Madeleine Hull
Diet Prada is an Instagram account created by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who worked together at the American accessories line Eugenia Kim. The account was created in 2014 to expose designers copying one another, but it has since evolved into a platform that addresses a wide range of issues in the fashion industry, including model abuse, racial discrimination, cultural appropriation, stereotyping, prejudice, and racism. Diet Prada has been praised for its support of minority and marginalised voices in the fashion industry, but it has also faced criticism for its methods and has been described as an example of cancel culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founders | Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler |
| Type of account | Instagram account |
| Purpose | To call out copycat designs, lack of integrity, and social issues like stereotyping, prejudice, racism, and model abuse within the fashion industry |
| Reach | 1.2 million followers as of 2019, including Gigi Hadid, Pharrell, Carine Roitfeld, Edward Enninful, and Karlie Kloss |
| Revenue | Merchandise sales and partnerships with brands and institutions |
| Reception | Described as "the most feared Instagram account" by The Business of Fashion, "one of the most influential voices in the fashion industry" by Fast Company, and "the Banksy of fashion" by fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave |
| Criticism | Allegedly giving preferential treatment to brands with whom it has collaborated, providing a platform for hateful comments, and failing to acknowledge the contributions of a Black female designer |
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What You'll Learn
Diet Prada's beginnings
Diet Prada is an Instagram account that acts as a fashion watchdog, calling out copycat designs, rooting out misogyny, racism, and model abuse in the industry, and holding those in power accountable. It was created in 2014 by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who initially ran the account anonymously.
Liu and Schuyler met while working for milliner Eugenia Kim in 2010. They would often browse photographs of runway shows, noticing similarities between the pieces and older designs, and commenting on the shows to each other. They left the brand in 2015 but kept in touch. They created the Diet Prada Instagram account "just for fun" and as a joke, alluding to a cheap version of the high fashion brand Prada. They remained anonymous for the first three years of the account's existence, eventually revealing their identities in an October 2017 feature in The Fashion Law.
The account gained traction in 2018 following a string of public fashion controversies, including calling out Kim Kardashian's childrenswear line for resembling Vetements and Comme des Garçons, and Prada's $550 tchotchkes featuring blackface. They also called out Project Runway winner Christian Siriano’s gowns for looking too similar to Valentino dresses. The most notorious controversy, however, was with Dolce & Gabbana over a racially charged advertisement and accusations of racist direct messages from co-founder Stefano Gabbana. The incident led to the cancellation of their highly anticipated Shanghai show and was a pivotal moment for Diet Prada, as they realized they had the ability to effect major change within the fashion industry.
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Its influence and impact
Diet Prada is an Instagram account that acts as a fashion watchdog, calling out copycat designs, lack of integrity, and various issues in the fashion industry. It was created in 2014 by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who worked together at the American accessories line Eugenia Kim. The account gained traction and influence for its criticism of fashion brands and designers, amassing a significant following, including prominent figures in the industry.
Diet Prada has had a significant impact on the fashion industry and beyond. With its large and engaged following, the account has become a powerful platform for exposing and critiquing various practices within the fashion world. Its posts have led to increased scrutiny of fashion brands and designers, holding them accountable for their actions and bringing attention to issues of design integrity and originality.
One notable example of Diet Prada's impact is its role in the Dolce & Gabbana controversy in 2018. The account shared screenshots of alleged direct messages from Stefano Gabbana, co-founder of Dolce & Gabbana, containing denigrating remarks about China and Chinese people. This incident sparked widespread backlash, with the hashtag #boycottdolce trending in China and the scheduled Shanghai show ultimately being canceled. This incident demonstrated Diet Prada's ability to effect change and influence public opinion, as well as spark conversations about cultural sensitivity and appropriate conduct for fashion brands operating globally.
Beyond its impact on specific controversies, Diet Prada has influenced a broader dialogue around social justice and fashion. The account has expanded its scope beyond design critiques to address issues such as model abuse, racial discrimination, cultural appropriation, and sustainability. By engaging with these topics, Diet Prada has encouraged greater awareness and discussion of the intersection between fashion and social issues.
Additionally, Diet Prada has faced some criticism and scrutiny for its tactics and the potential for cancel culture. Some have questioned the account's motives, sensationalism, and lack of engagement with nuanced dialogue. There have been instances where Diet Prada's posts have been flagged for misinformation and removed by Instagram, highlighting the challenges of navigating accuracy and responsibility in the age of social media influence.
Despite these criticisms, Diet Prada has carved out a unique space in the fashion industry as a watchdog and advocate for certain values. Its influence has extended beyond the virtual realm, with features in publications like Vogue, GQ, and Elle Canada, further solidifying its impact on the industry. Diet Prada's ability to spark conversations, shape opinions, and hold powerful entities accountable has solidified its place as a notable force in fashion and beyond.
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Copycat designs
Diet Prada is an Instagram account that acts as a fashion watchdog, calling out copycat designs and other forms of "fashion foul play". The account was created in 2014 by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who initially remained anonymous. With 1.4 million followers, including Gigi Hadid and Naomi Campbell, Diet Prada has established itself as one of the most influential critical voices in the fashion industry.
The concept of Diet Prada was born from Liu and Schuyler's office banter, which included "roasting runway shows" and discussing who stole what idea from whom. They worked together at the American accessories line Eugenia Kim before leaving in 2015, but they kept in touch. They would browse photographs of runway shows and notice similarities between the pieces and older designs. This inspired them to create the Diet Prada Instagram account "just for fun".
