All the Times Kylie Jenner Has Been Accused of Plagiarizing Other Designers
The Kardashian-Jenners just can’t seem to catch a break. Just last week, Khloé Kardashian was accused of stealing another designer’s ideas for her own line, Good American Demin. And now, Kylie Jenner’s newest merch in her online store is coming under fire.
The debut includes a camo clothing collection which would feature the likes of dad caps, “camokinis,” and lighters, to name a few. There is chatter on the internet that Jenner ‘s latest offerings may not exactly be an original idea. In fact, some think the line may have been strongly influenced by another designer that she isn’t crediting.
A family full of unoriginality pic.twitter.com/I640NbbLCG
— . (@naijaeaux) June 7, 2017
Reportedly, Jenner is ripping off Plugged NYC, a New-York based brand which designer Tizita Balemlay created in 2016. The company is no stranger to celebrity fans: Stars including Rihanna, Keke Palmer, and even Jenner herself have been regularly photographed wearing the pieces.
LIKE HOME GIRL REALLY TRIED IT pic.twitter.com/mUi4i5G49a
— . (@naijaeaux) June 7, 2017
In fact, the Life of Kylie reality queen herself was wearing Plugged NYC when she posted *that* underboob selfie on Instagram.
As fans have pointed out over on Twitter, many of Jenner’s new pieces are eerily similar to the camo release Plugged NYC launched late last year, sparking rumors that she took her inspo straight from Balemlay. The claim is the latest in a string of allegations that Jenner stole someone else’s idea. Here’s a recap.
🐸☕️ pic.twitter.com/DiIMUZRuCK
— shaaanxo 🐼 (@xoShaaan) July 25, 2016
July 2016: Jenner was accused of copying New Zealand beauty vlogger Shannon, AKA Shaaanxo,’s eyeshadow palette with BH Cosmetics.
November 2016:Buzzfeed reported that Jenner’s Christmas campaign featured an image that looked a lot like one makeup artist Vlada Haggerty had previously shared on Instagram, bringing up accusations that the reality star stole Haggerty’s metallic lip look, as well as the logo used on all of her Lip Kit packaging.
As Haggerty told Refinery29at the time, “Crediting artists is essential, but this goes beyond that. It’s theft. This is our livelihood. I see these things happen too many times to artists. We are all trying to make it, and this business is extremely competitive. I would ask anyone at this level [to] use the proper channels to obtain images.”
Kylie stole the design of @cake_asia. Make sure you get the originals not the fakes. pic.twitter.com/NDB3g6Ku6Y
— Forestxwanderer (@forestxwanderer) February 12, 2017
February 2017: The teen mogul released a black crew neck emblazoned with flames and matching sweatpants that looked eerily similar to indie streetwear brand Cake Asia’s Black Flames sweatsuit.
The favorite slide SHILOH | Shop @Bloomingdales | https://t.co/Xzebn9AR5Mpic.twitter.com/FOg9NdOMbr
— Kendall and Kylie (@KendallandKylie) May 12, 2017
May 2017: And Jenner’s joint venture with her sister Kendall, Kendall + Kylie, has also come under fire for copying the design of their Shiloh Platform Sandal from a pair of chain link mules by Chanel, a fashion house for whom Kendall Jenner models for quite a bit.
As we’ve mentioned in previous stories, however, the brands in question may be SOL when it comes to legal action. Fashion is not protected under copyright law, as it isn’t legally considered art. That means Jenner’s alleged actions, while questionable, aren’t necessarily illegal. As UCLA law professor Kal Raustiala told Racked back in 2016, with the exception of logos or trademarked (counterfeit) goods, “Fashion has never been included under copyright laws because in the US it has always been viewed as useful or functional.”
Then again, there’s always the “court” of public opinion…
What do you make of all of this? Tweet us your thoughts @BritandCo.
(h/t @Naijaeaux; Photo via Mike Coppola/Getty)
