Clothing The Gap OG tees. Photographer: C-Pash.
Aboriginal streetwear brand Clothing The Gap is set to rebrand following a two-year trademark dispute with international clothing giant Gap.
Now, the Melbourne business will be renamed Clothing The Gaps, after a copyright tribunal found “deceptive similarity” with Gap.
Founded by Gunditjmari woman Laura Thompson, and Sarah Sheridan, who is non-Inidigenous, Clothing The Gap was born out of Aboriginal health promotion business Spark Health.
It was always intended to give First Nations people a voice and an online space to occupy, while also educating non-Indigenous folks and inspiring conversation.
It was when the co-founders went to trademark their name that they received a letter of opposition from Gap.
The boss of fashion label Clothing The Gap says the last few years took an emotional toll as her business fought to keep its branding, emerging with only a minor change.
Published April 16, 2021
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Clothing The Gap, a locally-run label and social enterprise based in the inner north of Naarm/Melbourne, is changing its name after a two-year legal battle with US clothing retail company, GAP Inc.
As per the ABC, the legal issues began when the First Nations-run label moved to trademark the term ‘Clothing The Gap’ in 2019, and the label’s founders were met with a cease and desist letter from the American juggernaut.
Aussie company loses battle with US brand A Melbourne Aboriginal-run fashion brand has lost a two-year legal battle with US clothing brand Gap, forcing them to rebrand.
Fashion & Beauty by Ally Foster 17th Apr 2021 6:14 AM An Aboriginal-run clothing company has lost a two year legal battle with US clothing brand Gap, forcing the Aussie business to change its name. Clothing the Gap is a small Aboriginal-owned business run in Melbourne has been locked in a legal battle with US clothing giant Gap Inc since 2019 over the use of gap in the name of the business. Co-founder and managing director of the company, Gunditjmara woman Laura Thompson, received a cease-and-desist letter from Gap in April 2019, sparking a lengthy legal battle.