Versace is suing Fashion Nova for recreating the Italian brand’s iconic jungle dress that was famously worn by Jennifer Lopez, US media reports.
According to a complaint filed in a New York federal court on Monday, Versace has accused the fast fashion company of selling “deliberate copies and imitations of [its] most famous and recognizable designs, marks, symbols and other protected elements”.
In addition to the jungle dress, other garments sold on Fashion Nova that resemble Versace ones include a long-sleeved bodycon dress covered in the designer’s signature Barocco print and a pop heart print gown from its latest collection. Versace claims that both prints are copyright-protected.
The lawsuit, as seen by The Hollywood Reporter, states: “Fashion Nova’s Infringing Apparel is plainly a deliberate effort to exploit the popularity and renown of Versace’s signature designs, and to trade on Versace’s valuable goodwill and business reputation.
“Versace seeks to bring an end to Fashion Nova’s latest brazen attempt at copying the work of yet another famous and world-renowned designer.”
The lawsuit states that Versace is accusing Fashion Nova of trademark infringement, copyright infringement and trade dress infringement and is subsequently seeking monetary damages.
Lopez wore the famous jungle dress in question to the Grammy Awards in 2000, prompting such a flurry in internet searches for photographs of her on the night that it inspired Google to launch Google Images.
The singer recently walked the Versace runway at Milan Fashion Week in a recreated version of the gown, which sparked countless memes as social media rejoiced in the return of one of the most memorable dresses in the last 20 years.
The Independent has contacted Versace and Fashion Nova for comment.