Diet Prada's posts typically involve juxtaposing photos of new designs that bear a conspicuous resemblance to older ones. In doing so, they name and shame brands and designers who engage in "copycatting" or stealing ideas. According to Schuyler, "copycatting is far from a victimless crime, especially for small designers. It can wreck their businesses."
Diet Prada has called out several notable designers and brands for their copycat designs. For example, they compared current It-designer Virgil Abloh's shoe designs with those of Amsterdam Warehouse co-founder, Elisa van Joolen, sparking a scathing caption referring to Abloh's brand Off-White™ as a "luxury knockoff business". They also called out Kim Kardashian for her children's wear line's resemblance to designs by Vetements and Comme des Garçons, as well as Project Runway winner Christian Siriano's gowns, which looked similar to Valentino dresses.
Beyond copycat designs, Diet Prada has also shifted its focus towards speaking out about issues like stereotyping, prejudice, racism, and model abuse within the fashion industry. One notable incident involved Diet Prada sharing screenshots of direct messages allegedly from Stefano Gabbana, co-founder of Dolce & Gabbana, containing racist comments about China and Chinese people. This led to widespread backlash, with hundreds of Chinese individuals withdrawing from Dolce & Gabbana's scheduled fashion show in Shanghai, ultimately resulting in its cancellation.
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Social justice and politics
Diet Prada is an Instagram account that acts as a fashion watchdog, calling out copycat designs, lack of integrity, and injustices in the fashion industry. It was created by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who worked together at the American accessories line Eugenia Kim. The account first gained prominence for exposing designers who copied one another, but it has since evolved into a platform that addresses a wide range of issues, including model abuse, racial discrimination, cultural appropriation, stereotyping, prejudice, and racism.
Diet Prada's impact and influence in the fashion industry have led to discussions about its role in social justice and politics. Some have criticised the account for its approach, which has been described as "sensationalism" without a "nuanced" perspective. For example, one of Diet Prada's posts targeted Gap's collaboration with Kanye West's line, Yeezy, and was flagged by Instagram as misinformation. The post featured photoshopped t-shirts with "Slavery Was a Choice" and "MAGA," referencing West's controversial statements and support for Donald Trump. However, the post received backlash for failing to acknowledge Mowalola Ogunlesi, the Black female designer leading the collaboration.
In addition to its impact on the fashion industry, Diet Prada has also been an advocate for social justice issues beyond the realm of fashion. For example, the account has shown support for the #BLM protests, posting dedicated content to highlight Black-owned fashion designers, models, and houses.
Diet Prada's founders, Liu and Schuyler, have stated that they are "advocates for design, integrity, and originality" rather than critics. They have also emphasised the importance of sustainability and ethical business practices in the fashion industry. However, as Diet Prada's influence has grown, there have been questions and criticisms regarding their motives, accountability, and potential participation in cancel culture.
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Cancel culture
Diet Prada is an Instagram account and fashion watchdog group created in 2014 by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who initially remained anonymous. The account was conceived as a way to call out brands for copying designs and ideas, hence the name "Diet Prada", alluding to a cheap version of the high fashion brand. Over time, Diet Prada has broadened its scope to address issues like cultural appropriation, stereotyping, prejudice, racism, and lack of diversity in the fashion industry.
Diet Prada has been described as an example of "cancel culture". The account has amassed a significant following, with over 3 million followers as of March 2022, and has been deemed "the most feared Instagram account" by some publications. The repercussions of being called out by Diet Prada can be significant, ranging from cancelled fashion shows to boycotts and reputation damage.
One notable example of Diet Prada's impact is the cancellation of Dolce & Gabbana's 2018 Shanghai show. Diet Prada drew attention to a video advertisement featuring a Chinese model struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks, which was criticized as racist. Shortly before the show was scheduled to begin, Diet Prada shared screenshots of direct messages allegedly from Stefano Gabbana, containing derogatory comments about China and Chinese people. The post went viral in China, sparking outrage and leading to the show's cancellation.
While some view Diet Prada as a force for positive change, holding those in power accountable, others criticize its approach as overly inflammatory and missing the mark. As the fashion industry undergoes a radical reconsideration of its approach to diversity and social justice, Diet Prada has also faced challenges in adapting to the changing landscape.
Amid the current political climate, Diet Prada exemplifies the trend of social media activism and cancel culture. Its existence is rooted in the belief that calling out problematic entities, combined with the power of a large online following, can lead to positive change and encourage ethical practices within the fashion industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Diet Prada is an Instagram account that acts as a fashion watchdog, calling out copycat designs, lack of integrity, and injustices in the fashion industry. It was created in 2014 by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, who worked together at the American accessories line Eugenia Kim.
Diet Prada stands for advocating for design, integrity, and originality in the fashion industry. It aims to expose copycat designs, hold powerful people and institutions accountable, and address issues like model abuse, racial discrimination, and cultural appropriation.
Diet Prada has gained influence due to its anonymous nature, its ability to spark conversations and influence opinions, and its willingness to hold powerful people and brands accountable. With over a million followers, including industry insiders and celebrities, Diet Prada's calls for change and criticism of brands can quickly gain traction and lead to real-world consequences.
