Nike Inc. has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Edison Chen, the founder and creative director of streetwear label Clot, in a Los Angeles federal district court. The suit also names Juice Los Angeles LLC, a company owned by Chen, as a defendant.
Court documents claim Nike is seeking $126,615.58 for goods supplied to Juice, with Chen listed as a personal guarantor for the account. Both Chen and Juice Los Angeles are based in Los Angeles.
Nike’s offices were closed for “wellness week” and did not comment, while Chen’s representatives also declined to respond.
Chen and Nike enjoyed a two-decade-long partnership starting in 2006 with the release of the Air Max 1 “Kiss of Death,” followed by other high-profile collaborations like the silk Air Force 1s and the Clot x Nike “Clotez” Cortez, inspired by Bruce Lee’s yellow jumpsuit.
In 2023, during Shanghai Fashion Week, Chen announced a new collaboration with Adidas. Under “Adidas Originals by Edison Chen,” the partnership has launched sneakers such as the Clot x Adidas Gazelle and Stan Smith, with more releases expected.
The lawsuit marks a surprising legal dispute between Nike and one of its most prominent creative partners in Asia, known for blending Chinese cultural themes into global streetwear.
