Jordache, Frankie B. Settle Dittos License Dispute
After getting off to a rocky start, Jordache Enterprises and Frankie B. owner Daniella Clark have worked out a settlement for the Dittos denim brand.
The trouble started earlier this year when Clark released a line of Dittos-branded denim under a license for the Spring/Summer season. Jordache, which acquired the Dittos license in 1981 when the popular, high-waisted denim brand filed for bankruptcy, filed a million-dollar name-infringement and falsedesignation- of-origin lawsuit in New York against Clark, her company and related parties.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, a Frankie B. spokesperson said the company believed it was the legal licensee and was shocked to learn of the lawsuit.
Now, Jordache, which has reasserted its ownership over the Dittos trademark, has struck a licensing deal for the brand with Frankie B. “We’re all friends now, and now we’re the licensor with Frankie B.,” said Steven Nakash, Jordache’s director of licensing. As part of the new deal, Frankie B., which already sells the line at Lisa Kline, Henri Bendel and Intermix, will be the sole Dittos licensee. The change in licensor will not affect the design direction of the brand, which features candy-colored denim, dresses, outerwear and tops.
“I am thrilled to be working with Jordache. Their breadth of experience and history in this business is more than beneficial to Dittos,” Clark said in a statement.
Kathy Walker Sales, which was also originally named in the lawsuit, will continue to represent the brand.—Erin Barajas
