3.1 Phillip Lim put a Verdy-style slogan tee on its runway — and pulled it within a day

At its Spring 2025 New York Fashion Week show on September 10, 2024, 3.1 Phillip Lim presented a t-shirt reading 'Don't Cry Tonight' in a typeface, weight and centered layout that closely echoed the logo of Girls Don't Cry, the label Japanese artist Verdy built around his wife. Photos of the shirt circulated within hours and drew immediate comparison to Girls Don't Cry's signature mark.

Verdy responded publicly the same day, stating he had no involvement and it was not an authorized collaboration: 'I'm very angry and sad because Girls Don't Cry is very special to me,' he said, explaining he created the brand as a gift for his wife during a difficult period in her life.

3.1 Phillip Lim issued a statement saying the shirt was inspired by 'vintage slogan t-shirts' and a song called 'Don't Cry Tonight' played during the runway show, and that it was 'in direct contact with the Verdy team to resolve' the matter. Within a day, the label announced it had paused all marketing of the disputed shirt and apologized, effectively pulling a runway piece from its own show cycle over a design fight it did not win in public opinion.