Zeds Dead accuses Versace of stealing merch design

Zeds Dead and Deadbeats have accused Versace of plagiarism over the brand’s recent clothing release.

Zeds Dead has accused Versace of plagiarism on one of the fashion house’s most recent clothing drops. The duo Zeds Dead, known for their bass-thumping sound and just as appealing branding and merchandise design style. The Versace shirt in question is a near mirror image of merchandise sold and released in 2018 for a Deadbeats tour. Even down to the font on the word “tour,” the Versace shirt is almost identical to the older 2018 Deadbeats merch in style, logo, and design placement. Zeds Dead has a very distinct style of merch and branding, and Versace duplicating this design could lead to a potential trademark infringement, depending on the ownership that Zeds Dead and Deadbeats have over their branding.

Zeds Dead announced this apparent plagiarism on their social media channels this week. Writing, “in other news.. @versace ripped off our merch designs,” and sharing a carousel of images comparing the two shirts. DeadBeats followed up with a comment on the Zeds Dead post, “damn @versace @versacejeanscouture if you really wanted to join the DeadBeats tour that bad u could have asked.” However, although light-hearted, the comment and caption from the Zeds Dead and DeadBeats team was an unmistakable call out for the outrageous audacity the mega-brand displayed in their “new” design. The plagiarism accusations surfaced shortly after DC, one-half of the duo behind Zeds Dead, announced his engagement to his girlfriend, Kelly MacDonald.

The original design was for a Deadbeats tour from 2018, which included 19 dates across the United States, starting in Hawaii and ending in Chicago. Retailers like SSENSE currently offer the copied design for around $200 in black and white, available in both men’s and women’s styles. The Deadbeats merch and the Versace knockoff appear identical from afar, including the typeface. Close inspection reveals only one significant difference: “Deadbeats” changed to “Versace Jeans Couture,” with the fashion house using the original font and design of the word “tour.”

Versace also edited the dates to 2025 and included European locations, such as Paris and Berlin. Versace has yet to release a statement on the accusation of creative theft; however, even to the naked eye, the shirt released and sold by Versace was a design created under the guise of plagiarism and further copied and stolen from the 2018 Deadbeats merch.

About The Author

Shiv

Hey! I’m Shiv!

Music is the greatest part of my life, I remember discovering dubstep when I was 15/16 and my entire life was altered – robot noises?? I needed MORE!

Now, I live in NYC and have seen over 80 artists of all genres (I’ve lost count). Some of my faves being Odesza, Rezz, Griz, Zeds Dead, Pretty Lights, Of The Trees, Daily Bread, and Kaskade.

You can usually find me in a warehouse under a pashmina.

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