Hidesign slaps legal notice on Woodland for copying designs

Popular leather bags and footwear maker Hidesign has sent a legal notice

to Woodland, accusing the shoes and accessories maker of copying its designs and violating copyright laws. In the notice sent to the latter, Hidesign has alleged that Woodland has copied the design of Vespucci, a rugged leather cross shoulder sling bag for men that is one among its bestseller models. The bag was created in early 2011 by Fabian Lintott, Hidesign's London-based designer.

This follows a case filed by American outdoors wear major Timberland against Woodland, when it entered India a few years ago. The case was filed because, Woodland was using a logo as well as product designs similar to those of Timberland.

While not many Indian companies put in efforts in training their designers to create exclusive designs, designers at Hidesign, which sells its products in several countries across take around a year and a half for design conceptualisation to ready products for the shelves.

Hidesign recently appointed Narresh Mehtta as the Chief Operating Officer reporting directly to Dilip Kapur, President, Hidesign. The company is now planning to create a line of affordable products to retail at multi-brand outlets (MBOs). The aim is to compete with in-house labels of MBOs like Shoppers Stop, Westside and Lifestyle and other brands that sell products at heavy discounts to woo consumers.