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Alaïa Says ‘Everyone Copies’, Loves Shopping At Zara And H&M

by Verena von Pfetten | 2:18 pm, October 31st, 2011


If Azzedine Alaïa seems like the type of designer who would lambast fast fashion retailers for destroying the integrity of the industry one cheap copy at a time, then appearances are deceiving. It turns out the designer has a surprisingly refreshing, if somewhat fatalistic view on the whole matter.

RELATED: Azzedine Alaia: Karl Lagerfeld Is A Hack, Anna Wintour Has No Taste

In an interview with Style.com as part of their Future of Fashion series, Alaia told Dirk Standen he doesn’t have a problem with them at all.

What do you think of fast fashion retailers?
I like them a lot.

It might surprise people to hear that.
It’s a very good system. Even if you don’t have money, you can still dress well. I shop at H&M and Zara for my cousins and my nieces.

You don’t think they copy other designers?
Listen, everyone copies.

Now if only everyone else was so honest.

[Style.com]


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  • Julie Zerbo

    “A surprisingly refreshing view” ? I think it is very easy for big, established designers to say, yeah, its ok to copy, but these designers need to remember what is was like when they were still emerging. Design piracy can put an emerging designer out of business in one season. Don’t take my word for it; read Lazaro Hernandez, one half of the Proenza Schouler design duo’s take on the issue here [http://www.fashion-law.org/2011/07/lazaro-hernandezs-testimony-july-15.html]. Secondly, by “everyone copies,” I think Alaia is referring to the fact that everyone is inspired by others. 
    Having said this, I think Zara is one of the more equitable fast fashion retailers. The designers at Zara rarely produce stitch-for-stitch copies, in favor of interpretations of designer looks, instead. H&M and Forever 21, not so much! http://www.fashion-law.org

  • Pat

    thank God you’re not Galliano’s sucessor

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