Barcelona-based Syndical Chamber designer Sergio Castaño Peña shocked fashion lovers yesterday when he accused Jean Paul Gaultier of copying his concept of a naked Trompe L’oeil dress. Accusing Gaultier of “stealing,” Peña commented on a Jean Paul Gaultier Instagram post celebrating a naked dress made in collaboration with stylist Lotta Volkova. While Peña’s comment was deleted, he liked multiple comments also accusing Gaultier of copying the dress,
Outraged users pushed back on the accusations in the comment section and on Twitter, while fashion lovers responded with posts documenting “naked” looks designed by Gaultier dating back to the ’90s. In a tweet accompanied by images of Gaultier’s naked designs over the years, popular fashion account @fashionfaquette wrote, “I’m disturbed that an ICON like Jean Paul Gaultier is being accused of ‘stealing’. Just because something is popularized by a brand doesn’t mean its their original idea.@/syndicalchamber has been creating knock off’s for months/years now. Don’t EVER disrespect a legend.”
Jumping in on the backlash, Jean Paul Gaultier’s official Twitter account has been reposting tweets coming to his defense. Gaultier and Volkova’s four-piece capsule priced from €140-€590 is now sold out.
Relatively new on the fashion scene, Syndical Chamber’s naked dresses featuring graphics of over-sized drops of water have been spotted on Iggy Azalia, Bebe Rexha and Bella Thorne. Vogue in 2019 wrote a introductory profile on Peña who was then described as a 25-year-old emerging designer of a label called Sucksexfully. On the label’s site, Peña lists Desigual and Vetements as part of his fashion resume.
I’m disturbed that an ICON like Jean Paul Gaultier is being accused of “stealing”. Just because something is popularized by a brand doesn’t mean its their original idea. @/syndicalchamber has been creating knock off’s for months/years now. Don’t EVER disrespect a legend. pic.twitter.com/dQKYFcdP5J
— Fashion Faguette (@fashionfaguette) May 24, 2022
