Did Isabel Marant Rip-Off This Dress from a Tiny Mexican Village?

Cool girl favorite Isabel Marant is in a bit of hot water — and it’s got nothing to do with her proliferation of sneaker wedges. According to the Guardian, the French designer has been accused of copying a dress in her Etoile line from no fewer than two very different sources.

The first accusation comes from the indigenous Mexican women of the Mixe community in Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, who say that Marant’s design is too similar to their traditional blouses. According to the women, the blouse — which is sold in their village for around $20 — is seen as an important symbol of their cultural identity. In comparison, Marant’s embroidered cotton-muslin version, which is currently 50 percent off at Net-a-Porter, retails for $182.50.

In a recent press conference, the Mixe women said, “Isabel Marant is committing a plagiarism because the Etoile spring-summer 2015 collection contains the graphical elements specific to the Tlahuitoltepec blouse, a design which has transcended borders, and is not a novel creation as is affirmed by the designer.”

It’s not hard to see where the Mixe people are coming from: Marant’s dress, while certainly a commonly seen shape and style (peasant-type dresses are everywhere this season), does bare a striking resemblance to their traditional style. From the plant-like embroidery to the stitch pattern and thread colors, there’s little doubt that Marant (or one of her design assistants) were unaware of the Mixe blouse. And considering the blouse is important to their culture, it’s not surprising that the Mixe people would be offended.

Mixe women, left, and Marant’s dress, right. Photo: Twitter via The Guardian

Now, they want Marant to remove her design from the racks, and to “visit and to learn about the community and the artisan women creating the garment for so many generations.” They are also asking for payment from the designer for damages, and are looking into taking legal action.

But that’s not where it ends. Another French brand that sells boho style clothing, Antik Batik, is reportedly also in the process of taking Marant to court, over claims that it owns the original copyright for the dress’s design. The strangest part? In her defense, Marant is insisting that the design wasn’t hers to begin with — it was… wait for it… the Mixe women’s! (Are you confused yet?)

As Marant’s people told the Guardian,

“Before the district court of Paris, Isabel Marant is fighting to set the record straight: she has presented submissions which expressly point out that these designs come from the village of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec in the province of Oaxaca, in Mexico … Moreover, Ms Isabel Marant, after tracing the true origin of these clothes, officially informed the court: ‘For her part, Ms Isabel Marrant does not claim to be the author of this tunic and these designs’.“

Well how’s about that.

It’s not yet known whether the Mixe people are aware of Marant’s statement regarding the matter, or if they’ll accept her non-monetary recognition of their influence. It is refreshing, though, to hear a designer give such specific recognition to a community and its artisans, which, in itself, could help them profit financially in the long run.

As for Marant’s current legal situation with Antik Batik? That outcome remains to be seen. We’ve reached out to Isabel Marant for comment and will update when we hear back.

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