A Double Bay boutique has hit back at claims she has taken too much inspiration for her new fashion collection from other big name Australian designers.
Lia Georgantis launched new collections for her two fashion brands, Girls With Gems and Sneaky Link, in-store this week to much fanfare and hype, but not everyone was happy.
Model and fashion designer Katherine Londono set the eastern suburbs aflutter when she posted a frustrated rant on Instagram claiming Lia had designed a white mini dress very similar to one of her designs.
On Thursday, Katherine took to Instagram to repost a photo of her resort brand La Mar’s $420 mini dress and Lia’s newly launched $259 Sophia mini dress for Sneaky Link side-by-side.
According to Confidential, a bevy of upset glitterati have now claimed that multiple items in Lia’s new fashion collection look very similar to now-defunct cult brand Dion Lee.
Eagle-eyed fashion fans have noted a striking resemblance between a Dion Lee corset top and a Dion Lee mini skirt and two of the new Sneaky Link designs.
Model and fashion designer Katherine Londono, pictured, has set the eastern suburbs aflutter claiming Girls with Gems owner Lia Georgantis had designed a white mini dress very similar to hers
On Thursday, Katherine took to Instagram to repost a photo of her resort brand La Mar’s $420 mini dress and Lia’s newly launched $259 Sophia mini dress for Sneaky Link side-by-side
Eagle-eyed fashion fans have noted a striking resemblance between a Dion Lee corset top and a Dion Lee mini skirt and two of the new Sneaky Link designs
Dion Lee’s $749 combat ribbed corset closely resembles Sneaky Link’s new $119 Teddy Corset Tank.
And Dion Lee’s Frame Mini Skirt, which retailed for $349, shares similarities with Sneaky Link’s new Sneaky Mini skirt, which retails for $219.
Lee, 39, became a global sensation when pop superstar Taylor Swift wore his $650 Crochet Corset to the 2024 Super Bowl.
The designer is known for his experimental construction married with traditional tailoring, but left an edgy gap in the local market when he failed to find a buyer for Dion Lee after three months of voluntary admission last year.
But the allegations don’t stop there.
The comparison causing the biggest stir is between Sneaky Link’s $189 Jordi Lace Skirt and luxury womenswear label Masion Essentiele, who retails their signature lace skirt for $259.
Australian designer Dion Lee became synonomous with a tailored corset in 2024, when pop superstar Taylor Swift wore his $650 crochet corset to cheer on Travis Kelce at the Super Bowl
Dion Lee fans have also drawn comparisons between his Frame Mini Skirt, which retailed for $349, and Sneaky Link’s new Sneaky Mini skirt, which retails for $219
The comparison causing the biggest stir is between Sneaky Link’s $189 Jordi Lace Skirt and luxury womenswear label Masion Essentiele, who retails their signature lace skirt for $259
Lia took to social media for a second time this week to rubbish the allegations and take aim at Katherine for her original claims
Lia took to social media for a second time this week to rubbish the allegations and take aim at Katherine for her original claims.
‘We all get our inspiration from the same place!!! The runways, Pinterest, IG etc,’ she fumed on Instagram.
‘You don’t own a white mini v neck dress just like you don’t own a lace skirt/pant/top combo, an oversized tee, a trench coat, a pair of loose trousers and the list goes on!!!
‘The pile is big enough for all of us, STOP TEARING OTHERS DOWN. Stay in your own lane, build your team up, build your community and you do you.’
The Double Bay designer pointed out all the items are wardrobe staples and carried by many different brands.
‘I’ll say it louder for those in the back,’ Lia continued. ‘YOU DO NOT OWN ENTIRE CATEGORIES OF CLOTHING STOP TEARING DOWN OTHERS.’
Allegations of the like are a regular occurrence in the Australian fashion industry.
Fellow Aussie brands Bras N’ Things, White Fox, Valley Girl, and Kmart have all come under fire by fashion designers and influencers in the last 12 months for putting out products that closely mimic the designs of smaller businesses.
But copyright infringement in fashion is very difficult to prove within the framework of Australia’s existing laws.
