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Gloucestershire Business News

Superdry suing rival fashion brand

A retailer with a shop at the popular Gloucester Quays outlet centre is pulling no punches as it squares up to one of the county's biggest companies.

Fashion giant Superdry, which is headquartered in Cheltenham, has dragged the brand Jack Wills to court over what it sees as a number of similarities over the design of one of its jackets, among other things.

In the media coverage that has ensued Jack Wills has not held back, telling the Daily Mail it would not copy Superdry's clothing - which appealed to "the middle-aged". Its own brand, it said, was "worn by gorgeous, cool young people".

Superdry, famously founded by Julian Dunkerton with a grant from The Prince's Trust, is suing the London-based British brand and a former employee over an alleged breach of contract and copyright.

According to Superdry Jack Wills has used confidential information passed to it by the Cheltenham-firm's former head of international business development, Greg Roberts - now wholesale director at the rival company.

This information, alleges the Gloucestershire business, has been used to improve sales of Jack Will's winter coat range.

Its lawyers claim a series of Jack Wills designs bear a striking resemblance to Superdry products - most notable when comparing its Glacier Biker Jacket (£114.99) with Jack Wills' Cuffley Padded Jacket (£99).

Superdry was given two weeks to submit its full case by the high court and ordered to pay Jack Wills £30,000 costs.

Jack Wills last set of filed accounts showed an increase in turnover of 4.1 per cent to £130.8m. Superdry turned over £750 million plus.

Brexit watchers might be interested to know that in court the Gloucestershire company was represented by Martin Howe, a hard Brexiteer and chairman of the Eurosceptic Lawyers for Britain group.

Earlier this month Mr Dunkerton, who parted company with the fashion business in March, donated £1million to People's Vote for a second EU referendum.

Mr Dunkerton remains the biggest shareholder in Superdry with a stake believed to be worth in the region of £170 million.

While the court acrimonious battle was taking place it is believed the company's founder had other things on his mind. He is understood to have been honeymooning in the Maldives with another Gloucestershire fashion designer and entrepreneur - Jade Holland Cooper.

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