Suit: ThirdLove Asked For Chantelle Bra Copy

V Shape Moulders Ltd., a Kowloon-based maker of bra cups, has sued ThirdLove, Inc. for breach of contract, claiming that the bra company asked it to copy the foam cups in a Chantelle bra, and then took those “confidential” designs and prototypes to another cup maker to “copy and produce.”

The suit filed with The Superior Court of California for San Francisco County on September 26, claims that “between January 24, 2018 and July 5, 2018” ThirdLove “gave a garment manufacturer a Chantelle bra and instructed them to copy the design, including the underwire.” The suit goes on to say that ThirdLove also approached V Shape Moulders to “create the foam and design a process for making it into the correct cup shape.” ThirdLove then took V Shape Moulders’ “design and prototypes (which constituted confidential information under the NDA) and provided it to another manufacturer to copy and produce the foam and cups, in violation of the NDA,” according to the court filing.

Attached to the suit is a copy of the non-disclosure agreement, apparently printed on ThirdLove letterhead, and dated January 24, 2018. It appears to be signed by David Spector, the co CEO and co founder of ThirdLove as well as by an executive from V Shape Moulders.

Asked about the attempt to duplicate his bra, Patrice Kretz, chairman and CEO of Chantelle, told BODY, “as we all know, a copy is never as good as the original.”

Requests for comment and reaction were emailed to press contacts at ThirdLove, but no response had been received as we went to press. It will be added if and when it is received.

The profile for V Shape Moulders, posted on the company website, notes the company was founded in 2002, and “is an experienced manufacturer of bra cup in garment accessory industry. Its group is a consortium of talents and experience in various aspects on export sales and product development in the intimate apparel industry.”

The firm’s main office is located in Lai Chi Kok in Kowloon with its factory located in Zhong Shan, China. The firm “acts as a key contact or operation point,” and claims a monthly output of “about 4 million pairs.” The “customer base is worldwide and mainly located in the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan. Its product are developed by its designers, or according to clients’ direction.” — NM