Owners of Amakipkip stole my idea, claims design student

A YOUNG graphic designer has accused the owner of popular street label Amakipkip of stealing his design.

Elvis Mbane says he nearly died of shock when he saw Jozi's Da Les wearing a T-shirt sporting a design similar to his while he was performing at the SA Music Awards on Monday night.

The 19-year-old, an entertainment technology student at Tshwane University of Technology, allegedly asked his father, Litha Ndlovu, to send a proposal with a sample of his design to Amakipkip owner Nkosana Modise.

This was last year, Mbane claims.

"Mr Modise said he would come back to us after talking to his partners. When he did not call, we thought he did not like my concept.

"A few days later we called him again but he said the design was not Amakipkip style. We accepted his explanation and moved on," he says.

But, claims Mbane, he was surprised to see Da Les wearing a Amakipkip T-shirt bearing a concept similar to his at the Samas.

"I called my dad to come and see. It was my design, they just changed the font. I was so upset I cried," he says.

He says when Da Les was interviewed before the event about what he was going to wear, he said he was going to dress in Amakipkip's new design.

"He is a very creative boy who wants to break into the fashion industry. This is very painful. As a father I will not take this lying down. We are seeking legal advice. We will go to the highest court in the land," said Ndlovu.

But Modise has dismissed Mbane's claim.

"I don't know what this boy is talking about. I don't even remember him. I have a lot of people coming to us with designs. This is my designer's work," Modise said.