Amazon releases brand look-alike shoe under a private label

Seattle-based Amazon has released a private label shoe under its 206 Collective line that looks suspiciously like the original Allbirds Wool Runners shoe design.

According to The Hustle, an online business and tech news site, Amazon is known for remodeling popular name brand products and then selling them for cheaper under one of its private labels. The Allbirds look-alike product, titled Galen Wool Blend Sneakers, is selling for only $45 while the original design from Allbirds retails for $95.

Allbirds, a direct-to-consumer business that aims to design environmentally friendly footwear, seems to be less than bothered, as the company reveals that its Co-founder and Co-CEO Joey Zwillinger, is more bothered by the knockoff’s environmental impact than the design ripoff itself, according to The Hustle.

“Given what I know about manufacturing, there is no way you can sell a shoe for that low while taking care of all of the environmental and animal welfare considerations and compliance we take into account,” said Zwillinger, according to the article.

This isn’t the first time Amazon has tried to persuade its customers into switching their brand choices. Recently, the Washington Post reported the company may have modified its search engine algorithms to effectively favor its private brand products. Although Amazon has publicly refuted the algorithm claims, it hasn’t responded for additional commentary.