According to an article from today’s Women’s Wear Daily, Chanel has been sued by one of their contractors in a French court for allegations of counterfeiting. In Chanel Denies Charges At Counterfeiting Trial (subscription required), World Tricot, a supplier of high end knits to the design house since 1998, alleges that Chanel used a sample they’d produced to contract the style out to other suppliers, bypassing World Tricot. As we usually hear the oft-voiced concern from designers that their contractors will copy them (I’ve never known an actual case), it’s ironic to see the reverse may actually be true.

The judge in the case has proposed the suit be resolved in mediation.