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Armani accuses D&G of copying

By Lucy Hutchings on Tuesday 20 January 2009

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David Beckham and Giorgio Armani, news, Marie Claire

Giorgio Armani is not happy, and he's making sure the world knows it!

The veteran designer has accused Italian duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of stealing his design for a pair of quilted men's trousers.

Armani showed said design in his menswear collection last year, and has now claimed that Dolce & Gabbana copied him, and featured their version in this season's menswear show, which took place in Milan on Saturday.

So incensed is Armani, that he presented images of the two designs to the Italian fashion press, telling them, 'Now they copy me, tomorrow they will learn.'

His disapproving assistant, Leo Dell'Orco, added, 'Not just one pair. They sent 16 pairs down the catwalk!'

Although the designs are indisputably similar in style, Armani's feature a wet-look sheen, while Dolce & Gabbana's are matt, and feature bulkier padding.

Not backing down, word soon came from the D&G camp. 'We surely have plenty to learn, but certainly not from him,' they scathingly fought back.

'The Armani style was never a source of inspiration for us, and it is years since we have bothered to watch his collections.'

The dispute has dominated Italian coverage of this week's men's shows, but Armani has already relented, and has confirmed that no legal action will be taken.

'It was a casual observation which the press blew into something more substantial,' said a spokesperson for the fashion house.

Looks like this fashion cat fight is over before it began, but we'll bet that Armani's keeping a close eyes on those pesky D&G boys!