Designer Romeo Hunte — whose duds have been worn by Beyoncé, Zendaya and Michelle Obama — is accusing Burberry of copying his looks.
Hunte said the Brit luxury brand’s new collection features trenchcoats that look like his spring/summer and fall/winter 2020 collections that use deconstructed archival pieces from Tommy Hilfiger.
“To notice an established brand such as Burberry plagiarizing our ideas and showing them on their runway for profit is really disheartening,” Hunte said in a statement. “I’m very much worried about presenting those styles to the buyers at market and hav[ing] them say that we already bought those ideas already from Burberry.”
Calling the situation “unacceptable,” the designer, who started his line in 2014, added: “As a black designer … it is very challenging to express your point of view and be accepted for it. To see this being done now with what’s going on with the world … shows a lack of sensitivity, carelessness and inconsideration.”
Hilfiger told us, “As an industry, we need to be extra cognizant about protecting and celebrating the work of aspiring designers, and create opportunities for recognition and access for the new voices that are paving the way for the industry’s future.”
Reps for Burberry did not immediately respond.
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