Guess Used Graffiti Without Consent — Now They're Being Sued
Guess put graffiti tags on a "graffiti-inspired" apparel line. They didn't ask the writers. Now they're being sued.
What happened
The lawsuit was filed in California by Danish street artist Patrick Griffin. The tags in question belonged to his late brother — Sean Griffin, known to writers as NEKST — and active writer Bates. Their signatures appeared on clothing items alongside other street-coded imagery: cassette tapes, signs, a spray-painted Guess logo.
The complaint alleges Guess used the tags "inexplicably, and without notice, let alone consent," and that the reproductions were "mechanical, verbatim" copies of the artists' signatures.
Who pulled and who didn't
Macy's — one of the vendors carrying the collection — pulled the items from its website after the suit was filed. The same shirts were still available on Amazon at the time of reporting.
The pattern
This isn't Guess's first time. In 2022, Banksy publicly accused Guess of using his artwork without permission, in a since-deleted Instagram post calling out the brand.
Since the current filing, more writers have come forward. According to the artists' attorney, multiple writers believe their work may have been used in the line as well.
For the full report, see ARTnews's writeup.
Why we exist
At Local Legend Labs, we work directly with graffiti artists to create limited-edition collectibles. Artists don't just get credited — they get paid. 50% of profits go to the artist. No permission issues. No exploitation. Just real collaboration.
Support the Artists →
