The INSIDER Summary:
- Indie designer Hanifa has accused ASOS of copying the design of one of its dresses.
- The item in question is an off-the-shoulder dress with voluminous sleeves.
- Anifa Mvuemba, the owner, founder, and designer of the brand, used Twitter to call attention to the similarities between the dresses.
- The tweets went viral, and other people noticed the similarities.
- Mvuemba is waiting to hear back from the ASOS team and is seeking legal advice.
Big fashion brands are often accused of poaching independent designers' styles.
On June 28, Anifa Mvuemb — the founder, owner, and designer of the indie brand, Hanifa— alleged that ASOS had copied one of her designs.
Mvuemba first saw what she believes to be a copy of an off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved dress from ASOS on the brand's website after receiving a direct message on Instagram.
"I was checking my DMs, and I saw one of my followers had messaged me and was like 'Hey, I didn't know you guys were on ASOS,'" Mvuemba told INSIDER.
However, Hanifa said she and ASOS were not collaborating.
"She sent a photo [of the dress], and I was like 'Whoa,'" the designer said. "I thought maybe it was just similar. I know people get inspired, but when I clicked it was the same, everything."
Mvuemba tweeted a photo that showed the ASOS dress alongside Hanifa's.
Wow @ASOS you too??? This is CLEARLY a copy. Stop stealing from indie designers. pic.twitter.com/MQZ3hKaNVf
— + (@AnifaM) June 28, 2017"This is CLEARLY a copy. Stop stealing from indie designers," she wrote.
Mvuemba told INSIDER that she decided to speak out because she wanted her voice and side of the story to be heard.
I almost never say anything when I see similar designs. I get the whole "inspired" thing. But @ASOS ....every single detail was copied.
— + (@AnifaM) June 29, 2017This is Hanifa's version of the dress:
It appears that ASOS has pulled its version of the dress from its website, but you can see photos of the dress on Twitter:
Hanifa fans also believed that the dresses were just a little too similar.
Wow, glad I have the original smfh https://t.co/Aw8335aRKT
— Mik. (@TickleMeHellNo) June 29, 2017@ASOS rubbish!! https://t.co/xK5RJo3Lpq
— Feenor (@Mannywellz) June 28, 2017
Adds @asos to the list of places I'll NEVER shop because copying from smaller designers instead of hiring them is TRASH. https://t.co/NlXCtxtntF
— ODB🦂 (@missodessa) June 28, 2017
I have one of your dresses, & just by looking at the ASOS one, you can tell it's made cheap 🙄
— Rashidá (@YouLoveOlamide) June 28, 2017ASOS reached out to Mvuemba via Twitter, asking her to send them a direct message with her email address so they could discuss the matter further.
Mveumba told INSIDER that she contacted ASOS, but has not heard from the company directly. ASOS has not yet replied to INSIDER's request for comment.
Mvuemba told us that she is currently seeking legal advice for what she calls a "shocker" experience.
I'm coming for y'all
— + (@AnifaM) June 29, 2017"I mean you see it on social media, you see it every day," she said. "But when it actually happens to you, it hits home."
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