Christian Louboutin (Photo : Reuters)

Designers are continuing to crackdown on counterfeiters. This year alone designers like Uggs, Burberry, and Hermes - which even burned its own bags--- have made great strides in protecting its exclusivity. Now Christian Louboutin fights to remain the only red bottoms in the high-heel industry.

ABC News reports that this week, US customs and border protection confiscated 20,457 pairs of counterfeit Louboutins at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex. The fakes were shipped from China to the US - real Louboutins are made in Italy - and were said to have divided into five shipments.  "They label the shipments as generic shoes when, in fact, they're bringing over contraband," Jaime Ruiz, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. Four loads of fake Loubs were seized on Tuesday and the fifth was seized late July. The cargo had the domestic value of more than $57,000, meaning it only cost less than $3 to produce. If the fraudulent red soles made it to the market they would've been worth about $18 million.

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Ruiz continued the statement saying:

"Worn by celebrities and royalty in the fashion world, the lacquered red sole in (the) shoes is a distinctive symbol of the famous French designer Christian Louboutin. However, US Customs and Border Protection specialists have a different view of the lacquered red sole. They see a trademark protected by US law."

Following Hermes' lead, the Customs and Border Protection plans to burn the counterfeits. Designer Christian Louboutin is sure to be pleased since he's defended his trademark red-sole against imitation from both counterfeiters and fellow shoe designers.