Alemais designs accused of being similar to billion-dollar fashion brand Zimmermann’s

Tongues are wagging as designs from under-fire fashion house Alemais look surprisingly similar to Zimmermann pieces. See the pictures here and judge for yourself.

A fight with Paddington locals isn’t the only problem fashion brand Alemais has right now.

The celebrated label, which is currently in the midst of a stoush with residents over plans to convert Paddington’s Village Inn into a boutique, has been accused by industry insiders of borrowing heavily from rival Zimmermann’s designs.

Founded in 2020, Alemais was launched as a way to use the stock abandoned amid Covid, and currently sells through 170 retailers in 26 countries.

Alemais founder Lesleigh Jermanus, who worked for Zimmermann as a designer for just under a year, is under fire for allegedly creating dresses uncannily similar to attire already created by billion-dollar brand Zimmermann.

“Zimmermann haven’t and won’t take legal action,” said one insider, who did not want to be named.

“But they are well aware of how similar some of their designs are, and the fact Lesleigh used to work for them makes it an even harder pill to swallow.”

Alemais founder Lesleigh Jermanus with a Zimmermann dress (left) and one of her own designs (right).

Another fashion insider said the similarities were well-known within the industry, however no one spoke about it publicly because founder Jermanus was “one of the nicest women in fashion”.

“It’s just known and accepted,” another source said of the brand, which last year took out the highly coveted Australia’s National Designer Award and People’s Choice Award.

Similar dresses from Zimmermann (on the left of each pair) and Alemais (on the right).

“The vibe is very much a Zimmermann vibe, and given how well Zimmermann has done, why wouldn’t you try and emulate that brand?”

Others in the industry highlighted the argument that if it’s the same designer under a different brand, she is well within her right to introduce her own collection with a similar aesthetic.

“This often happens with luxury labels when head designers jump ship,” another insider said.

Neither Jermanus or Zimmermann responded to Confidential’s questions.

The accusations of copying come after more than 350 residents descended on Paddington’s Village Inn last weekend to protest against Alemais turning the heritage-listed pub into a boutique.

Jermanus and her retail entrepreneur husband Chris Buchanan have proposed to convert the nearly two century-old pub into a ground-floor boutique, with co-working spaces upstairs.

The pair paid $6.2 million for the corner pub in September last year.

The Paddington’s Village Inn is a stone’s throw from fashion precinct The Intersection Paddington, an area dedicated to Australian fashion brands owned largely by lawyer and fashion entrepreneur Theo Onisforou.

Onisforou has previously stated he would not lease any of his sites to Alemais due to its similarities to Zimmermann.

The residents’ petition to stop the new development has already received more than 5000 signatures in under 10 days.

KEATING MATTERS

She’s not usually one to share personal or business news. But when Katherine Keating does, it’s big.

The daughter of the Labor Party’s most prominent republican, Paul Keating, took to social media on Friday to reveal Bristol based start-up Matter, a company Keating is on the board of, has raised a $10m Series A funding round.

Katherine Keating hopes to capture, harvest and recycle microplastics. Picture: Instagram

Leading the heavyweight investors is S2G Ventures, the direct investment team for Builders Vision, and SOUNDWaves (backed by Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary), Regeneration.VC (backed by Leonardo Di Caprio) and Katapult Ocean.

“Microplastics, harmful particles produced through textiles and clothing, pose a significant threat to the environment and human health,” Keating wrote on her Instagram page.

“Matter’s innovative solutions aim to capture, harvest and recycle microplastics.

“The company is collaborating with appliance makers and textile brands to combat microfibre pollution.”

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