Bangladesh’s Simco Spinning & Textiles, the first certified garment waste recycling facility in the country, is facing a trademark dispute with Swiss sportswear giant ON over similar brand names—Cyclo and Cyclon. Simco registered Cyclo in Singapore in 2014 and expanded to 20+ countries, supplying recycled yarn to global apparel manufacturers. In 2021, ON launched Cyclon, a recycling program and apparel line, and subsequently attempted to block Simco’s trademark in key markets. ON, with a $20 billion market cap, is disrupting the sportswear industry, challenging brands like Nike and Adidas. Simco’s efforts to resolve the conflict have been ignored, highlighting power imbalances between multinational corporations and smaller firms from developing nations. The dispute extends beyond just names, as both brands focus on circularity and sustainability. Simco is now defending its intellectual property rights across multiple jurisdictions, emphasizing its pioneering role in sustainable textiles and the potential market confusion caused by ON’s actions.
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