SKIMS Body Inc., the shapewear empire founded by Kim Kardashian, has filed a major lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, targeting an international network of online sellers accused of mass-producing and selling counterfeit SKIMS products through websites hosted on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Wish, Alibaba, AliExpress, and DHGate.
Trademark Infringement Allegations
According to the complaint, SKIMS alleges that dozens of unidentified individuals and business associations (listed only as “Defendants on Schedule A”) have been operating fully interactive e-commerce storefronts selling counterfeit SKIMS shapewear and clothing that unlawfully use the brand’s registered trademarks—SKIMS and SEAMLESS SCULPT.
These products were marketed as authentic SKIMS items, even using stolen product images and copyrighted promotional material to deceive consumers and mislead search engines. The company asserts that such activities have caused consumer confusion and irreparable harm to SKIMS’ reputation and sales.
In a significant follow-up to its original complaint, SKIMS Body Inc. has recently filed an Ex Parte Motion seeking immediate court intervention through a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), Asset Restraining Order, Expedited Discovery Order, and permission for Service of Process by Email.
Through this filing, SKIMS aims to swiftly halt ongoing counterfeit sales, freeze the financial assets tied to the infringing online stores, and expedite the process of identifying anonymous defendants operating from foreign jurisdictions.
Legal Claims and SKIMS’ Demands
The lawsuit brings multiple counts, including trademark infringement and counterfeiting under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. §1114), false designation of origin and unfair competition (15 U.S.C. §1125(a)), and violations of the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act (815 ILCS 510).
SKIMS seeks injunctive relief to permanently shut down all infringing websites, freeze associated financial accounts, and halt the use of its trademarks and copyrighted images. The company also demands up to $250,000 in statutory damages per counterfeit mark used, along with attorneys’ fees and recovery of illicit profits.
What Brands Can Learn
This case is a critical lesson for fashion businesses operating online. Counterfeiting networks increasingly exploit global e-commerce ecosystems, using search manipulation and stolen brand assets to trick consumers. Brands must monitor third-party marketplaces proactively, file takedown requests, and register trademarks across all primary jurisdictions to strengthen legal standing against counterfeiters.
SKIMS’ aggressive defense highlights how strongly luxury and high-growth digital-era brands are protecting intellectual property as their core business asset—especially in the face of rapid online replication and sales deception.
