Designer Sues Prada for $10M Over Broken Deal
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
French designer Jonathan Thierry Colin (Jonathan Riss), founder of luxury brand Jay Ahr, has sued Italian fashion giant Prada S.p.A. and three members of the Bertelli family in Hong Kong's High Court for over $10 million in damages. The designer alleges Prada abruptly backed out of a two-year collaboration project in early 2026 after he had already invested substantial resources in developing prototypes and purchasing vehicles .
Key Points
- The plaintiff is Jonathan Thierry Colin, also known as Jonathan Riss, founder of Jay Ahr, who has previously customized works for Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Rolls-Royce .
- The four defendants are Prada S.p.A., former CEO Patrizio Bertelli, his son Lorenzo Bertelli, and his wife Miuccia Prada Bianchi, founder of Miu Miu .
- The collaboration, codenamed "Prada Strada," involved redesigning Prada Galleria and Nylon handbags and creating a fleet of 10 customized Rolls-Royce Corniche cars with upgraded 750-horsepower engines .
- Colin purchased three Rolls-Royce Corniche vehicles worth over $2.35 million in October 2025 to begin the automotive project, with each Jay Ahr-modified car typically selling for approximately $1.5 million .
- Lorenzo Bertelli informed Colin in February 2026 that the project was paused, and Prada sent a legal letter in April 2026 denying any binding contract existed, calling discussions merely "preliminary" .
- The proposed contract stipulated Prada would pay $900,000 per vehicle for the 10 customized cars, with profits split through a joint venture, while the "Prada Strada" trademark would remain Colin's property .
Why It Matters
The case highlights the risks of informal high-fashion collaborations and raises questions about how luxury brands manage creative partnerships and intellectual property, with potential implications for Hong Kong's reputation as a hub for international commercial disputes .
The case highlights the risks of informal high-fashion collaborations and raises questions about how luxury brands manage creative partnerships and intellectual property, with potential implications for Hong Kong's reputation as a hub for international commercial disputes .