Cartoon stick figure kneeling with red-soled high heel offering it to another stick figure wearing one matching red-sole shoe — representing a blog post about the Louboutin Red Sole mark trademark registration.

Trademark: Louboutin Red Sole

First Used: 1992

First Registered: 2008

Current Owner: CLERMON ET ASSOCIES (Christian Louboutin) [1]

Trademark Type: non-traditional trademark; trade dress; position mark

Primarily Associated With: women's high fashion designer footwear [2]

Brief (and likely incomplete) History [3]:

What if we told you that Christian Louboutin’s iconic red sole began with a bottle of nail polish? In 1993, Louboutin was reviewing prototypes and felt like something was missing. The designs looked right on paper, but in person, the black sole on the prototypes made the shoes feel heavy and lifeless. As fate would have it, he noticed right at that moment his assistant was painting her nails with a bold, bright shade of red. Louboutin grabbed the polish, and painted the sole of a prototype. Suddenly, the vision came to life, and the Louboutin Red Sole position mark was born. The “fortuitous accident,” as Louboutin calls it, launched a signature look that became inseparable from the Louboutin brand.

The Louboutin Red Sole position mark may be modern in its execution, but the red heel is a revival of an ancient symbol of power having royal roots. In the 17th century, King Louis XIV of France wore red heels as a symbol of power and privilege, reserving them for nobles in his favor. Red heels were banned for commoners and became visual markers of social rank. After the French Revolution, the style faded—its aristocratic symbolism replaced by political unrest. Red heels fell out of fashion and were even seen as vulgar in some cultures.

Fast forward to today, and heels bearing the Louboutin Red Sole position mark have adorned red carpets and fashion editorials alike. The iconic red sole has crossed gender lines too—after opening his first men’s boutique in 2011, Louboutin’s red soles found a new fanbase in male celebrities like Justin Bieber and Harry Styles. From royal courts to fashion runways, the red heel has come full circle—reclaimed, reimagined, and a registered trademark.

Interested in learning more more about other non-traditional fashion trademarks? Check out our post on the Tiffany Blue color mark!