Maria B, a renowned Pakistani fashion designer, recently apologized for unintentionally copying a design by a Turkish artist in her Palestine Collection. The incident sparked controversy, but Maria B has contacted the artist to offer a personal apology. Many have praised Maria B for her prompt response and willingness to acknowledge the mistake.
Fashion designer Maria B. recently faced backlash after being accused of copying a design by Turkish artist Hacı Balina Atölye for her “Palestine Collection.” The collection, which includes abayas, T-shirts, and kurtas, was intended to support the Palestinian cause, with all profits pledged to be donated to Palestine.
The controversy began when artist Leena Ghani noticed that one of the designs in Maria B.’s collection resembled a work originally created by Atölye. Ghani called out the designer on social media, prompting a wave of criticism. Despite initially remaining silent, Maria B. later took to Instagram to address the issue.
“I am deeply saddened to learn that a design in my Palestine Collection has been perceived as a copy of another artist’s work,” Maria B stated. “I take full responsibility for this unintentional oversight and offer my sincere apologies to the artist and their fans.”
Maria B. admitted to unintentionally using the Turkish artist’s design in her post. She called it an “oversight” in the fast-paced world of social media. She apologized to her followers and announced that she had reached out to Atölye to offer a personal apology. The Turkish artist has since agreed to collaborate with Maria B. on the collection.
Maria B’s Contoversy Band
Maria B. emphasized that her collection was inspired by the Palestinian movement, incorporating symbols like the Palestinian flag. However, the designer faced further criticism, with some accusing her of capitalizing on the Palestinian cause for personal gain.
Maria B.’s claim that ‘liberals’ were trying to ‘take her down’ overlooks the fact that she did copy the design. While her campaign to donate the proceeds from her sales to Palestine is commendable, copying someone else’s design is not. Whether intentional or not, incidents like this can harm even the noblest campaigns. We hope more brands in Pakistan will educate their teams about plagiarism and take extra care in reviewing their collections.
Maria B. has repeatedly landed in hot waters in recent years for targeting the transgender community and, most recently, for her crusade against Barzakh.
