Brooklyn-based designer Haleh Nematzadeh has launched a lawsuit against Yoko Ono for copying her clothing designs and using them in a menswear line for Opening Ceremony. Nematzadeh told The New York Post that Ono’s team had seen sketches of her line prior to releasing her own, very similar line.
‘They took everything with no shame. They stole from me blatantly,’ she said.
Ono’s menswear line features several wacky designs including handprints on crotches and nipple holes. Nematzadeh’s spring 2012 collection also makes use of handprints, positioned across the chest area of women’s clothing and nipple holes.
A blog by Ono on the Opening Ceremony website declares that her collection was inspired by her late husband Beatle’s member John Lennon.
‘I was inspired to create Fashion for Men, [because I was] amazed at how my man was looking so great. I felt it was a pity if we could not make clothes emphasizing his very sexy bod,’ Ono wrote.
Nematzadeh has hit back at these claims, claiming that Ono’s statement is a ‘feeble attempt’ to try and declare the designs as her own invention.
‘She’s trying to put fetish in context, but since when does fetish and John Lennon go together?’ she said. ‘When you think of the Beatles, you think of doves and trees, not that.’
Nematzadeh’s lawyer Aymen Aboushi noted that the fashion industry is renowned for copying designs.
‘They rip off pieces here and there all the time, but you don’t see up-and-coming artist really trying to fight for their rights,’ he said.
A recent controversy arose after designs by Jeremy Scott were found to be almost identical to art produced by California skate artist Jimbo Phillips. However, as Jezebel notes laws surrounding the protection of intellectual copyright are weak, and it is often hard for people to prove that their ideas were stolen.
Ono’s range features pieces which cost up to $595, including trousers for $335 and $200 jock straps, and is a limited edition for Opening Ceremony.
Nematzadeh, who owns the Bushwick clothing firm Smashing Starlets, has also taken to Twitter to express her disapproval of Ono’s actions.
‘Standing up for truth is scary, but I wouldn’t live any other way,’ she tweeted.
