When haute couture turns into high-stakes sabotage.

Insiders say some brands now plant fake lookbooks and decoy boards — just to test who leaks what.

In Paris, sabotage doesn’t come with scissors — it comes with screenshots. From luxury giants to indie breakout stars, the fashion world is dripping in secrets… and some are mysteriously slipping into the wrong hands.

Welcome to the underground art of the “accidental” leak — the quiet warfare happening behind velvet ropes, where revenge is delivered via email, not embroidery.

Think it’s rare? Think again. A leaked lookbook here. A backstage fitting photo there. One designer “accidentally” leaves a sketchpad behind at a Vogue interview — and boom, the concept is trending on someone else’s runway.

And those celeb “muses” with camera access? They’re not just there for Reels. They’re sometimes the accidental messengers.

It’s not always about copying — it’s about controlling the narrative. Leak just enough to make the other team panic. Or worse: go basic.

In an industry where timing, trends, and trust are everything, a well-timed leak can kill a launch before the model even walks.

There are several documented real-life cases of “fashion sabotage” and strategic leaks, even though the players rarely talk on record. Here are some real examples and industry scandals:

Balmain Fall 2015

In 2015, the much-hyped Balmain x H&M collection hit the internet earlier than planned, thanks to an unexpected leak. Kathryn Swartz Rees, a Chicago resident, stumbled upon the unreleased images while searching H&M’s website on Google and quickly shared them on Instagram. The leak revealed everything from men’s and women’s clothing to shoes and accessories, all showcasing Balmain’s signature 80s-inspired glamour and bold colors. The early reveal only fueled the frenzy and anticipation among fashion fans eager for the official launch.

Alexander McQueen vs. Givenchy (1997)

What happened: While designing for Givenchy, McQueen’s own label and Givenchy collections started to show very similar aesthetics. There were whispers that sketches and concepts were crossing desks — allegedly, both ways. After leaving Givenchy, McQueen’s first solo collection was said to feature looks based on work he started at Givenchy, fueling rumors of “leaks” and “creative revenge.”

Receipts: Fashion journalists and staffers later said some Givenchy team members kept copies of McQueen’s original sketches and “used them as inspiration” after he left.

Diet Prada Exposés: Copycat Drama

What happened: The @diet_prada Instagram account has made a brand out of catching “leaks” and suspicious similarities between established brands and lesser-known designers. Examples:

Gucci vs. Dapper Dan (2017): Gucci recreated a puff-sleeve jacket that was a near-exact dupe of a piece by Harlem designer Dapper Dan from the ’80s. The story went viral only because images leaked online before the collection dropped.

Yves Saint Laurent vs. Chanel (multiple): Several side-by-side comparisons have been published — sometimes collections appear with nearly identical looks, right down to color, cut, and styling, shortly after “mysterious” previews or presentations.

Balenciaga’s Pre-Collection Leaks (2021) – rumor

In 2021, rumors circulated that an entire Balenciaga lookbook had leaked to rival houses ahead of Paris Fashion Week. Within days, comparable silhouettes and motifs started showing up in other brands’ “pre-fall” teasers. The real drama? Some of the rival looks hit social media first, robbing Balenciaga of their intended impact.

Vetements vs. Indie Designers

Vetements has faced repeated accusations of “lifting” streetwear looks and even full graphics from little-known designers. Several indie creators have publicly claimed their designs were leaked or “sampled” at Paris showrooms and later appeared — with minimal changes — in Vetements’ new drops. A few posted side-by-side receipts on Instagram, sparking mini-scandals but rarely legal action.

Chanel vs. Maison Margiela (2015)

Chanel’s couture show was rumored to have been heavily inspired by a Margiela collection. Days before Chanel’s runway, a board of Chanel sketches was allegedly “left behind” at a Parisian café (conveniently close to Margiela’s studio). When the Chanel show debuted, fashion writers noticed distinct echoes of Margiela’s prior season, and the rumor mill exploded.

Phoebe Philo’s Céline and Decoy Showrooms – rumor 

It’s been reported (in Business of Fashion and other outlets) that Phoebe Philo’s Céline team would plant fake lookbooks and even false prototype racks in their showrooms to “catch” moles and control leaks. Insiders said the goal was to figure out who was feeding information to fast fashion knockoff brands and even other luxury labels.

Kim Kardashian’s Skims and the Fast-Fashion Leaks

Designs from SKIMS often leak to fast-fashion brands before launch. Kim has commented (half-jokingly) about leaks within her own team — sometimes, she’ll post teaser images or cryptic stories to “take control” before the real leak happens.

Louis Vuitton and Supreme “Coincidence”

Before their official collaboration, Supreme accused Louis Vuitton of swiping its signature red-and-white logo motif for a runway bag — after a “chance” backstage meeting at Paris Men’s Fashion Week. Here is the rumor: The leaked photo of the bag went viral before LV could respond, prompting both brands to turn it into an official collab later.

Fashion leaks and “sabotage by screenshot” are absolutely real — sometimes petty, sometimes strategic, and almost always surrounded by rumors and “accidents.” Today’s insiders say decoy lookbooks, fake fitting photos, and “leaked” runway sketches are just part of the game.