Latest news with #Dumas
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Border Patrol's pizza box ads spark backlash at local restaurant
Pizza boxes have been known to advertise movies, TV shows and athletic competitions. But this time, employees at a pizza shop in Georgia got something particularly unique. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has recently confirmed a marketing campaign involving graphic pizza boxes encouraging those interested to join the Border Patrol with a QR code linking to their careers page — but some small businesses receiving the boxes aren't exactly on board with it. One such operation is Mojo Pizza N'Pub in Decatur, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. Why did Border Patrol advertise with pizza boxes? CBP issued a statement last week saying they work with the MarCom Group in Virginia to support their marketing and advertising efforts. As part of their recent recruitment efforts, MarCom initiated a campaign in Atlanta to coincide with the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, an annual week-long event that includes trade shows, workshops and seminars related to career and technical education. The campaign included advertising at the airport and on said pizza boxes. The most viral pizza shops: How one man turned a pizza hobby into a YouTube sensation Where are the Border Patrol's pizza boxes? We are awaiting word back from MarCom Group as to how many pizzerias received these boxes, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has so far confirmed that Mojo Pizza N'Pub is one of the restaurants that have received them. What happened? The restaurant's prep cook, Chad Dumas, said he got a call offering pizza boxes for free without realizing what they would be promoting. When 100 of these boxes showed up, the staff was not pleased. "I don't want it in my restaurant that I work for," Dumas said. "I live in one of the most liberal cities in Atlanta... I don't want that to go out. It's propaganda." The staff reportedly burned all but a few boxes at an employee's nearby home. If you know of a restaurant that received these boxes, contact Miguel Legoas by emailing him at mlegoas@ You can also direct message him on Instagram @miguelegoas.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘The most famous bag of all time': How the Birkin came to be
The first-ever Birkin handbag sold for a whopping 8.6 million euros ($10.1 million) on Thursday, becoming the second most expensive fashion item ever sold at an auction (after the ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which sold for $32.5 million in 2024). Named after the late actor Jane Birkin, for whom French fashion houses Hermès created it, the auctioneer called accessory the 'the most famous bag of all time'. (The Birkin bag was notably featured in the 2011 Hindi film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The film contained several references to its hefty price tag.) Hermès exclusively commissioned the bag for Birkin in 1984, branding it with her initials J.B. on the front flap, below the lock. The subsequent commercialised version of Birkin's bag went on to become one of the world's most exclusive luxury items, extravagantly priced and with a years-long waiting list. The bag was born out of an encounter between Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, then the head of Hermès, on a flight. Birkin splilt some of her things on the cabin floor, and asked Dumas why Hermès didn't make a bigger handbag. Dumas sketched a design on an aeroplane vomit bag and soon, sent Birkin her specially-made bag. 'There is no doubt that the Original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind… It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermès as a practical accessory… has become the most desirable bag in history,' said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion. Sotheby's said that several design elements on the handcrafted all-black leather prototype set it apart from Birkins that followed. For one, this was the only Birkin with a non-removable shoulder strap — fitting for the busy life and practicality of the singer, actor, social activist and mother. The bag that Hermès handmade for Birkin also has gilded brass hardware, bottom studs and other features that differ from commercial models. Birkin's casual, breezy style in the 1960s and early 1970s — long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit minidresses and basket bags — still epitomises the height of French chic for many. Birkin kept the prototype for nearly a decade before auctioning it for an AIDS charity in 1994. It was auctioned again in 2000 and has since been in private hands. Sotheby's said. 'Its presence spans the worlds of music, film, television and the arts' and that 'It is a red-carpet staple, a fashion magazine mainstay, and a coveted piece in the wardrobes of celebrities, artists and stylists.'
The Star
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Fashion dupes are everywhere – but are they crossing the legal line?
