Victoria’s Secret Sued for $15 Million by Former Hosiery Supplier

Zephyrs is suing Victoria's Secret over their Lace Top stockings. Photo courtesy of Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret and their parent company, Limited Brands, Inc., are being slapped with a $15 million lawsuit by Zephyrs, a hosierysupplier they used to work with. According toPR Newswire, Zephyrs claims the lingerie gianthas continued to use photos of their products on Victoria's Secret packaging and in-store displays even though they've severed ties with the brand. In addition to false advertising, Zephyrs feels Victoria's Secret have been tricking their customers by selling cheaper, Canadian-made knockoff stockings with images of the more expensive, Italian-made Zephyrs products. 

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The complaint was filed August 10 and revealed to the public on Monday in federal court in Columbus, Ohio, home of Victoria's Secret headquarters. Zephyrs claims Victoria's Secret contacted them directly about copying their hosiery designs in hopes of raising profits and decreasing debt. The lawsuit is claiming unfair competition, false advertising, and consumer fraud in violation of a 2001 agreement. Zephyrs is now seeking damages for breach of contract, corrective advertising, and is asking for a recall of all three styles of hosiery: Lace Top Fish Net Stockings, Fish Net Thigh-Highs With Backseam, and Signature Stripe Thigh-High With Bows. The tights are a popular item for the lingerie retailer and may have been sold in over 1,000 stores and on VictoriasSecret.com. The items in question have all been removed from the website.