Italian customs agents have seized more than 26,000 pieces of counterfeit ladies’ swimwear bearing the Lycra fibre trademark. The shipment, originating from China and destined for Rome, was on a truck arriving from U.K.

Customs officials from Ponte Chiasso, Italy, notified Invista, global fibre manufacturer and owner of the Lycra fibre brand, after seizing the 137 parcels of swimwear on April 8.

“Our customers expect us to protect the value that the Lycra fibre brand provides to them in products such as swimwear and intimate apparel,” said Max Wiesendanger, Executive Vice President for Invista’s apparel business in Europe and South Asia.

“Invista takes trademark infringement very seriously. The Lycra fibre brand name means quality, performance and innovation, and we will continue taking actions to prevent illegal production, distribution, and trading on our brand name,” Wiesendanger said.