Long Beach, CA -
(CNS) Authorities at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex seized five shipments from China of more than 20,000 pairs of counterfeit Christian Louboutin shoes with an estimated domestic value of $57,490, it was announced today.
The most recent seizure was made Tuesday, according to Jaime Ruiz of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The 20,457 pairs of counterfeit shoes had an "estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price'' of $18 million, Ruiz said.
"Worn by celebrities and royalty in the fashion world, the lacquered red sole in (the) shoes is a distinctive symbol of famous French designer Christian Louboutin,'' Ruiz said in a statement.
"However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection specialists have a different view of the lacquered red sole,'' Ruiz said. "They see a trademark protected by U.S. law.''
