Did Kim Kardashian Copy Alexis Bittar’s Jewelry Line?

by Justin Fenner | 4:49 pm, October 5th, 2011

A lot of people have said a lot of mean things about Kim Kardashian, but we don’t think anyone had ever called her a thief until jewelry designer Alexis Bittar accused her of copying his designs for her own line of baubles, Belle Noel.

Bittar told Alexa, the fashion magazine of The New York Post, that he won’t lend Kardashian any more of his jewelry to wear because he thinks her line looks a little too much like his. Bittar, a CFDA-award winning designer, makes some of the chunkiest statement jewelry we’ve ever seen, and numerous celebrities, including Kardashian, have borrowed pieces to wear on the red carpet. But on a recent trip past one of Kardashian’s stores in New York City, Bittar noticed that some of his pieces made it a little farther than a few ritzy events.

“In the reality TV world, there are so many people coming out with lines to capitalize on their TV shows. They are not designers and they are just stealing. I passed the Dash pop up store on Broadway, and I saw that Kim’s pieces were very similar to mine, and she definitely has been taking note (of my designs). The tricky thing is that we have sent pieces to Kim in the past to wear, so now I have told my staff we cannot send anything to her. She was definitely influenced by my designs without a doubt.”

We have our own misgivings with celebrity fashion lines, but we’re not so sure that Kardashian actually stole anything from Bittar. At least not specifically. While Bittar’s pieces are fun and imaginative and made from seriously high quality materials, they’re not necessarily groundbreaking original works of metal art. There are a lot of jewelry designers who make crystal-encrusted hoop earrings similar to Bittars, and if there’s a single contemporary jewelry company out there that’s not making multi-strand chain necklaces or Lucite pendants, we haven’t come across it.

Bittar’s indignation isn’t unwarranted, it’s just misplaced. Kardashian’s jewelry line isn’t copying him, it’s copying a contemporary approach to accessories. Bittar told Alexa he doesn’t plan on pressing charges, and that’s probably because he realizes he couldn’t win a copyright infringement lawsuit against Kardashian. To us, the solution is clear: if you don’t want your stuff to get copied, don’t make things that are easy to copy.

Take a look at a few comparisons of what Bittar does (left) and what Kardashian does (right) below.

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1.Alexis Bittar, left; Kim Kardashian, right

2.Alexis Bittar, left; Kim Kardashian, right

3.Alexis Bittar, left; Kim Kardashian, right

4.Alexis Bittar, left; Kim Kardashian, right

[Alexa via Fashionista]

Alexis Bittar Copyright Infringement Costume Jewelry jewelry Kim Kardashian Theft Trademark

Facets

this is bizarre. photo 1 there is some similarity….but the bangles and the necklace? he made bangles….and so did she? and does Alexis Bittar really think he is the only designer using triangles or facets in his pieces? if he does he needs to peruse Etsy for awhile and see how far that theory goes….
Anonymous

no surprise, kardashians never made anything original
Thea

This is kind of sad and reflects really poorly on Bittar. Accusing someone of ripping you off when the pieces don’t even resemble yours is pathetic. I’m surprised Kim isn’t suing him for slander.
Anonymous

No comparison. Bittar is only raising the bar on Kardashian’s cr#p. Bittar’s jewelry is seriously sensuous and beautifully crafted; Kardashian is, again, cr#p. Alexis, leave sleeping dogs…
Katherine Hassenboehler

I agree with Facets. This is my opinion also. Similar jewelry designs is nothing new! Fashion recycles itself, but this isn’t even similar imo.
Lee

it’s just a PR stunt to get everyone to buy their jewelry.
http://www.facebook.com/people/JuanJose-de-Leon/100001590836563 JuanJose de Leon

We can say Alexis Bittar has copied a few designs himself, most jewelry designers are inspired by others and their designs. Hopefully Mr. Bittar lets it drift sort of speak because i dont see the Kardashian label leaving the seen anytime soon. http://www.shopjewelryaccessories.com see the Iris Apfel Collection Bold statement jewelry
Thatswhatsupnow

Are you surprise at this news? We certainly aren’t. ‘Common what has Kim
really created that people truly can say
she did that?’Nothing. ‘But when you think about it for a minute designer
Alexis Bittar may have in the past also copied a few designs as well…makes you think
doesn’t it?
betty

I do wish the movie stars would stick to being movie stars and stay out of the jewelry designing business.
http://comebackpenelope.blogspot.com/ Natasha

These girls copy loads of other peoples jewelery… the Sears line is a ‘homage’ to loads of designers work! I’ve just written about the sears copies at comebackpenelope.blogspot
dale.

As a huge collector of alexis bittar, I only saw one piece that is questionable, and that piece is a long shot at best, I just dont think its a knock off of his work…come on now…Alexis should have more confidence and pride in his work than to think this could be called something like his.
jaques

the world is change ……. let the creative people they made the jewellery business
Max72358

After all, what would you expect from a filthy whore?
http://www.glenrayjewellers.co.uk/jewellery/necklaces?material=850&adjclear=all Ruby Pendants

Nice collection of ear rings.I would like to read your more updates.Keep them coming.

Did Kim Kardashian Copy Alexis Bittar’s Jewelry Line?

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