Satisfy, the Parisian running brand that’s garnered a strong following for its stylish approach to performance, has called out Nike over a T-shirt that appears to mimic one of its core designs.
Nike listed a T-shirt riddled with holes on its website late in December, drawing comparisons to Satisfy’s MothTech, which consists of ventilation holes strategically placed using body-mapping for heat-prone areas. Satisfy has been using MothTech in its apparel since 2015, the same year that it was founded.
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“We were surprised to see a product from Nike surface that closely mirrors our distinctive design,” Satisfy said in a LinkedIn post last week. “To clarify, Satisfy has no involvement in this project. The design appears to draw heavily from our signature MothTech aesthetic, which is disappointing to see from a major corporation known to defend its own image and intellectual property so fiercely.”
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After a brief summarization of the role MothTech plays for Satisfy, the brand added: “This incident highlights the shift SATISFY has sparked in the running world, where indie brands are driving innovation at the intersection of sport, style, and culture. Our designs resonate with runners seeking gear that meets their performance needs and reflects their identity, challenging the status quo.”
Sourcing Journal sister publication Footwear News has reached out to Nike for comment.
Nike has ramped up its litigation efforts in the past five years to address lookalikes, targeting The Shoe Surgeon, Bape and more. The company’s current attempts to recapture excitement in running, one of several areas identified as catalysts for a larger slump in business, have also been well publicized.
Not everyone has agreed that Nike’s use of holes on a running tee warrants addressing, however. Users on LinkedIn and other social media platforms have argued against the originality of holes as ventilation and pointed out that Nike has enlisted similar principles in the past.
Nike’s previous application of holes on running tops has been more uniform, though, whereas the newer T-shirt leans more into the distressed aesthetic that characterizes Satisfy’s MothTech.
