Los Angeles based handbag designer Elizabeth Carey has been forced to give up the name of her small but successful accessories line Bird, after Juicy Couture swooped in and created its own label under the same name.
Carey’s label was launched in 2006, and Juicy Couture’s not until 2009, but things still got messy legally. She attempted to sue the brand, but soon found that taking on the big boys required some big cash.
“I want people to support young designers,” Elizabeth Carey said. “I trademarked my company and did everything I was supposed to do. It’s a good lesson for people who want to start a brand, to know this and know that it’s out there. A big conglomerate shouldn’t be allowed to do this.“
She may have dropped the law suit, but Carey isn’t giving up the fight completely. She’ll relaunch her collection in fall under the name Liz Carey Handbags. The line will include the most popular Bird styles along with some brand new designs.
I’m a firm believer in supporting the small designers who tend to create the most interesting accessories. If you are too, make sure you check out Liz Carey Handbags!
