Matthew Williamson defends himself against African print criticism

African-inspired prints designed by Matthew Williamson have upset Ethiopia's Intellectual Property Office who have expressed anger over his decision to replicate their traditional dress.

The British designer has been forced to defend pieces from his spring/summer '08 collection after the Ethiopian government launched an investigation into how to protect its national costume.

In a statement, Williamson's spokesperson said: "Historically, Matthew Williamson bases his collections on the idea of a modern girl who is a global traveler. Her style is in part defined by incorporating many different cultures, traditions and customs. The spring-summer 2008 season was particularly inspired by the idea of modernizing and celebrating certain traditional African fabrics and costumes."
However, Abdurazak Omer of the Intellectual Property Office begs to differ. "We are very unhappy with the actions of Mr Williamson. These are the dresses of our mothers and grandmothers. They symbolise our identity, faith and national pride. Nobody has the right to claim these designs as their own," he told the Independent.

While Omer admits that officers will be limited in what they can do, Facebook groups outraged by Williamson's designs suggest he donate a percentage of his profits to a charity that supports Ethiopian weavers and tailors or employ more African models in his campaigns and catwalk shows.