Moschino Sparks Uncertainty With Possibly ‘Traced’ FW20 ‘Anime Antoinette’ Line
Images via Arsenie Krasnevsky / Shutterstock.com and Amazon
Moschino’s Fall/Winter ‘Anime Antoinette’ range takes obvious inspiration from the famed Rose of Versailles Japanese comic series, so much so that it has fooled many customers into thinking that the collection was an official collaboration between the fashion house and the manga franchise dating the 1970s.
Fans and members of the press instantly saw the similarities when Moschino dropped the line in February 2020. However, the collection retook center stage recently after social media users pointed out that there was no real tie-up and that Moschino’s designers could have traced over imagery from Riyoko Ikeda’s comic books without any consent.
On the one hand, fashion enthusiasts saw the Anime Antoinette line as a direct tribute, with some believing it was part of a collaboration at first. Detractors, on the other hand, thought it was a tasteless move with no intention of crediting the originator.
One Facebook user responded that, aside from possible “plagiarism”—which she thought was “glaring”—Moschino’s decision to borrow the aesthetic was especially unseemly due to its jacked-up prices. A vibrant jacket with artwork heavily inspired by the manga series is priced at US$1,040, and a shopping tote from the same range costs US$995.
Another person wondered why Japanese everyday wear company UNIQLO could pay for the license to use Rose of Versailles art to make T-shirts, but a luxury fashion brand couldn’t.
One Facebook user replied, “It’s wild to me they wouldn’t do a legit collaboration… [Moschino is] a world-renowned brand, and Versailles is a groundbreaking manga. At this point it’s deliberate…”
Of course, the resemblance was not lost on Ikeda Riyoko Production, which manages the Rose of Versailles franchise. The company told Anime News Network that while the range could very well have been inspired by the real Marie Antoinette, the “dress designs and composition,” along with a secondary character who resembles the manga’s Oscar François de Jarjayes, suggest that the designs were copied.
A representative added that Moschino’s versions were “so crude,” they were clearly “imitating” the comics. “Not only the creator but fans of the manga would be shocked,” they detailed.
Ikeda Riyoko Production also confirmed with the publication that Moschino did not inform the company about creating the ‘Anime Antoinette’ collection.
Image via Moschino
Image via Moschino
Image via Moschino
Image via Moschino
Moschino "anime Marie" on the left, the original Rose of Versailles art that's been around for a whole. You telling me that shit ain't copied? You need glasses home girl pic.twitter.com/kYINHL92dC
— Areku Cosplay (@ArekuCosplay) October 21, 2020
Why go to ebay for knock off Rose of Versailles merch when you can spemd $1,100+ at Moschino? pic.twitter.com/2Udb8ful7p
— Woman King (@iamwomanking) October 7, 2020
Considering how Riyoko Ikeda has fought to keep total control over her iconic Rose of Versailles manga at every turn, it saddens me that Moschino would put out these cheap Hook-Ups style imitations of her work on their fashion. Like, this is obviously meant to evoke her work. https://t.co/bgt08HJrU5
— 🍂Pumpkin Spiced Bunny🍂 (@bunnycartoon) November 10, 2020
Seeing their art vs Riyoko Ikeda's makes it a little more than obvious they kinda knew what they were doing, imo.
— 🍂Pumpkin Spiced Bunny🍂 (@bunnycartoon) November 10, 2020
Like...I'd love to believe it's just a loving homage, but it comes off as just weird fanart pieces they're trying to sell for staggering amounts of money. pic.twitter.com/tq93kip6pf
[via Anime News Network, images via various sources]
