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Chelsea Liu, an Asian-American designer currently living in New York, has accused Gavin Rajah of stealing her designs in two recent Facebook posts.
In the first post, dated 14 April, Liu posted images of her own designs and screenshots from the English-Arabic magazine, Harayer, saying the dresses featured in the article on Rajah are actually Liu’s own original designs.
“Oh my god. What a shame! South Africa designer Gavin Rajah stole my pictures and my designs for his interview. I don't know why this magazine doesn't check their sources! Feel free to sue me. I m ready to play. You are ready to play. Let s play (sic),” Liu said along with the first post.
Image: Facebook
In a second Facebook post, dated 18 April, Liu now shared a screenshot of an email that seems to be sent from Rajah himself threatening to contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services if Liu failed to remove her “malicious” Facebook posts.
Image: Facebook
The email, which is addressed to Liu’s husband, reads:
“Hi Marc, I am writing this email only as a courtesy. In fact I write this out of respect for you. Should Chelsea not remove all her malicious posts on Facebook we intend sending an urgent application the the US Citizenship and Immgration Service via the US Consulate by our attorney today in SA illustrating our intent to pursue damages and a charge of cyber bullying. The implications for green card holders and individuals not naturalised in the US are dire, given this behaviour, I am sure you are aware of. She has until 14h00 SA time to remove this.
“There are other legal methods of recourse and or forms of discussion but as usual Chelsea would prefer her irrational behaviour. (sic)”
Liu has worked with Rajah in the past, according to Women Online, as she launched an exclusive bridal line in partnership with Rajah in June 2015.
Liu has been contacted for comment while Rajah could not be reached at time of publication.
READ: We speak to husband of designer in latest Gavin Rajah scandal
Former scandals
This is not the first time Rajah has been accused of stealing designs. According to Sunday World, a Cape Town designer, Paul van Zyl, said that one of Rajah’s designs, called the “pebble dress”, had been plagiarised.
In 2014, Rajah was accused of stealing a design from Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad. And in 2015, he was accused of showcasing a replica of UK designer Han Chong’s dress at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
Most recently, in 2016, there was more controversy surrounding the designer after socialite Morgan Deane tweeted Women24 thanking us for being featured in a gallery wearing what she thought was an original Gavin Rajah creation. Rajah then tweeted both Women24 and Deane to say that the dress was in fact a Three Floor Fashion Original, yet UK-based company Three Floor Fashion said Rajah was not an authorised stockist.
UPDATE: Women24 called Gavin Rajah's offices to ask for a response to the accusations by Liu. We were told Rajah is currently out of the country travelling and is not available for comment.
