New Balance vs. Golden Goose

Welcome back to FN Daily, where we break down the biggest stories happening in footwear and retail.

Today, we are diving into the New Balance lawsuit against Golden Goose, the top sneakers for back-to-school and Merrell's new sustainably-minded collection.

Here's what you need to know.

New Balance Is Suing Golden Goose for Allegedly Copying Its 990 Sneaker Model

New Balance is taking action against Golden Goose’s U.S. subsidiary for allegedly selling “knock-offs” of one of its most popular sneaker styles.

In a lawsuit filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, New Balance is claiming that Golden Goose’s “Dad-Star” sneaker, which the Italian-based label began selling in 2021 for $625, is a “confusingly similar design” to the New England shoe company’s 990 model, first launched in 1982 and currently retails for $199.

“New Balance Athletics, Inc. is recognized as one of the top athletic brands in the world and we go to great lengths to protect our intellectual property,” a New Balance representative said in a comment sent to FN. “While New Balance respects industry competition, Golden Goose’s Dad-Star shoe infringes New Balance’s intellectual property rights in the iconic 990 shoe design, one of our most popular and best-selling models."

Survey: Nike Still Rules Back to School, But These 3 Brands Are Gaining Ground

Nike is still dominating consumer choices this back-to-school season, but other brands are gaining ground with consumers.

According to Stifel Research ’s 16th annual Back-to-School 2023 athletic footwear survey, which analyzes brand and style preferences across 110 U.S. wholesale doors, Nike styles — including NIke and Jordan — were the most popular choice in 88 percent of BTS checks. This strong majority was led by the popularity of the brand’s retro basketball shoes, such as the Air Force 1, Jordan 1 and Dunks.

However, Nike’s popularity slipped this year compared to the BTS period in 2022, when the brand garnered 92 percent of consumer favor. According to the report, led by analyst Jim Duffy, silhouettes from New Balance, HOKA and On, which are largely resonating with female consumers, are largely to blame for the Swoosh’s decline.

Merrell’s ‘Scrap’ Collection Gives Leftover Materials a Second Act

Merrell has released a new capsule collection utilizing leftover scrap materials as part of its push to become more sustainable.

Aptly named the Scrap collection, the limited run capsule features three of the outdoor brand’s signature shoe styles – the Jungle Moc, Moab 3, and Moab Speed models – each partially made using excess materials from the production line.

“This was a passion project for our team as we look to merge style with eco-conscious decisions such as making footwear with excess materials from the production process,” Ian Cobb, senior design director at Merrell, said in a statement.

Need more shoe news?

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• Erin Andrews Joins Wolf & Shepherd as Ambassador

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