Australian designers Discount Universe have called out Miley Cyrus for ripping off their trademark designs for her costumes at the MTV Video Music Awards.
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Melbourne-based Cami James and Nadia Napreychikov worked with the singer after her stylist Simone Harouche discovered their designs before working with the pair for the official merchandise for the Bangerz tour.
Last year, after Harouche purchased their psychedelic tie-dye PRAY FUR UR LYF T-shirt with the slogan "DISCOUNT DISCIPLES" scrawled on it, Cyrus wore it for a photo session with controversial photographer Terry Richardson. The images went viral and Discount Universe were called upon when the Wrecking Ball singer wanted to use the shirt as a part of her official world tour merchandise. She also donned Discount Universe for her highly-publicised performance on Sunrise.
On Monday the pair were flooded with messages of congratulations after Cyrus was joined onstage by 31 drag queens for her performance of her new song Dooo It, all boasting Discount Universe-esque costumes, except the looks were produced by US-based designer Brad 'BCalla' Callahan.
The emerging label is well known for its loud pop graphic prints including the Third Eye motif and hand-beaded sequin mouth pattern.
"It's very rude by Miley who was Discount Universe's biggest fan. She made their psychedelic T-shirt iconic during her Bangerz tour and now to appear to commission someone else to make something very similar is odd. He [BCalla] has his own distinctive style but those looks with the pop graphics is very Discount Universe," Women's Wear Daily contributor Patty Huntington said.
James and Napreychikov, who shy away from the media, released a statement to their 117,000 Instagram fans to address the alleged imitation.
"We are obviously distraught, and this couldn't have come at a worse time as we are on our official last day of making the new collection, so we are trying our best to rise above and stay focused. We've kept our mouths closed about a lot of things in the past, but the one thing you can't TAKE and get away with is someone's IDENTITY," it read.
Harouche has since responded to the saga in an interview, slamming Discount Universe for seeking publicity.
"It's very sad that people need to use Miley's amazing performance as an opportunity to create press for themselves, when they had nothing to do with the creative process," she told Yahoo! Style.
"It's unfortunate that they're taking away from this young designer's opportunity to make something special for Miley."
The stylist claims BCalla was inspired by the work of Salvador Dali and Kansai Yamamoto. There was no mention of French designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac and his label JC/DC, who, back in 2008, designed a dress with eye motifs for Katy Perry ahead of her hosting the MTV Europe Music Awards.
"Emerging brands get ripped off all the time but it's just a bit weird as Miley was Discount Universe's biggest fan. Perhaps they've had a falling out and this guy was called upon to design something similar for less money with the promise of exposure," Huntington, who has written extensively about Discount Universe, added.
The Discount Universe team has since fired back at Harouche's claims.
"Prior to posting ANYTHING on social media we were inundated with interview requests and tags CONGRATULATING US for designing the finale looks of the VMA awards. To actually suggest that we ASKED for it is atrocious. No one ASKS to get hurt. WELL DONE Simone Harouche #VICTIMBLAMING at its finest. Instead of teaching people to stand up for themselves, let's teach them to shut the f..k up, or they'll get knocked the f..k down."
