A FASHION boutique has launched a flash sale to help raise funds in case it has to pay out thousands to clothing giant ZARA.
House of Zana, on Grange Road in Darlington, has priced a selection of clothing items at £15 after ZARA threatened to be awarded costs “at the very upper end of the scale” during a trademark court hearing.
The store’s owner Amber Kotrri appeared at the hearing on Tuesday to defend her trademark application, where she argued her House of Zana branding shares no similarity to that of ZARA’s.
Yet ZARA argues there is a risk "consumers will misread, mishear, mispronounce and/or otherwise perceive House of Zana as ZARA" and that the brand name "dilutes the distinctiveness and reputation the ZARA brand".
The dispute was heard in court after she refused a written request from ZARA to change her branding last year.
Read more: Darlington House of Zana owner's stress over Zara court battle
Mrs Kotrri is now inviting anyone to visit her store and to take advantage of the bargain items as she faces an anxious wait over the court decision.
“The reason I’m doing this is because at the end of the court hearing with ZARA they said, if I am to be unsuccessful, the highest level of costs with this case,” she said.
“So, I sort of had a bit of a panic and thought let’s try and get as much funds as I can. We’ve got loads of one-off pieces.”
The stress of the court hearing has led to stress and sleepless nights for Mrs Kotrri but she still believes she can overcome the fast fashion giant, ZARA.
“I wouldn’t say I feel relaxed because of that last comment about the costs. I feel confident that hopefully sense will be seen and we will win but on the other hand, as a small business with a young family, I have no idea what those costs are going to be.”
The sale will be on until the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday next weekend.
“Come in and support us,” Mrs Kotrri added. “Everything else for the next week is buy one get the other half price as well.”
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