Kim Kardashian West accused of plagiarising Emilio Pucci sunglasses for own range

'Hypocrisy at its finest!'

(AFP/Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian West has come under fire for releasing a pair of sunglasses in collaboration with eyewear designer Carolina Lemke that resemble a pair by Emilio Pucci.

The similarity between the two pairs was pointed out on Instagram by knockoff watchdogs Diet Prada.

On Wednesday, the account posted a series of side-by-side images that show Kardashian posing in the slim yellow-rimmed Pucci shades last summer alongside a snap of the reality star wearing her latest design for Lemke.

The images posted by Diet Prada also show the sunglasses being modelled on Emilio Pucci’s catwalk in 2016 in addition to a screenshot from an online article showing Kardashian wearing the “sporty shield sunglasses” last summer.

“Funny how those SS17 @emiliopucci shades you wore in August 2018 ended up in your eyewear collab with @carolinalemkeberlin that launched in April this year [sic],” Diet Prada’s caption reads. “Hypocrisy at its finest!”

Earlier this month, Kardashian West was awarded $2.7m (£2.1m) in a lawsuit against fashion retailer Missguided USA, who she accused of “knocking off” designer clothes she’d worn.

In February, the 38-year-old reality star tweeted about the “devastating” effect that fast fashion companies have by ripping off designs “that have taken the blood, sweat and tears of true designers who have put their all into their own original ideas”.

Diet Prada included a screenshot of the tweet in the Instagram post, writing: “Hey @kimkardashian , so it’s def not cool to use someone else’s name and likeness when promoting knockoffs, as evidenced by your win against @missguided, but should it be ok to use your OWN name and likeness to promote them? [sic]”

Neither Pucci nor Kardashian West have not commented on the allegations, but Laudomia Pucci, deputy chairman and image director of her mother’s eponymous company, commented underneath Diet Prada’s post with a heart emoji.

Thousands of people have left comments criticising Kardashian West for the alleged plagiarism.

“Disappointed but not surprised by someone without a talent,” wrote one person, while another described her as a “walking contradiction”.

Diet Prada’s accusation comes just weeks after Kardashian West prompted a backlash over the name of her new shapewear line, which was originally called Kimono.

However, after people accused the mother-of-three of cultural appropriating Japanese history, Kardashian West revealed she would be changing the name of her range.

“When I announced the name of my shapewear line, I did so with the best intentions in mind,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

“My brands and products are built with inclusivity and diversity at their core, and after careful thought and consideration, I will be launching my Solutionwear brand under a new name. I will be in touch soon. Thank you for your understanding and support always.”

The Independent has contacted representatives for Emilio Pucci and Kim Kardashian West for comment.