USD 18 Million of fake Louboutins seized

Christian Louboutin is the latest high fashion designer to fall victim to Chinese counterfeiters as millions of pounds worth of fake Louboutins are seized by US customs.

Customs and immigration officals display the seized counterfeit Louboutin items Photo: GETTY

More than 20,000 pairs of counterfeit Christian Louboutin shoes have been seized by customs at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex. It is thought that the shoes were destined for sale through one of the many websites that sell fake designer goods.

The haul, which arrived in the US from China, was split into five separate shipments - four of which were seized on Tuesday, with the fifth being seized late last month, revealed Jaime Ruiz, spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection, in a statement regarding the situation.

Mr Ruiz stated that the 20,457 pairs of shoes, all of which bared Louboutin's trademark red sole, had an "estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price" of $18 million.

A pair of counterfeit shoes seized. PHOTO: Getty

"Worn by celebrities and royalty in the fashion world, the lacquered red sole in (the) shoes is a distinctive symbol of the famous French designer Christian Louboutin," he commented further. "However, US Customs and Border Protection specialists have a different view of the lacquered red sole. They see a trademark protected by US law."

The shoes, which are said to be "very good counterfeits", will most likely be destroyed.

The shoe brand is just one of many high-fashion brands that suffer from widespread counterfeiting. Earlier this year, Hermès and Burberry were both awarded £63 million in damages in separate cases against websites selling counterfeit goods illegally bearing their brand names.

French designer Christian Louboutin, holding an original pair of Louboutins. PHOTO: Reuters

Christian Louboutin is also currently embroiled in two separate legal battles with Yves Saint Laurent and high-street store Zara , both of whom sold shoes featuring a red sole. Louboutin argue that the use of a red sole could cause confusion, mistake and deception among the relevant purchasing public as to the origin of the infringing footwear.

Women paint their shoe soles Red to get Louboutin look for less!!

Sales of red gloss paint have 'rocketed' 40% at Homebase as women find the cheapest way to get the Louboutin look is to do it yourself.

Wannabe Victoria Beckhams are buying red tester paint pots and painting the soles of their shoes to recreate iconic Louboutin heels on a budget.

Sales of red gloss colours such as Duracoat's 'Flame' and 'Show Stopper' have soared by 40 per cent due to women copying the Louboutin shoes worn by their style icons.

Christian Louboutin famously came up with the idea of giving all his designs a distinctive red sole in 1992 after painting an assistant's nail polish onto the bottom of a pair of shoes, because he felt the shoes "lacked energy". A legend was born, and in no time, flashing a red sole became a badge of honour for the fashion pack and Hollywood stars alike.

Claire Stevenson, 24, a PA from Croydon, wanted her dream pair of Louboutins to wear to her cousin's wedding and confessed to using the DIY trick.

She said: "There was no way I could afford to buy a pair of Louboutin heels, but I had my heart set on them and felt the pressure to be fashionable at the occasion.

"I bought a £20 pair of plain black shoes and a tester pot and recreated the designer look at home. I carefully painted the soles, let them dry overnight, and by the next day they were ready to wear.

'I received so many compliments at the wedding about my gorgeous shoes but I didn't have the heart to confess they were DIY fakes. It was such a success I plan on doing the same for another pair of heels."

Sad, it is… If you cannot afford it, simply don’t buy it. You can always find your style or even come up with your own. Just don’t ruin legacies!