Louboutin sees red over YSL sole dispute

2012-05-01 89

French shoe designer Christian Louboutin was seeing red over his dispute with luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent.

The designer, famous for his red-soled shoes, was in London to launch a 20-year retrospective of his work at the Design Museum.

He's filed a lawsuit in the United States against YSL for copying his red soles.

Louboutin also called them and their parent company PPR "hypocritical" after the French holding company's other brand Gucci sued U.S. label Guess for trademark infringement.

Louboutin is currently appealing a court's decision that YSL could go ahead with the red soles.

SOUNDBITE: Shoe Designer, Christian Louboutin, On His Court Case Against Ysl For Trademark Infringement, saying (English):

"I think it's unfair. I think it's absolutely stupid of them. Having no respect for what you're doing just proves a bit of stupidity and a lack of intelligence."

The exhibition features more than 200 pairs of shoes, showing the vast creativity of the designer's career.

For two decades, Louboutin has become one of Hollywood's "go to" designers for red carpet footwear.

But the shoemaker says, he takes it all in his stride.

SOUNDBITE: Shoe Designer, Christian Louboutin, On His 20-Year Retrospective At The Design Museum, saying (English):

"This is a compliment, this is exciting for me because it comes from people. If you intricate so much your life, your professional life with your personal life, there's no way, when you look at all this life, a lot of elements of your life you cannot not be emotional."

And what does he have to say to some women who complain his high-heeled shoes are uncomfortable?

This is what he had to say at a news conference earlier in the day.

SOUNDBITE: Shoe Designer, Christian Louboutin, saying (English):

"I am concerned by comfort and I know it's important but I don't want this to be evocated in my design. I haven't yet met a girl who wants shorter legs."

The exhibition will be on display at the Design Museum until July.

Cindy Martin, Reuters

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