Dundee designer in row with high street store over ‘plagiarised’ T-shirt

Dundee designer says she is ‘gobsmacked’, as giant high street chain promises to investigate

Dundee fashion designer Hayley Scanlan has accused a major high street retailer of stealing her designs.

Hayley, who has twice been named Young Scottish Designer of the Year at the Scottish Fashion Awards, has contacted fashion chain New Look to allege the theft of one of her T-shirt designs.

In an angry social media post, the 32-year-old designer said: “Not only have you completely copied the name of my last collection (and also noticeably the “Stay True” part my sister & I came up with) but you’ve used pretty much the exact same font for a T-shirt currently selling in your stores and online, blatantly making money from my work. “I am actually gobsmacked. “Waiting patiently on a reply, especially when you have stolen my design work.”

The designer described New Look’s actions as #plagiarismonthehighstreet.

Bloggers and fans have since branded the alleged plagiarism “outrageous”.

New Look has confirmed it will be investigating the allegations.

The store has promised the complaints will be “looked into thoroughly”.

Fellow design graduate Emily Huggins said: “Of all the plagiarism I’ve seen by high street brands, this is by far the most outrageous.

Hayley is due to open her maiden Dundee store soon.

The Perth Road premises will sell clothes from the designer’s diffusion line H.S as well as provide a showroom for her latest designs.

Ms Scanlan, 32, attended Dundee University’s Duncan of Jordanstone before catching the eye of supermodel Erin O’Connor, who commissioned a leather jacket from the designer.

Her outfits have been worn by stars including Little Mix, Jessie J, The Saturdays and a host of others.

Hayley Scanlan.