Yoko Ono Sued For Stealing Fashion Designs

Yoko Ono is being sued for stealing fashion designs for her men’s clothing line.

Ono is being sued by Haley Nematzadeh, a stylist based in New York City, who claims that Ono stole ideas from her fetish-inspired clothing line.

Nematzadeh says that Yoko Ono’s team saw the designs from her Gonn Walk The Night Line and stole the ideas for Ono’s Fashion for Men line. Among the ideas stolen: See thru clothing and carefully placed hand prints.

Nematzadeh said: “They took everything with no shame. They stole from me blatantly… She’s (Ono is) trying to put fetish in context, but since when does fetish and John Lennon go together? When you think of the Beatles, you think of doves and trees, not that.”

Ono claims that her men’s clothing line was inspired by John Lennon.

On the Opening Ceremony’s website, a message reads: “I was inspired to create Fashion for Men, amazed at how my man was looking so great. I felt it was a pity if we could not make clothes emphasizing his very sexy bod.”

Nematzadeh’s lawyer, Aymen Aboushi, said that it isn’t uncommon for big designers to steal from independent artist. According to Aboushi, most independent artists aren’t equipped to fight major stars in court.

Aboushi said: “They rip off pieces here and there all the time, but you don’t see up-and-coming artist really trying to fight for their rights.”

Standing up for truth is scary, but I wouldn’t live any other way.

— Haleh Nematzadeh (@halehnematzadeh) March 24, 2013

Here’s a look at one of the designs that Nematzadeh claims was stolen by Yoko Ono. An outfit from Nematzadeh’s Gonn Walk The Night line is on the left and Yoko Ono’s design is on the right.

Do you think Nematzadeh has a case? Did Yoko Ono steal her designs?