Fashion designer Patrick Robinson is out at A/X Armani Exchange, just as sources are buzzing that some of his accessory designs for the brand were uncannily similar to those by New York-based jewelry company David Yurman, Page Six can exclusively reveal.
Robinson, who signed on as creative director of Armani Exchange in March 2013, was let go quietly several weeks ago. Sources told us it was because his collection had not sold well.
But others say there may have been another reason Robinson was pushed aside. The designer created a “torc” bracelet for Armani Exchange’s men’s collection made from recycled bullets and handguns, with proceeds going to nonprofit Liberty United to fight gun violence.
But we’re told David Yurman notified Armani Exchange that bracelets Robinson designed in his collection were allegedly too similar to Yurman’s iconic cable cuff bracelets.
One source told us David Yurman fired off a legal letter to Armani Exchange demanding it stop selling the bracelets.
The insider explained, “Steady declining sales were the main reason for his exit, but this issue was the smoking gun.”
David Yurman reps denied that a cease-and-desist letter was sent. An Armani Exchange rep told us, “Patrick Robinson left the brand amicably several weeks ago. His departure and this alleged claim of the Yurman’s sending us a cease-and-desist letter are entirely unrelated.”
Before Robinson’s stint at Armani Exchange, he was creative director at The Gap from 2007 to 2011, until he was fired after sales at the retailer tanked. In 2013, he launched his own line of men’s lounge wear, Paskho, sold exclusively through crowd-funding website Kickstarter.
Robinson, a graduate of Parsons School of Design, worked for Giorgio Armani, Perry Ellis, Anne Klein and Paco Rabanne earlier in his career.
Besides his pedigree, Robinson is considered part of fashion’s elite for another reason — he’s married to Virginia Smith, Vogue’s market director for fashion and accessories.