On Thursday afternoon, one of Cassper Nyovest’s fans brought it to his attention that Spanish clothing company Zara was selling shoes that look like his Drip Root of Fame 990 shoes.
Amandla Didiza pointed out that Zara was doing to Nyovest’s shoes what they did to Maxhosa Africa.
@ZARA really enjoys piggy-backing in SA. First it was @MaXhosaAfrica clothing a few years ago, now it's the @rootoffame 990's.@casspernyovest pic.twitter.com/cUoSUYr8tI
— AMANDLA DIDIZA (@MaxDidiza) May 5, 2022
In 2018, Zara copied Maxhosa’s Khanyisa Cardigan prints which launched in March 2014 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg (now African Fashion International) and used them on their socks.
They were then slapped with a court order for copyright infringement and had to remove the socks from all Zara stores and websites.
While some of Nyovest’s fans may think that the musician can also sue Zara for copyright infringement, they are actually wrong because he does not own the design.
In fact, that design is so common, he also took it from elsewhere. If you look at brands like Mr Price, Sketchers and other manufacturers such as Alibaba, you’ll notice that the shoes have been around.
Nyovest knows that – that’s why he said he would not do anything about it but would focus on coming up with another shoe.
This comes after the “Doc Shebeleza” hitmaker responded to Didiza’s tweet by saying “lemme tool” (let me keep quiet).
His follower said he mustn’t keep quiet, he must address it, accusing Zara of theft.
To which Nyovest responded: “If there’s one guy who will never win this battle on Twitter or any social media platform, it’s me. I would rather just come out with a new shoe and keep it moving. I’m excited about our new drop coming later this year. The ROF 990s doing well, they are at a good stable rate.”
Mxm. If there's one guy who will never win this battle on Twitter or any social media platform ,it's me. I would rather just come out with a new shoe and keep it moving. I'm excited about our new drop coming later this year. The ROF 990s doing well, the at a good stable rate. https://t.co/3t01cKM8Ub
— Don Billiato (@casspernyovest) May 5, 2022
Tweeps agree that Nyovest is not the one who came up with the design. It was around way before he launched his shoes with Drip.
Below are some of the reactions.
But these designs are from China, he doesn't own the blue print of this design so anyone can buy an unbranded look alike shoe and sell it.
— Simphiwe Nkabinde (@MrSimphiweN) May 6, 2022
no my brother these are generic alibaba blanks, anyone can order and brand with their logo just like Zuluish, bathu, drip did, this shape was already on this year's before tsibip branded his only the supplier holds the rights to the moulds and they can license it to anyone
— cups full of melanin 🇿🇦 (@coconutThug) May 5, 2022
