Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Hideous

I am steaming-mad over this.  FIDM (my alma-mater) purchased all of the clothes from my final collection on the auction. That's fine, and theoretically they have the rights to do with them whatever they would like. 

This is when I start get mad: They put on a show in DC a few days ago, making it sound like I was having a fashion show there and used the PR collection to do so. They never invited me, and I had nothing to do with it at all. For anyone who attended, it probably was made to sound like I was a no-show or flaked out, for all I know.

Here is the absolute worst of it all: they completely mixed and re-matched up the separates in the worst way possible. It is atrocious. This is no longer my collection or vision at all. They might as well have put on everything backwards and inside out while they were at it. 

Look below. FIDM, I am utterly disgusted. 
Photo by Chris Leaman

I just had to vent my frustrations here. This makes me mad, but I just want everyone to know that I was NOT behind this show. I'm curious to know who in the hell "styled" these looks?

50 comments:

Christianthomas said...

I'm sort of suprised they're allowed to use your collection in a fashion show.

I can understand that because they bought it they can use it for whatever purpose they want, but I think a fashion show is a presentation of the collection by the designer and not by whoever bought the clothes.

It's not even that they gave a fashion show and had some of your pieces in it, but it was the one collection with nothing else. They should have gotten you involved in it seeing it's still your creative property.

Cathy Santarsiero, "The Christmas Corgi" said...

That's just mean.

Cathy Santarsiero, "The Christmas Corgi" said...

Sorry, I hit 'send' too quickly...What were they thinking not to include you in this event? Especially knowing how personal an artist/designer's work is, and how much goes into presenting it properly, they should be ashamed of themselves. Geez.

Nani said...

I know the feeling about having your stuff thorn without your consent... I'm not a fashion designer, but I'm a civil engineer who designed a traffic solution as a graduation thesis and it was built under my thesis' tutor's name... and it was built wrong!

Oh well, think this, you have the potential to make something better over and over again.

PS. You are probably asking "who the hell is this person?", I followed Project Runway and I LOVED your final collection... my favorite color btw :)

Holly said...

omg! i would be mad too and im sure you have a much more critical eye, but i still think they pieces look lovely.

Unknown said...

ugh, i'd be so mad, too. you wouldn't take someone's book and rearrange the words and pages and then leave their name on the cover.

dude. i feel you.

Gailavon said...

Wow! That is just wrong! You have every right to be mad.

That's just wrong! Sorry.

Chie - Vivat Veritas said...

Hi, I stumbled across your blog the other day and been reading it lately. you are very talented. im sorry this happened. i cant believe that they did not even invited you to the show, let alone mixed the collection in a way that's no longer yours. so frustrating!

Magnolia said...

That must be so frustrating! Especially since your collection was so beautiful.

Colleen MacDonald said...

What the F?? Not only does that show a lack of integrity, but it's just plain stupid! Don't they know how much better it would have been for EVERYONE if they had included you??

Anonymous said...

On top of everything they also charged $200 per person, right?
That's some serious BS.

nicole said...

yeah, let's have a model wear this and this so her BELLY shows! what is up with that?? the whole thing is wrongwrongwrong!

Brittney said...

OMG how could they do that to your beautiful collection?! I'm so angry FOR you!

Lizzie said...

Wow, not only is that simply inconsiderate, but surprisingly unprofessional for what is supposed to be a respected design school! I'd be outraged as well, no doubt!

Kate Alexis said...

wow. how completely awful. i'm bummed.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised they mixed up everything. I'd think they'd want to be sure they got it perfect for a show! Not good!

Reluctant Long Islander said...

That's very nervy of them, and not very savvy to burn a bridge with someone so fabulous . . .

MeganDean said...

I really can not believe that they did that. I mean... they are a FASHION school - shouldn't they know proper designer etiquette? And wouldn't they also want to make sure to represent you and their other alum in the best way possible? It sucks for them that they did that because now it also makes them look bad.
Hopefully they see your post!

katy said...

vent all you want! as a designer I would be royally pissed off if someone did something like that!

Sorry you have to deal with this.

sammi-lise ^_^ said...

oh, how horrible! it just sucks the charm and prettiness out of the collection.

i understand your frustration...

Leanne said...

Thanks everyone! I feel silly making a big stink about things, but this was one time when I had to! When I saw it I just flipped my lid!

Unknown said...

This is not just rude, but could have legal ramifications as well. Please consider contacting an attorney that deals with intellectual property or entertainment law. A lot of legal issues come up here, including your right to publicity (if your name was used to advertise the show), defamation (based on the horrible styling), and unfair competition (if they made a profit on the show). Don't let them profit off your hard work!

The Getaway said...

that's total b.s.! I'm pretty sure it was a total publicity stunt to try to round up your name with the school, and hop to take some of the glory.

My office is a few blocks from there- I should give them a piece of my mind!!! (I won't but i sure feel like it!)

So sorry Leanne! that's crap.

Will you take legal action? or can you? write a letter?

kadler said...

That's definitely a bummer. Luckily, in the end, you're the one with the creative power (not to mention household name), so if anything, this blip will be overshadowed by your long and fabulous career!

:)

Pretty Princess said...

Wow. Vent girl!! That makes me very very upset. Don't worry you will move past it, feel better. You are way too talented to let others rain on your parade, or fashion show in this case. :)

Fashion Icons said...

Wow, Really. That's kinda rude. Have the issued a statement or explanation, something?

