Fashion Scoops: Faux Punk?...

FAUX PUNK?: Malcolm McLaren is worried that fake clothes could be circulating under the Seditionaries label he designed with Vivienne Westwood in the Seventies. The punk impresario alleged that a certain Simon Easton, believed to be based in the United Kingdom, has managed to sell a significant amount of fake Seditionaries designs to unwitting clients, including the likes of artist Damien Hirst, auction houses and museums. “I would never have thought 30 years ago when I was making this stuff on my kitchen table that someone would want to copy it like a Goya or a Van Gogh,” said McLaren. He said some 80,000 pounds, or $158,400, of the alleged fakes were sold by Easton to Hirst. He claimed Easton also was operating through eBay, but that the online auctioneer has since canceled Easton’s account due to complaints. Meanwhile, McLaren also alleged that Easton has written a book, to be published by Rizzoli, about McLaren’s work with Westwood that is full of fakes. In a strange twist to the tale, however, McLaren wrote an essay to be included in the book after Easton solicited his participation. “I did it without thinking,” said McLaren. “I get hundreds of requests and I agreed to this one without seeing the book, which he said was supposed to be a self-published thing. I’ve been duped, too.” Easton could not be reached for comment.