The Clap Back: Tamara Mellon Sends ‘Cease and Desist’ Order To Jimmy Choo

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Shoe-lovers and aficionados around the world are familiar with the name Tamara Mellon. The 47-year-old businesswoman helped to build Jimmy Choo into a global brand entity, yet today, she’s in the midst of launching a legal battle against her former company amid allegations of anti-competitive practices.

After stepping down from the brand in November 2011, Mellon took her knowledge, savvy, and worth and invested it into herself. In 2013, she built TAMARA MELLON, a luxury lifestyle brand that would offer a full range of apparel, shoes, handbags and accessories. Upon its launch, TAMARA MELLON rolled out with a select group of premiere retail partners in the United States and Europe.

Now, Tamara Mellon’s case against her former company involves accusations that Jimmy Choo attempted to thwart her new fashion label. Lawyers acting in the best interest for Tamara Mellon wrote to Jimmy Choo accusing it of obliging leading Italian leather suppliers to commit not to work with TAMARA MELLON Brand LLC. The letter from Olswang, a prominent law firm, said, according to The Daily Mail that Tamara Mellon’s new company has been “unable to secure suitable production capacity for… luxury leather products and [its] business consequently has been impaired” as a result of pressure from Jimmy Choo.

One source, according to the UK publication, who wishes not to be named, claims that the Jimmy Choo business uses 22 leather suppliers out of more than a hundred in Italy that Tamara Mellon could potentially use. The source even claimed that the battling pair only have one leather supplier in common. The restrictions imposed by Jimmy Choo on Florence-based leather suppliers were in breach of EU anti-trust laws, Olswang alleged.

This legal action is the latest twist in a raucous relationship between Tamara Mellon and Jimmy Choo. The former helped to turn the latter into one of the world’s best known brands, and brought stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez and Kristen Stewart into the fold. While working at the UK edition of Vogue, Tamara Mellon helped Jimmy Choo to launch a store in Knightsbridge, which subsequently made them a fortune.

As Jimmy Choo has received the letter, a spokesman said, “Our initial assessment is that the complaint has no merit and will be vigorously contested. We plan to make no further comment until the process is completed.”

Tamara Mellon has yet to release a statement on the issue.

[via Daily Mail]

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