THEABSURDONE said...

thats really lame. they shouldn't show things they didn't even design.. and they totally F@#$ED it by mixing the pieces fo sho. doesn't matter cus its still you with all the talent!!

p.s. i know its.. quite late but congrats on winning PR! i was rooting for you since day 1 and i want my dream prom dress to be designed by you!! <3

the lanky dance said...

ugh! Well, you should feel good that even styled terribly and completely watered down from the original vision they are still beautiful pieces. I can't believe that did that though! Do you want me to beat them up? Im much closer to them than you are right geographic wise and i have to go to O-town for easter i can stop in and slap around some "dead inside" fidm instructors. And by the by...I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!! we/I love you, and hope to see you soon! You rule!-Rob

Loanna Beek said...

leanne, i agree with carolyn above. although i know very little about intellectual property, i would assume that the (mis)representation of someone else's work-- especially for profit-- is not cool. and even if IP is not involved, defamation could be.

at the very least, you should go and stamp your feet to a major newspaper. don't suppose nina garcia could write a blurb in elle? more people should know about this. it was really uncool. publish it.

anyway my condolences. i would be pissed, dude, really pissed. it seems like such a pointless and gratuitously uncool move. seriously. WTF?

Yess said...

I am speechless. COMPLETELY out of line. I agree with the poster above me, you need to get this out to the press.

Giovanna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
NA said...

Very insulting, and you may want to consider Carolyn's comments seriously about contacting a lawyer. If anything, a law suit forces a public apology, and the danger of them copying their act with another artists work. You've every right to be upset, and I do hope that you contact a lawyer (friend or otherwise) to deal with them swiftly.

MuseBootsi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MuseBootsi said...

I went to FIDM and this sounds just like them.
Jackholes.

Giovanna said...

I'm with you Leanne, I'm sorry for what have happened!! I just saw the picture and read what you've said and I feel really disappointed about everything. You're the designer of the beautiful collection that won PR, so you should have the credits and participate in any event regarding to your collection, even if someone else have purchased it, your name is still there.
That's not fair at all.

!!Estella!! said...

Isn't there a law against this?!!!

Because as a Fashion Designer too, I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE BUY my designs to use at an event without my knowledge!!!

A designer has a vision in mind when they create a collection and to mix and match it wrongly is just WICKED!!!!

Please tell me there is a law against this sort of thing!!!

I am truly sorry Leanne, I know this must really hurt. Call ur lawyer, i am sure there is a way u can prevent this from happening again.

hugggss

Julz Nally said...

that is absolutely ridiculous! i'm so sorry that happened to your beautiful collection leanne. we all know you're a superstar and who ever mixed and matched your collection is definitely not! keep smiling and keep up the amazing fantastic work ;)

fraisedesbois said...

I agree with Carolyn. Contact your lawyer. This is not acceptable. Who do they think they are to do something like that? I can't believe that they have the nerves. I will put those people back in their place with the help of a lawyer.

Everything will be fine. You are very talented.
Hang in there.

ediot said...

wo.w. that is mean. and bad.
plus- i'd have loved to bought something from you. youre a GENIUS:
take care sweetie

m a r i s s a said...

that is so unfair. are u suing?

Unknown said...

You really should contact the school. It is completely inappropriate for them to misrepresent your creative integrity. They owe you more than just an apology. This is a horrible example of individuals who do not understand the value of creative work. They should be ashamed of such shallow behavior.

Pretentious b said...

RUDEEE! Not inviting the designer/graduate is disrespectful! Like they have known that you would've found out one way or another scince you went there...Second, its just stupid that they messed with the outfits...its like slicing a banana and attaching it to half an apple...both fruits, but still awkwarddddd (crappy analogy)

anyways, I'm sure you're over this since this is almost march, and I'm not sure if this helps, but I'm definantly on your side :)

cleaman said...

Leanne,

The photo you used in this post is a photo I took at the event. Could you please contact me so we can discuss usage rights for the photo? Thanks so much!

Chris Leaman

cmleamanphoto@gmail.com

Unknown said...

wow. i just lost a bit of respect for you.

fidm's been nothing but supportive to you, and this is how you thank them?

Celestyna said...

well, you know what they say: those who can, do, and those who can't, teach. :) The "stylist" of the show was only a "stylist", not a Stylist. Anyways - it's weird that they didn't invite you - you are an alum after all. There- there's my 2 cents.

Michelle said...

It looks like FIDM paired voluminous pieces together other voluminous pieces, rather than with the simpler pieces. It looks so strange!

Maybe the show was put on by someone in the administrative offices, who didn't know much about aesthetics? It is understandable that you are upset, I feel for you.

Joyce L. said...

oh goodness. This is just horrific. The worst is that they paired same color to same color!!!! Volume + volume!?!?! They just completely ruined your entire collection... the purity, the exquisiteness! so sorry!!

Sarah said...

As someone who has a color/fashion sense, but doesn't dress terribly fashionably (choice and location) - even I can tell that this is a horrific combination of separates. I've not even seen your season of Project Runway, so I totally wandered through this blog going, "ooh, pretty," and THIS? This is a travesty. You have rights. Use them.

glam.spoon said...

are those flats on a couple of the models?

PaulieMollie said...

Hi Leanne, ok I know I'm super duper backdated in this post, but your final show of this collection just finished airing in Singapore (like 10mins ago) and I AM APPALLED at what was done to your lovely collection in this event!!

No fret!! We know what is the original combination and we loved it!!

All the best and looking forward to many more works from you :P