Fashion "dupes', or less expensive versions of high-end clothing and other accessories, are just about everywhere these days. They're also drawing some businesses into legal battles. In the latest example, Lululemon slapped a lawsuit against Costco on Friday (June 27), accusing the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure apparel. Across the retail industry, it's far from a new phenomenon. But social media is pushing the culture of online dupe shopping to new heights as influencers direct their followers to where they can buy the knockoffs. Want a taste of Hermes' US$1,000 (approximately RM4,215) fuzzy slippers? Target has a version for US$15 (RM63). Looking for a US$2,800 (RM11,800) Bottega Veneta hobo bag? There's a version for US$99 (RM417) on online clothing and accessories upstart Quince, which has become a go-to for fashionistas. It's not even the first time Lululemon has encountered what it says are knockoffs of its clothing, which often carry steep price tags of over US$100 (RM421) each for leggings and sporty zip-ups. Without specifying additional sellers beyond Costco in Friday's (June 27) complaint, Lululemon noted that a handful companies have "replicated or copied' its apparel to sell cheaper offerings – including those popularised online through hashtags like "LululemonDupes' on TikTok and other social media platforms. For years, companies have rolled out a range of cheaper option for consumers to buy instead of pricey name-brands or designer labels – often through retailers' house or generic brands. Read more: Turmoil or not, luxury fashion can't afford to ignore the Middle East region Unlike more direct copies of the product with an unauthorised trademark or logo of a patented brand, "pure' dupes that just resemble certain features are generally legitimate. They can even spark awareness of the original items. But the rising frenzy for dupes, particularly in the fashion space, signals that many shoppers want a taste of luxury, but no longer want to pay for (or care about) getting the real thing. Late last year, for example, discount chain Walmart created a buzz when it started selling a leather bag online that resembled Hermes' coveted Birkin bag. The US$78 (RM329) item – sold by Kamugo, which doesn't appear to have its own website – was a fraction of the price of the original, which goes from US$9,000 (RM37,930) to hundreds of thousands of dollars on resale and auction sites. Influencers labelled the leather bag a "wirkin'. Other suppliers including BestSPR, YMTQ and Judy were listed on Walmart's site selling similar totes. While popular among shoppers, these kind of look-alikes can frustrate the targeted companies. Following the viral fame of the "wirkin', Hermes executive chairman Axel Dumas shared his annoyance, for example. "Making a copy like this is quite detestable,' Dumas said in a corporate earnings call in February. Still, he acknowledged that it was "quite touching' to see so many consumers want a bag with the Birkin style – and that "difference in quality' was still evident, noting that nobody bought the dupe thinking it was from Hermes. Alexandra Roberts, a professor of law and media at Northeastern University, said that "the term 'dupe' itself doesn't tell us much about legality", noting the word has also been used to describe more traditional counterfeits. But overall, dupes can move into shaky legal territory, including copyright and trademark infringement, particularly if a dupe marketer makes false claims about the duplicate or the original. "With fashion, in particular, we're going to get into some thorny questions," Roberts said. That includes what intellectual property rights exist and how enforceable they are, she explained, and whether there is actual infringement or if a product is just "positioning itself as a less expensive alternative'. Often such disputes boil down trademark questions around consumer confusion or patented product designs. Several businesses have already put this to the test, but not always successfully. In December, for example, Benefit lost a lawsuit in California over Elf's US$6 (RM25) Lash 'N Roll mascara, which is similar to Benefit's US$29 (RM122) Roller Lash mascara. The judge's decision was "a resounding win for us', Elf CEO Tarang Amin previously said. "The basic reality is we always put our E.l.f. twist on it,' he said. "It's an E.l.f. product that's a much better value.' In its lawsuit, Lululemon argued that Costco had "unlawfully traded' on Lululemon's reputation and that it was suing as part of wider intellectual property enforcement "directed to retailers who have chosen to copy rather than compete.' Lululemon accuses Costco of making duplicates of several products, including its popular Scuba hoodies, Define jackets and ABC pants. Lululemon says one of the duplicates that Costco sells is the Hi-Tec Men's Scuba Full Zip, with the lawsuit showing a screenshot image of Costco's website showing the item priced at US$19.97 (RM84). Roberts said she was "a little skeptical' of some of Lululemon's claims, noting that the design patents in particular could be hard to challenge. And she pointed to Lululemon's asserting common law trade dress over a "triangle kind of shape in the crotch region' of the ABC pants. "My first reaction as a trademark expert is that looks pretty functional,' she said, and functional matter is not protected under trademark law. "I was just cracking up because that particular claim seemed really far-fetched to me. Those pants look really basic." Still, Roberts noted that Lululemon had some plausible claims. Read more: Why is Jonathan Anderson's first Dior show at Paris Fashion Week so significant? Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, although the companies involved don't clearly reveal that information to customers. Due to this, Lululemon claims some shoppers may believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the "original' products. Roberts said this could rule in Lululemon's favour as something that "weighs toward consumer confusion'. Still, she noted that most of the products Lululemon mentioned in its complaint weren't sold under the Kirkland brand, which could undermine the argument. A message was left Tuesday (July 1) seeking comment from Costco on the lawsuit. Lululemon found itself in a similar dispute with Peloton in 2021, when it sued the exercise bike company over alleged "copycat products' in its then-new clothing lines. Two years later, the companies announced a five-year partnership that included Lululemon becoming the primary athletic apparel partner to Peloton. – AP
