Costume designer and creative director June Ambrose is insulted by Adidas Original latest ad campaign, which features rapper Dej Loaf in a costume similar to the iconic look Ambrose designed for rapper Missy Elliot in her 1997 debut video, “The Rain.”
“They say imitation is a form of flattery, however, recognize my original work with @MissyElliott @HypeWilliams #fail #copycats,” she tweeted.
Ambrose told Page Six that Elliot flagged the copycat.
“She asked me if I saw it and we were both just like, ‘Wow.’ The caption said 90s couture, but no reference to where it originated. To take creative license and not acknowledge where it came from – it’s a bit disingenuous,” she said.
Ambrose is also upset because she and Elliott helped recreate the Adidas brand with the rapper’s own clothing line in 2005.
“We did a lot of things with them and Missy’s brand. I didn’t expect that from Adidas. I was insulted. It’s like the big corporation taking advantage… As an artist, collectively as a group… it’s like we’re hidden figures now,” Ambrose said.
“Missy loves Dej and she’s worked with Adidas, so there’s nothing against them. She just felt hurt the creatives weren’t given proper credit. It’s blatant that it’s Missy’s thing from ‘The Rain.’ They could’ve given some kind of nod or something,” Jeff Sledge, VP A&R, at Elliott’s longtime label Atlantic Records said.
A rep for Adidas did not get back to us.