Adidas is taking Australian fashion brand White Fox Boutique to court over a design that it says comes too close to its famous three-stripe trademark. The sportswear giant alleges that the online retailer has been selling and promoting clothes with four stripes in a way that could mislead shoppers and create an association with Adidas.
What has White Fox said?
Adidas filed its case in the Federal Court of Australia on September 18, according to a report by CNN affiliate 7News. The company claims it repeatedly asked White Fox to stop selling the disputed clothing throughout 2026, but its requests were rejected. Launched in 2013, White Fox Boutique has built a strong following among teenagers and young adults in Australia, the US and the UK. The Sydney-based brand has more than 2.7 million followers on Instagram and is known for its online fashion and promotional campaigns.
White Fox Boutique has denied the allegations, according to 7News. The company alleges that White Fox has been using a four-stripe design on its clothing for months. Adidas’ lawyers argue that the similarity could lead shoppers to associate the products with the sportswear brand, even though they are sold by a different retailer. Its legal team has argued that four-stripe designs are also used by other fashion retailers, including Princess Polly, Glassons and Shein. The case could have implications for how clothing brands use stripe patterns and other design elements that consumers may associate with established labels. Adidas’ complaint also highlights how the way products are styled and advertised can become part of a trademark dispute, not just the design of the clothing itself.
During a court appearance in Sydney on Friday, Adidas barrister Patrick Flynn also questioned how White Fox presents its clothing in promotional campaigns, 7News reported.