The Shoe Surgeon, one of the world’s preeminent custom sneaker artisans, has responded to Nike’s filing of a $60 million lawsuit against his business.
The famed designer, whose real name is Dominic Ciambrone, has crafted kicks for numerous celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Will.I.Am. and Drake. Ciambrone’s ever-rising public profile have also spawned numerous brand collaborations with the likes of Rolls-Royce, Glenmorangie, and, most notably, Nike itself in the form of a gold-plated alligator sneaker celebrating LeBron James’ 30,000-point NBA milestone.
As Hypebeast points out, Nike has sought to protect its intellectual property on the bootleg market by filing lawsuits against several other designers, including Warren Lotas, John Geiger, BAPE, and Kool Kiy, all of which have been settled.
The $60 million Shoe Surgeon suit states that Nike is seeking damages for “profits the defendant generated from counterfeiting, trebled, along with attorneys’ fees.” The suit also alleges that the Shoe Surgeon is illegally “teaching others to create counterfeit ‘Nike’ sneakers” and cites over 30 Nike trademarks. Days after news of the lawsuit broke, Ciambrone responded in a statement to Hypebeast:
“It’s a dream to collaborate with legendary brands. Especially with the brand who tells us to believe in something. Who tells us it’s only crazy until we do it. Tells us the best is yet to come. Tells us to be better. To just do it.
“We are confused Nike has chosen litigation over a discussion, but we are confident with proper dialogue and collaboration we can resolve this with the new management team and turn it into a win for the culture. Creating defines us. Our pursuit of greatness is the soul of every creation and authenticity is stitched into our DNA. Where there is unity, there is victory.”
Nike’s PR team previously told Hypebeast that the situation was “unfortunate,” as the Shoe Surgeon has been a longtime collaborator and proprietor of the Nike shoes. Read Nike’s extended statement on the matter below:
“Our goal is to make sure consumers are not misled and have access to authentic NIKE, Inc. products that are authorized and created according to our high standards with the performance benefits they expect. It is unfortunate that after many attempts to resolve this matter privately, we’ve had to take legal action against the Shoe Surgeon for counterfeiting, mass customization and trademark infringement. In order to safeguard our brand and IP, and aligned with Nike’s commitment to protect the consumer from counterfeit Nike product, we are left with no choice but to seek a legal solution to address how the Shoe Surgeon is constructing counterfeit “Nike” footwear from scratch and selling it as officially branded product.
“Further, the Shoe Surgeon is teaching others to create counterfeit “Nike” sneakers. These activities are illegal, deceive consumers and create confusion in the marketplace around source, authenticity and quality of Nike products. We valued our relationship with the Shoe Surgeon and do not have any issues with the limited, one-of-one customization he’s been doing for us or his clients, when allowed under Nike-sponsored athletes’ contracts. In fact, we value opportunities for our athletes, consumers and partners to express themselves through their own style and creativity.”