Kobe Bryant’s family seeks to trademark Mamba and Mambacita for apparel line
Kobe Bryant LLC submit an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office March 10, TMZ reported Wednesday.
The company affiliated with the late NBA legend and his family, the outlet reported, told patenting officials that the line would be used for clothing items like tops, dresses, pants, socks and hooded sweatshirts; and activewear including footwear and bands.
According to the outlet, the move could be preemptively to block people from trying to cash in on the popularity of the family with the phrases associated with it. (Tom Brady made a similar move two years ago with the phrase Tom Terrific, and the trademark was denied.)
The latest: Kobe Bryant LLC submit an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office March 10, TMZ reported. The late NBA icon and daughter Gigi were snapped in July of 2019, just seven months before they perished in a helicopter crash in Southern California
Bryant’s estate has sought trademarks for phrases such as Lady Mambas, Lil Mambas, Mamba Sports Academy and Mambacitas in the 14 months since Kobe, 41, and daughter Gigi Bryant, 13, perished in a helicopter crash.
In a separate link with the fashion industry, Kobe and Vanessa’s oldest daughter Natalia, 18, was signed to IMG Models last month.
‘I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age. I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember I wanted to model,’ she said in a statement. ‘There is a lot to learn but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively.’
Natalia said in an Instagram Stories post that she was ‘beyond thrilled and so honored to be a part of the IMG family.’
Vanessa Bryant was snapped in November 2019 at an event in LA
In a separate link with the fashion industry, Kobe and Vanessa’s oldest daughter Natalia, 18, was signed to IMG Models last month
Close couple: Kobe and Vanessa were seen in November of 2019 in LA, less than three months before his death in a helicopter crash
Vanessa, 38, paid a special birthday tribute to her oldest daughter this past January.
‘You have displayed so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult year of our lives,’ said Vanessa, who is also mother to daughters Bianka, four, and Capri, one. ‘Thank you for stepping in to help me with your little sisters.’
Kobe and Gigi died with seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Also killed in the crash were pilot Ara Zobayan, 50, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, and Christina Mauser, 38.