The fine lines though between copying, weak inspiration and sheer coincidence is one big muddy lake and lawsuits thrown around between big houses aren't anything new. However, what of the young student designer who hasn't even graduated yet? Fannie Schiavoni, a final year LCF fashion student came to me with her beautiful chainmail pieces to accessorize her final collection, fretting over the possibity over her collection being compared to the recent Givenchy couture collection, when it is presented in April. Now in all honesty I wasn't bowled over by the couture show and haven't really been paying too much attention to the finer details. The chainmail pieces by Givenchy are more sparkly and chunkier versions of what Schiavoni has produced with similar styling perhaps, but I wouldn't point the copycat finger just yet.
Still, for a final year fashion student striving to be as unique as possible to shine at that final show in hopes that a fashion house is out there watching, the thought of people making the remotest comparison is a horrid prospect. These pictures as proved by Model Mayhem, show that Schiavoni's pieces were produced long before Givenchy's H/C show, yet some people might be quick to make that lazy judgement anyway. I'll do my best to reassure Schiavoni, whose collection of tailored chiffon/silk juxtaposed with these chains will make its debut in April, that only real nitpickers would bother making that comparison and that the less shiny harnesses and chainmail glove would work beautifully with a ton of layered vintage slip dresses. Ok, that last statement was for my private benefit... I've found someone to concoct my chainmail fantasy afterall...
