Controlled Controversy

June 12, 2008 @ 8:57 AM - by Deeli

The winner of this year’s Supernova catwalk showdown in Tallinn, Estonia, has been dragged through the muddy waters of rip off rag time and accused of appropriating other peoples ideas and presenting them as her own. Namely, Kristel Kuslapuu’s winning jumper has been noted to bear a striking resemblance to the
one in Finnish street wear brand CTRL’s collection. Interestingly, the designer who started the scandal was also a competitor in the show and has since then been banned from entering again, ever. Freeman, the art director over at CTRL, was asked to comment for the jury investigating the plagiarism accusations in order to decide whether or not Kristel gets to keep her price of 22 000 EEK (1400 euros) and her slot representing Estonia at the Berlin fashionweek. In Freeman’s opinion the pattern at the heart of the hassle is so common that its use can’t really be considered plagiarism. Kristel gets to keep her title. The real winner, however is Reede, the shop that sells CTRL in Tallinn. The whole episode has guaranteed that the shop has had a tidal wave of fashionistas and other enthusiasts having a nosy to see for themselves what the fuzz is all about.

On related news, CTRL, along with Grey Market Supply skate shop are holding an amicable sample sale this Saturday 14.6. at the CTRL headquarters in Helsinki, Finland.