Hanesbrands Inc. sued American Apparel Inc. for allegedly copying its
Barely There trademark for women's underwear. According to the lawsuit
filed in federal court in Winston-Salem, N.C., American Apparel
infringes the trademark by using the slogan in its print and online
advertisements for tight-fitting bodysuits.
The website for American Apparel “contains images of young-looking,
waif-like models scantily clad in American Apparel's products,
including the 'barely there' bodysuit,” Hanesbrands said in the
complaint, according to Bloomberg News.
Hanesbrands, based in Winston-Salem, owns the Hanes, Champion and
Playtex brands. It launched the Barely There brand in 1995 and expanded
the trademark to cover bodysuits in 2000, according to the complaint.