Daily Express
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Original Hermès Birkin becomes most valuable handbag ever auctioned
Original Hermès Birkin becomes most valuable handbag ever auctioned LONDON: British actress and singer Jane Birkin's original Hermès Birkin has sold for €8.6 million (US$10 million or RM42.6 million), becoming the most valuable handbag to ever be sold at auction, PA Media/dpa reported. The original Birkin is now also the second most expensive fashion item to ever be sold, after it went under the hammer at Sotheby's in Paris on Thursday. Advertisement The classic handbag was designed for Birkin, who starred in many French and British films from the 1960s onwards, and died in 2023. Birkin happened to be seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then artistic director of Hermès, on an Air France flight in 1981. SPONSORED CONTENT Carrying all her items in a wicker basket, she complained to Dumas that the handbags of the day tended to be too small to fit all of her belongings. Dumas and Birkin began sketching designs on the back of a sick bag, and by 1985, Hermès had produced a prototype and presented it to Birkin, requesting her permission to name the new style in her honour. Advertisement The leather bag has become a status symbol, worn on the arms of celebrities including Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Kylie Jenner, and Jennifer Lopez. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, said the spectacular sale of the original Hermès Birkin at Sotheby's Paris marks an important milestone in the history of fashion and the wider luxury industry. Advertisement 'It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance, to own their origin. 'The Birkin prototype is exactly that, the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us a modern icon, the Birkin bag, the most coveted handbag in the world. 'The sale of the original Birkin is also, ultimately, a celebration of the enduring spirit and appeal of its muse, Jane Birkin.' The previous world record for a handbag was the Hermès white Himalaya niloticus crocodile diamond retourné Kelly 28, which sold in 2021 for US$513,040. The most expensive fashion item to ever be sold was the pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the film The Wizard of Oz, which sold for US$32.5 million in 2024.
Sinar Daily
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
Original Hermès Birkin becomes most valuable handbag ever auctioned
The original Birkin is now also the second most expensive fashion item to ever be sold. 11 Jul 2025 01:22pm This combination of pictures created on July 09, 2025 shows the "Birkin" bag by Hermes which belonged to British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin at the Sotheby's auction house in Paris on July 2, 2025 and which will be auctioned by Sotheby's as part of the Fashion Icons auction sale. Photo by AFP LONDON - British actress and singer Jane Birkin's original Hermès Birkin has sold for €8.6 million (US$10 million), becoming the most valuable handbag to ever be sold at auction. The original Birkin is now also the second most expensive fashion item to ever be sold, after it went under the hammer at Sotheby's in Paris on Thursday. The classic handbag was designed for Birkin, who starred in many French and British films from the 1960s onwards, and died in 2023. Birkin happened to be seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then artistic director of Hermès, on an Air France flight in 1981. Carrying all her items in a wicker basket, she complained to Dumas that the handbags of the day tended to be too small to fit all of her belongings. Dumas and Birkin began sketching designs on the back of a sick bag, and by 1985, Hermès had produced a prototype and presented it to Birkin, requesting her permission to name the new style in her honour. The leather bag has become a status symbol, worn on the arms of celebrities including Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Kylie Jenner, and Jennifer Lopez. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, said the spectacular sale of the original Hermès Birkin at Sotheby's Paris marks an important milestone in the history of fashion and the wider luxury industry. "It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance, to own their origin. "The Birkin prototype is exactly that, the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us a modern icon, the Birkin bag, the most coveted handbag in the world. "The sale of the original Birkin is also, ultimately, a celebration of the enduring spirit and appeal of its muse, Jane Birkin.' The previous world record for a handbag was the Hermès white Himalaya niloticus crocodile diamond retourné Kelly 28, which sold in 2021 for US$513,040. The most expensive fashion item to ever be sold was the pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the film The Wizard of Oz, which sold for US$32.5 million in 2024. - BERNAMA
