Nike has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against Edison Chen — actor, musician, fashion designer, and the man behind Hong Kong streetwear powerhouse CLOT — along with his LA-based retailer, Juice Los Angeles LLC. The sportswear giant claims Chen’s company owes US$126,615.58 for goods supplied, with Chen personally named as guarantor on the account.
Chen and Nike ended their two-decade partnership in 2023, quietly parting ways before he resurfaced at Shanghai Fashion Week arm-in-arm with adidas. The new line — Adidas Originals by Edison Chen — debuted at CLOT’s Spring 2024 show and has already produced silk-patterned Gazelles, a reimagined Stan Smith, and an Anthony Edwards 1 sneaker that’s been teased but not yet released.
Nike’s relationship with CLOT was once one of its most significant in Asia. Since 2006’s “Kiss of Death” Air Max 1, the duo merged Eastern cultural narratives with sneaker design — from tea ceremony-inspired details to Bruce Lee’s Game of Death tribute Cortez. Those drops became cult classics, fetching hundreds to thousands on resale.
Why the split? Officially, no one’s talking. Unofficially, sneaker circles whisper that the contract had simply run its course. What’s clear is that since CLOT moved on, Nike’s been in a more litigious mood — and not just with Chen. The brand recently settled a high-profile dispute with The Shoe Surgeon after initially seeking $60 million.
Nike declined to comment, citing “wellness week.” Chen’s camp is also keeping quiet. In the meantime, adidas seems happy to have CLOT on its roster — and Chen appears too busy shaping his next sneaker drop to worry about a court date.
Feature image: 邱鈺鋒
