Nike has taken legal action against Edison Chen, founder of the Hong Kong-based streetwear brand Clot, and his company Juice Los Angeles LLC. The breach of contract lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, seeks $126,615.58 for goods Nike claims it supplied but never received payment for.
Chen, who personally guaranteed Juice’s account with Nike, now finds himself at the center of a dispute that brings an abrupt turn to their long-running partnership.
The collaboration between Nike and Chen began in 2006 with the Air Max 1 “Kiss of Death” and expanded to numerous sought-after designs, including the silk Air Force 1s and Clot x Nike “Clotez” Cortez.
Chen shifted his creative focus to Adidas in 2023, launching “Adidas Originals by Edison Chen” the following year, with recent releases including Clot x Adidas Gazelle and Stan Smith sneakers.
Industry insiders have long viewed Clot as one of Nike’s most influential Asian partners, integrating Chinese heritage into cutting-edge streetwear. The lawsuit signals a tense end to a once-strong creative alliance.