Let the Khy-troversy begin.
Just two days after announcing the launch of her new clothing line, Khy, Kylie Jenner’s already been accused of copying the work of another designer.
Betsy Johnson (not to be confused with “pretty and punk” icon Betsey Johnson) posted a series of Instagram Stories Wednesday claiming that she emailed Jenner’s team concepts, language and line sheets from her own label, Products, and that they went on to utilize her ideas without giving her proper credit.
As a creative director, stylist and consultant, Johnson has worked with brands including Luis De Javier and Kardashian-Jenner favorite Balenciaga; incidentally, she’s also collaborated with Kanye West on a number of projects, including his Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga line.
The Kylie Cosmetics founder, meanwhile, partnered with another independent label, Namilia, on Khy’s initial collection, and sources familiar with Jenner’s brand tell Pvnew Style she plans to continue teaming up with other designers and emerging brands for future drops.
Johnson — who recently dressed Julia Fox in a leather jacket with a chiseled breastplate — took aim at both Jenner and Namilia in one of her Instagram Stories, describing their alleged cribbing of her ideas as a “trash move.”
“We emailed Kylie and all her team @products.ltd concept and langauge [sic] and a line sheet 6 MonTHS AGO,” Johnson wrote.
“INTERESTING ConCEPT KYLIE:… INTERESTING. Thanks for the co-sign … F—k your support.”
Johnson also shared a screenshot of her student loan balance totaling more than £50,000 ($60,558), writing, “While I stare @ my student debt. Worked my ass off for this. Like so many other working class kids who bust their ass for expertise they weren’t born into to realise their ideas.”
Johnson did not immediately reply to Pvnew Style’s request for comment, and Jenner hasn’t responded to Johnson’s accusations.
But the reality star-turned-mogul spoke to the Wall Street Journal about her latest business venture for a story published Wednesday, describing Khy’s first designs as “King Kylie — who I am at my core.”
“Creatively I have such a strong vision of what I want to look like and what I want to do and what I want to wear,” she added. “There’s really no one telling me what to do.”
Jenner’s collection with Namilia will include “faux leather pants, coats, tops, and base layers,” per a press release, with all 12 items priced between $48 and $198 and offered in a size-inclusive range of XXS to 4X.
Khy is set to debut on Nov. 1, and fans can sign up for early access to the goods on the brand’s website.
