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Max Mara is starting to make a name for itself among the fashion cognoscenti—as knock-off central.
Following a major fall-out this spring wherein industry insiders say Max Mara ripped off a Balenciaga coat—a fashion standoff that resulted in Carine Roitfeld and Vogue Paris being banned from the Balenciaga autumn-winter show—it looks like the copycats are up to their old tricks again.
Oscar de la Renta says that Max Mara Studio has copied his spring 2008 collection: "The prints and these styles are my clothes from two seasons ago," he told WWD. The clothes are similar in cut, silhouette, and print—a print that was designed by Oscar de la Renta.
The Max Mara Fashion Group says they bought the fabric in good faith from Italian mill Gentili Mosconi, who, in turn states: "We have a commercial agreement with Oscar de la Renta for which he has the worldwide exclusive on our fabrics, whether designed by us or by him, for one year after which the designs are the property of Gentili Mosconi."
· Oscar to the Max [WWD]
· A case of copycatting [Racked]
· Banned: Carine Roitfeld and Vogue Paris blacklisted at Balenciaga [Racked]