Navajo Sues Urban Outfitters Over Tribe-Inspired Fashion Line
- Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:13pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Urban Outfitters first came under fire for it's Navajo-inspired products last year.
The Navajo Nation has sued clothing company Urban Outfitters over its Navajo-inspired fashion line, months after the tribe first demanded the retailer pull their name from its merchandise.
According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Mexico accuses Urban Outfitters of trademark violations as well as violating the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which prohibits the sale of products that falsely imply they’re made by American Indians.
“The fame or reputation of the Navajo name and marks is such that, when defendant uses the `Navajo’ and `Navaho’ marks with its goods and services, a connection with the Navajo Nation is falsely presumed,” the lawsuit states, according to the AP.
As The Blaze previously reported, Urban Outfitters came under fire late last year for products including panties, flasks, necklaces and tops all with supposed “Navajo” designs. Opponents called the merchandise “demeaning and inappropriate” and complained to the company’s CEO. Urban Outfitters removed the products from their stores and website, though the Navajo Nation claims similar merchandise is still available through the Urban Outfitters Inc.-owned Free People.
On Wednesday afternoon, a search for “Navajo” on the Free People website turned up two products, a bracelet and a shoulder bag, though without the word “Navajo” in their name or description. The bracelet is described only as a “vintage turquoise stone silver cuff with etched arrow detailing” and the bag is described as having a “colorful woven pattern.”
Urban Outfitters did not immediately respond to the lawsuit, though spokesman Ed Looram previously said in October the company had no plans to alter its merchandise.
“Like many other fashion brands, we interpret trends and will continue to do so for years to come,” Looram said. “The Native American-inspired trend and specifically the term `Navajo’ have been cycling thru fashion, fine art and design for the last few years.”
According to the AP, the lawsuit seeks financial compensation as well as an order permanently barring Urban Outfitters from using the name “Navajo” or any variations in its merchandise.
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Comments (52)
HTuttle
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:23amFrom those models I thought those were anorexic fashions.
Report Post »bunnyma5
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:27ammaybe sore because they’re not getting a piece of the pie?
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 2:57amlol hipsters are getting sued. Throw the book at ‘em.
Report Post »netmail
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 2:32amThe Navajo Nation is more corrupt than Washington DC. They are all in to that easy money they get from the feds. It’s ruined the leadership and beat down the people. We can ALL see more clearly how that works since Obama was elected, but multiply the hardships and moral decay many times over for the Navajo people in general. BUT… a great many of them truly are “Beautiful” in spite of it all.
Only recently have Navajos dived head first in to the casino business. It’s easy money that will be just as hard on them as the govt money has been. Of course, they don’t see it that way….yet.
Report Post »voodoolife
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 2:14am@ disenlightened
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKcSZfY1sf4
midwesthippie
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:32pm…the Navajo are some beautiful people…i wouldn’t expect many (or any) of you (closet bigots and fascists) to understand. p.s. it‘s capitalism yo’
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:45amA painfully insipid statement. What if they were NOT “beautiful people”? I think they have a case (I’m a lawyer, too) — but it certainly isn’t based on them being “beautiful.”
Report Post »voodoolife
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 2:11amWhy do hippies think they are ‘sorta’ Indian? It’s really weird!
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:04amNo, the Navajo are not beautiful people. The Walapai, Hopi, and Apache, are beautiful people. I usually agree with hippies posts, but here I‘m afraid I can’t. We all have our experiences in regard to our opinions and nothing will change that. Mine include, working with, having friends, and growing up in the middle of this particular group in Arizona. While an expert by no means, the face they cry to the general public with is not the same one they wear in less conspicuous places.
Report Post »aquablue
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:51pmi can understand why they are upset. try selling ‘shabby chic’ on ebay and see what happens. navaho inspired designs means they are using navaho designs without due credit. not only that, it implies the designs are navaho and navaho approved.
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:09amYes and they of course are the only peoples who could have ever come up with that design. That’s retarded. Design by its very nature is organic and flows from one group, person, or culture to the next with either strong or weak influencing as a matter of course. If it didn’t France and Italy should be suing the world. The US designers should ban all denim usage without their consent (those are just broad generalizations) etc…
They should be thrilled to death they are having an influence at all and take pride in the recognition. This is about a cash cow and nothing more.
Report Post »guntotinsquaw
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:58amTimothy..It’s not the pattern..it’s the name. All the company had to do was call the pattern what it is..SOUTHWESTERN..It is NOT Navajo.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:17pmWell, there goes my idea to sell buffalo turds fashioned into cooking utensils. Oh, the pain. I never win.
Report Post »AndiAndiAndi
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 6:43amWill the Buffalo Turds be made in China like the Urban Outfitter designs?
