Small fashion retailers knocking off major designers' work is nothing new but it's rare that large design houses look to smaller labels for inspiration.
Chanel has side-stepped a possible confrontation after withdrawing a range of accessories that look remarkably similar to those by New York jewellery star, Pamela Love.
Karl Lagerfeld styled his models with chunky crystal cuffs when they walked down the Paris catwalk for his autumn/winter 2012 presentation earlier this year.
The reception from the fashion pack was enthusiastic, as they applauded the creativity of the show.
However, one eagle-eyed attorney noted the similarity.
'When I glanced at a photo of an industry insider wearing Chanel's crystal bangles, they registered in my mind as Love's designs,' Julie Zerbo told Fashionista.com.
'That's called consumer confusion, folks! It's also called stealing.'
When the website contacted both designers for comment, Love remained silent but amazingly a spokesman for Chanel responded:
Creative coincidence? The bracelets in the Chanel autumn/winter 2012-13 show (left) are remarkably similar to those by upcoming designer Pamela Love (right)
'Out of respect for the concerns raised and for the artistic process generally the House has decided not to offer these bracelets for sale as part of the A/W 2012 collection.'
However, a creative coincidence isn't completely out of the question as the Chanel show was heavily crystal-themed.
To be fair to the Paris fashion house, it's a stretch to imagine that Lagerfeld would base an entire show on Love's bracelets.
Mineral makeover: The Chanel show was heavily-themed with crystals - including towering sculptures and a floor of sparkling white granite sand
It featured a runway of sparkling white granite sand, towering amethyst columns and the clothing was embellished with the semi-precious stones.
Team Chanel added: 'For the A/W 2012 collection, Karl Lagerfeld was inspired by the 'mineral earth' theme that explored amethyst, crystal and quartz...
'In keeping with the inspiration, large and colorful crystals also adorned some of the clothing and accessories, including heavy bracelets.'
Jewellery designer: Rising accessories star Pamela Love was nominated for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund last year and has collaborated with TopShop
In the cut-throat world of fashion, where concepts are frequently 'borrowed', it's unusually gracious for a giant like Chanel to kowtow to a smaller designer like Love - even if she is set to become a major player.
Last year Love was nominated for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and she has also collaborated with TopShop and created designs for the HBO show True Blood.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2114643/Chanel-withdraws-crystal-cuffs-strikingly-similar-Pamela-Loves-designs.html#ixzz1p9UQZo4h
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