Matthew Williamson, the clothing designer to the stars, has become embroiled in an unfashionable row over some of his new dress designs.
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| A model in an Ethiopian dress |
He has included two outfits based on traditional Ethiopian dresses in his latest collection prompting the government of the African country to investigate how it can protect its national costume from his attentions.
The dresses are replicas of those that are a staple in most Ethiopian women's wardrobes, sparking outrage in the country's online community. In a Facebook group dedicated to the issue almost a thousand members debate the morality of borrowing a country's national costume, especially when that country is one of the poorest in the world.
Traditional Ethiopian tailors – shemanne in Amharic – earn up to 200 Ethiopian Birr a month, the equivalent of £10, while the dress made by the Manchester-born designer priced at £895 would cost £30 if created by one of them.
Oxfam, which backed Ethiopia in its battle to trademark its coffee beans in a recently resolved legal tussle with Starbucks, is investigating the matter along with the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Addis Ababa, having been alerted by the Ethiopian Embassy in London.
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