WHEN Diamond Face Couture was launched last year it was hailed as a meeting of great fashion minds - award-winning fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee and fashion maven Uyanda Mbuli.

WHEN Diamond Face Couture was launched last year it was hailed as a meeting of great fashion minds - award-winning fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee and fashion maven Uyanda Mbuli.

But now that relationship has broken down and the lawyers have been called in to preside over the break-up.

The first hint that all was not well was announced on a blog early this week. By yesterday both parties had confirmed it.

Mika Stefanos broke the news on his blog on Monday. He said Coetzee was ditching Mbuli because he could not stand working with her anymore. He said Mbuli had very little involvement in the designs and creations, but was getting all the credit.

"She would simply demand dresses for various events, and when people asked about DFC, she would take all the credit," the blog claimed Coetzee said.

Mbuli, through her lawyer Chris Mamathuntsha, said the matter between DFC and Coetzee was currently being dealt with by lawyers.

Coetzee confirmed yesterday he had started his own label but denied ever talking to Stefanos.

He said Stefanos and Mbuli "have had issues for years".

Stefanos insisted: "I have the interview on a video tape. I am happy that he has broken free from that dragon."

Coetzee and Mbuli struck up a friendship when she was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.

They launched their store at the upmarket The Zone Mall in Rosebank a few months later, creating red-carpet garments for fashionistas.