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What would a Kardashian brand launch be without a little controversy?
Before it’s even been reviewed by the internet’s harshest critic (TikTok), Kylie Jenner’s upcoming label, Khy, is already under fire.
After the beauty mogul announced the news of her clothing line, designer Betsy Johnson (not to be confused with the Cartwheeling Queen Betsey Johnson) accused the billionaire of ripping off her ideas.
In a series of posts, the Paris-based creative director/stylist claimed that she had emailed Jenner’s team concepts, language and line sheets from her own label, Products, six months ago and suggested that they then used these ideas without due credit.
Johnson, who has worked with brands like Balenciaga and Yeezy, noted the similarities between teasers and press statements for Khy’s range and that of her own label. While it’s unclear what was shared between the two parties, Johnson is adamant that some shady business has gone down.
“We emailed Kylie and all her team @products.ltd concept and langauge and a line sheet 6 MONTHS AGO,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “INTERESTING CONCEPT KYLIE:… INTERESTING. Thanks for the co-sign… F**k your support.”
She also shared a screenshot of her student loan balance, with figures totalling more than £50,000 (roughly $95,000 AUD).
“Worked my ass off for this,” she wrote. “Like so many other working-class kids who bust their ass for expertise they weren’t born into to realise their ideas.”
Jenner actually partnered with Berlin-based brand Namilia for Khy’s first drop, and it’s been noted that she intends to keep collaborating with other designers for future collections.
While the snippets of Khy we’ve seen include an array of leather-like pieces—none very groundbreaking in design, we might add—the mission, according to Jenner, is to enable customers to “experience fashion through new designers and brands, but at a more accessible price,” according to a statement. The first collection with Namilia will include “faux leather pants, coats, tops, and base layers,” per a press release, with 12 items to begin with, all priced between $48-$198 (USD) in sizes ranging from XXS to 4X.
Khy is set to debut on November 1st, and customers can sign up for early access to the goods on the brand’s website. While this certainly isn’t the first time a Kardashian-Jenner business has stirred controversy, we’re curious to see how the launch unfolds.