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:52pm@ VOODOOLIFE
Report Post »I haven’t heard that about Asians. Bad drivers? Is that because they a narrow eyes and squint?
DaveOregon
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:49pmStupid lawsuit – stupid comments. If they win – I’ll remove ANYTHING that remotely looks “Native American” from my house and refuse to accept or purchase anything the remotely looks “Native American” ever again. Love this native american thing – cause genetics prove they were not the first, but that is another story. Guess they just don’t get enough $$ fromthe Feds. Love all those houses the Fed built and are used as barns as they live in dirt hogans.
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:15amNative – being the place or environment in which a person was born or a thing came into being. I’m a Native America. These people are Indians(pronaounced engines). It is the single best title they have ever had aside from their particular tribe names. Just sayin…
Report Post »voodoolife
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:42pmWhat’s your issue Soundstride? I suppose all rednecks live in trailers, blacks live in ghettos, and Latinos live with Roosters, and Asians cause all traffic accidents right? What a tool!
Report Post »Grannie4news
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:29pmAnything to make a buck! (Pardon the pun) Saying a Navajo design doesn’t say to me it came from the Navajo Nation. The company is right this kind of clothing and stuff has been sold in stores and souvenir shops since I have been around and I am in my seventies butt NOW they want to sue. They smell wampum in the air.
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:18amThe really funny part is the Navajos sell kochina dolls. The Kochina doll is a Hopi tribal piece with significant meaning to them. In other words, the Navajos stole the Hopis design. But that’s pretty much their MO.
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:44amJust reread that, it Kachina not Kochina. And they’re beautiful works of art from an outsiders perspective.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:21pmDoes this mean I have to give up my loin cloth, feathered fedora and buffalo skin necktie? What about my Redken shampoo and conditioner? And we thought they’d be happy with cigarettes and casinos.
Report Post »00gabooga
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:14pmWe wantum big heap wampum!!
Report Post »txjb
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:13pmDid you see the prices for those two items ? Where I’m sitting that would buy almost 60 gal. of middle grade gasoline .
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:11pmNative Americans have too many entitlements which is destroying them. They have there own damn laws, and they want to be sovereign from American laws, but at the same time still want there handouts. I hope Urban Outfitters smacks them down; however, they are run by a bunch of libs, but then again, the American Indian are a bunch of libs themselves.
Report Post »lynn4
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:10pmchange the spelling and call it good. Hey how many years has it been? How about just starting to consider yourselves Americans instead of such a special tribe.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:58pmIf the kitchen is too hot …get out of the fire…Navajo people should be able to make a better product than urban outfitters.
Report Post »AndiAndiAndi
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 6:50amThey can and do. And their products are Made in America. And less expensive. Gads! What idiot spends $78.00 on that POS Made in China cloth bag.
Report Post »PJL
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:57pmSo if they have a Scottish inspired plaid in there line, can the Scott’s sue? How dumb is this.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:55pmGood job, racist.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:54pm“NAVAJO SUES URBAN OUTFITTERS OVER TRIBE-INSPIRED FASHION LINE”
Report Post »Pay the man!
Chuck Stein
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:42pmIf Corning can trademark the color pink for fiberglass insulation (they can & have), then the Navajo nation seems to have a decent shot in this case.
Report Post »BannedByHuffpo
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:37pmHey! My Mom was 100% Irish. I wanna sue all those guys that create likenesses of the “Irish” on March 17th and celebrate all day long listening to bag pipes and drinking green beer. Any of you lawyers want to take my class-action suit on a contingency basis?
Didn’t think so.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:31pmMade in China..I Stopped at an African themed store once.Everything was made in Pakistan,Bangladesh,and India.I do not think they believed in Affirmative action either.No Indians,Eskimos,Orientals,Jews,Caucasians or Gays worked there.Nor Pakistanis,Bangladeshis,or Hindus either.It did have a couple of Black Muslims.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:29pmSo, maybe they can also sue the Democrats for trying to “Indian give” the military their healthcare they worked for.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:55pmThe military has socialized medicine in the status quo–that‘s why it’s better than the civilian system.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:03pmBut third- it is being paid lock,stock, & barrel by we the taxpayers. One of the few things the fed should be spending money on.
Report Post »And which I am proud & grateful to do.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:06pmYes the military system is SOOOOOO wonderful. A great model to put everyone on. Let’s all wait a month to get an appoinment, and months for a surgery.
Report Post »txjb
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:08pmTo The third , the population of the country is greater then the population of the military , socialized med. may work for a small group , but applied to the country it’s called socialism , and will not work .
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:24amNot to mention that while active the military owns your life 24/7. Is that what you want in exchange for healthcare? For retired, refer to darmok and jalad at tanagra’s comments…..
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