// In The Style founder Adam Frisby taken to court for allegedly copying the idea to create the fashion retailer
// Businessman Paul Clements said Frisby “took advantage” of his plan to create the brand
In The Style founder Adam Frisby is being sued by a fellow businessman for allegedly copying his idea to create the £100 million fashion brand.
Businessman Paul Clements has taken Frisby to the High Court over claims that he stole the name and concept of In the Style from him.
Clements said he told Frisby of his plan for the business and put up his own start-up money, and Frisby “took advantage” of that to set up his own company, The Telegraph reported.
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Frisby has described the claim as “fraudulent” and said he created the brand “without any input or involvement of Clements”.
Clements claims that he developed the idea, business model and even the name for In The Style in 2013 and had asked Frisby to test his plans.
Frisby had “falsely or wrongly told Clements that the business plan had no future”.
Frisby denies the allegation, claiming he was inspired to start up his fashion empire in or around May 2013 by “Want That Trend”, an online business which sold women’s clothing.
He said he founded In The Style in his bedroom in 2014 with £1,000 redundancy money.
The brand, which uses television personalities and influencers to design and market its lines, has made Frisby an estimated £35 million fortune.
The full trial of the case will be heard at a later date. Retail Gazette has contacted In The Style for comment.
Last week, In The Style boss Sam Perkins joined homewares retailer Loaf as its new chief executive.
Perkins, who is set to exit In The Style at the end of December, will join Loaf in February next year.
