Birkenstock Launches Crackdown On Counterfeit Footwear In India

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Birkenstock Launches Crackdown On Counterfeit Footwear In India

Birkenstock Launches Crackdown On Counterfeit Footwear In India

Birkenstock Launches Crackdown On Counterfeit Footwear In India

NEW DELHI – German footwear giant Birkenstock is cracking down on counterfeit operations in India, with court-appointed legal commissioners recently raiding multiple small factories suspected of manufacturing fake versions of the brand’s iconic sandals, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The action stems from a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Birkenstock in May at the Delhi High Court against four footwear traders, four factories, and two unnamed individuals. The company alleged that fake Birkenstock sandals were being produced in rural areas around Agra—India’s leather and shoe-making hub—and sold both locally and abroad. According to Reuters, this is the first public reporting of the detailed enforcement activity related to Birkenstock’s lawsuit.

The Delhi court took swift action. On May 26, Justice Saurabh Banerjee issued a sealed order—unsealed just last week—authorizing ten lawyers to act as court commissioners and inspect the suspected sites in Delhi and Agra. The order empowered them to seize, seal, and document any infringing products they encountered. Attached to the order were images provided by Birkenstock, showing footwear and packaging that the company claims are near-exact replicas of its branded items.

Justice Banerjee, after reviewing submitted samples in court, remarked that the alleged counterfeits “seem like a cheap knock off” and warned that consumers could easily be misled. “The differences, hardly if any, are not something which can be discernable to the naked eyes,” the order stated.

Reports from the court commissioners have since been filed confidentially, with the next hearing scheduled for October 6. Reuters confirmed that the raids have been completed as directed.

Birkenstock’s enforcement action comes amid growing scrutiny over global brands operating in India. Reuters also notes that Crocs recently received court permission to revive a long-running infringement case, while Prada faced backlash for adapting traditional Indian footwear styles without initial attribution.

Once associated with counterculture and orthopedics, Birkenstocks have surged in mainstream fashion appeal, particularly after Margot Robbie sported a pink pair in the final scene of the 2023 blockbuster “Barbie.”

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