Singer-songwriter and writer Iman Europe is speaking out after claiming French fashion label Marine Serre used her face, name, and a copyrighted quote on a shirt without her permission.
In a now-viral Instagram video, Europe says a friend spotted the shirt in stores last week.
“This was a surprise to me because the t-shirt was being sold without my knowledge or consent,” she explained. “Putting my full name and face on a shirt is a misuse of my likeness. Selling a shirt with my copyrighted quote on it is IP theft.”
The Los Angeles-based artist says the design hits even harder because she created the same shirt back in 2021 as a personal statement piece to reclaim her voice.
“Since I already sold it, that’s trademarked under common law. So that’s a lawsuit,” she noted.
For Europe, the issue is bigger than just one shirt.
“Historically, Black women are the source of the flyness. We create brilliant things and then walk away with very little to show for it,” she said. “That’s not what we’re doing today.”
While Marine Serre has yet to publicly address the allegations, Europe is encouraging her supporters to share the story and keep the pressure on.
“Justice needs to be served here — not just for me, but for all creatives,” she urged.
