We don't think of Karl Lagerfeld and sportswear label New Balance as having a whole lot in common.
But, New Balance is suing Chanel's creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, for allegedly ripping off one of their sneaker designs.
The "fashion sneaker" is a popular trend right now, one that Lagerfeld clearly wanted to make his own interpretation of. But according to New Balance, his design looks a little too similar to their own . Like, really similar.
In a lawsuit obtained by TMZ, the footwear company is saying that other than the capital "K" on Lagerfeld's sneaker instead of their "N," the shoes are nearly identical. Although, we'd argue the price is not identical. The sneaker from Lagerfeld's eponymous label is $360, while the New Balance version is $112.
A spokesperson for the brand said in a statement to the Daily Mail, "New Balance filed a lawsuit against Karl Lagerfeld to protect our intellectual property rights related to our iconic Lifestyle footwear designs."
Admittedly, we definitely see the similarity between the two sneakers. Although, it's much easier for a brand to prove that their logo was ripped off than the actual style of a particular design. Things can get much hazier there.
What do you think: Is this Karl Lagerfeld sneaker a rip off?