Jerry Leigh Reaches Settlement Over HoodieBuddie and HB3 Technology
Jerry Leigh Apparel recently reached a global settlement in federal court in both California and Utah in its dispute over unfair competition, false advertising and false designation of origin with Dragon Crowd Garment Inc. and Lowdown Distribution Inc., which both operate as Colorfast Apparel Inc.
Under terms of the settlement, Jerry Leigh maintains exclusive rights for HoodieBuddie and HB3 Technology products and extended ownership of underlying intellectual property, providing security for existing licensees and clientele. Additionally, Jerry Leigh acquired supplementary patent rights for all products that incorporate the drawstring chord integrated with ear buds and wiring that embeds audio within garments.
quot;With HB3 Technology, we sought to take apparel beyond its traditional form,quot; said Andrew Leigh, president of Jerry Leigh Apparel. quot;In this still-tense economic climate, we’ve found that consumers are still willing to spend but are looking for new products. Not only is the economic climate still tense, but the apparel market is incredibly saturated. Consumers are increasingly savvy, so an apparel brand can’t solely stand behind its logo anymore. To thrive in this market, a clothing brand must now offer unique design elements and, in the case of HB3 Technology, a multi-functional product.quot;
The 100 percent machine-washable HoodieBuddie is equipped with a headphone jack located in the front pocket, where music connectivity can easily be accessed, offering quality sound while on the go. HB3 Technology was developed in 2008 in response to tanglitis, a condition acquired by earbud-style-headphone users that causes ear irritation and, potentially, the loss of hearing. Jerry Leigh was seeking ways to utilize technology, such as mp3 players and iPods, and challenge customary functionalities of apparel.
Jerry Leigh offers the technology to its customers and licensees, which include internationally recognized brands such as Disney, Hello Kitty, Warner Bros., Harajuku Lovers, Paul Frank, Sesame Street, Coca Cola and the U.S. Army. The company’s products are sold across the retail spectrum, including Kitson, Fred Segal, Forever 21, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Target, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, The Wet Seal and Tilly’s.
quot;This innovation has reinforced why [its] brand partners come to [Jerry Leigh] for the latest industry developments,quot; Leigh said. quot;HoodieBuddie and HB3 Technology both represent a technological innovation, not just a clothing brand.quot;
Jerry Leigh is a family-run business that has been designing, manufacturing and brand building in Southern California for the past 50 years. Based in Los Angeles’ Van Nuys neighborhood, the company employs more than 1,000 people in California, New York and Florida and has manufacturing operations in Mexico, Guatemala and China. —Sarah Wolfson
