Fashion giant Dior has been accused of plagiarism by Indian design collective People Tree

On Jan 22, graphic artist and designer Orijit Sen made a facebook post accusing international fashion house Dior of plagiarising a print he had designed 18 years ago for People Tree, an artists’ collective and store that empowers local designers and handicrafts groups.

“It’s so disheartening when a huuuuggge [sic] brand doesn’t have the respect for small businesses and artists that struggle their whole lives to sustain themselves through creativity,” the post read.

Orijit Sen's post on facebook

The alleged plagiarism came to light went actor Sonam Kapoor wore a dress with the print on the cover of a woman’s fashion magazine this month. Many have expressed their solidarity with Sen. Diet Prada – an Instagram page dedicated to calling out cases of plagiarism in the art and design space – also put up a post expressing their shock at the incident. “Another day, another luxury company bypassing an opportunity to work with the actual artisans who inspired them,” wrote Diet Prada in its post that has garnered a lot of attention.

The dress worn by Kapoor is from the Dior Resort collection which was unveiled to much fanfare in a lavish show in the deserts of California in May last year.  

Dior has not yet responded to the allegations.