Christian Louboutin respects YSL

Christian Louboutin claims he has ''the biggest respect'' for Yves Saint Lauren despite recently suing the fashion house for breach of copyright after it brought out shoes featuring red soles.

Christian Louboutin claims he has "the biggest respect" for Yves Saint Lauren despite recently suing the fashion house.

The famous footwear designer - whose creations are famed for their red soles - took legal action against YSL for breach of copyright after it brought out shoes featuring red soles, which he said was unacceptable.

He told ES magazine of his decision: "I have the biggest respect for the house of Yves Saint Laurent. Having discussed the matter with them and not been able to reach an agreement, we have had to take this to court.

"My company has a trademark on the red sole and if we don't enforce it this would leave the door open for other brands to copy us while jeopardising the identity of the Louboutin red sole.

"No one before me has ever used a coloured sole to define a brand's identity. The red sole has become widely recognised as the distinct sign of my brand in the eyes of women all over the world."

The suit alleges that YSL copied Louboutin's trademarked red outer sole, which Louboutin registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1997.

However, it's unclear whether the trademark covers all red-soled shoes.