’ shoe in Denmark, claiming it violated Ganni’s design rights. Steve Madden’s countersuit accuses Ganni of claiming global rights over the design and harassing retailers, leading to Nordstrom temporarily removing the shoe and canceling ‘hundreds of customer orders’. Ganni launched their shoe in November 2021, earning over 13 million Danish kroner from its sales.