Louboutin files injunction against anti-Islam ad

Shoe designer’s trademark red soles have been used without his consent.

Shoe designer Christian Louboutin has forcefully been associated with an extreme anti-immigrant Belgian party Vlaams Belang’s campaign. Flemish senator Anke Van Dermeersch, who is also a former Miss Belgium, has used the designer’s iconic red-soled shoes in the party’s campaign leaflets. Louboutin is not happy with this act and has sought an injection.

He is concerned that the outspoken politician, by insisting on wearing the shoes with his trademark red soles, has linked him with her political agenda. The campaign condemns Islam.

The poster, titled Women against Islamisation, shows the bare legs of Dermeersch, who is wearing a pair of red-soled Louboutins while lifting up a black dress. The 40-year-old has words etched along her naked leg marking potential skirt lengths, according to daily.mail.co.uk. This is loosely inspired by a photograph by Canadian feminist Rosea Lake titled Judgements, which went viral in January.

The image depicts various skirt lengths ranging from ‘matronly’ and ‘prudish’ to ‘provocative’ and ‘whore’. Vlaams Belang’s poster also carries the slogan ‘Liberty or Islam’, as well as the party’s email address.



Paris-based Louboutin argues that the ad tarnishes the image of his luxury footwear brand, which is a favourite amongst stars including Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Kate Moss. He has asked the court to issue an emergency ‘cease and desist’ ruling against the anti-Islam campaign.

Dermeersch, on the other hand, is defending her far-right campaign’s use of Louboutins in a poster denouncing Islam, and till date, she continues to wear the shoes!

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.

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