Check out Fashion journalism student Charles McDonald's outstanding peice of coursework, about an originality dispute in in the world of fashion.

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CTJT Fashion journalism course coursework by Charles McDonald
Who will pass the originality test?
The jury of the fashion world is still out on the verdict of its latest controversy. Top
French designer Ricardo, the 2009 winner of ‘The Golden Spindle’ and hailed by the
high priestess of fashion herself Anna Wintour, has challenged the authenticity of his
‘Tunic dress’ design from his current Spring / Summer 2012 collection by no less than
a fashion graduate working on the markets of Carnaby Street.
The storm erupted when Nina Lau, a London College of Fashion graduate, spotted
what she thought was her design showcased in the pages of Tatler magazine, only
upon closer inspection to find it was this season’s latest offering from the Paris based
House of Ricardo.
‘There is a similarity of around 95%. The only difference is the material. See for
yourself. Take a look at mine, and then his’ quoted Nina ferociously.
Retaliations from the Couturists camp followed, directly from Ricardo himself to
state. ‘I, we, my label are still reeling from the fact I should copy the designs of a
washed out graduate operating from a market stall in London.’
However, the fact remains that there is a striking similarity in both designs is leading
Fashionista’s over Europe to wonder who copied who.
Ricardo, whose current London base is in Regent Street, some two minutes’ walk
away from the world famous market maintains his company has never seen, nor
purchased any designs nor clothing from her independent label ‘Nina’, and that it was
her to took inspiration from a world class designer in order to attain overnight
exposure.
The original design in question, whose origins can be traced back some four years to
the cutting room floor of Nina’s studio, is now under intense scrutiny from fashion
watchdog Fédération Française de la Couture.
Within the cyclical world of fashion, are trends repeating more frequently, or has this
designer taken one step too far?
CTJT Fashion journalism course coursework by Charles McDonald
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Forum House | Stirling Road | Chichester | PO19 7DN
Stirling Road