Carol Christian Poell Gets Ripped Off
June 30, 2004 - Milan
In what appears to be a sordid case of industrial espionage, the studio of designer Carol Christian Poell was robbed earlier this month, effectively preventing the designer from staging a menswear collection during this week’s Italian catwalk season.
Robbers broke into the design studio of Poell, located in the south Milan neighborhood of Naviglio, on June 5, making off with the designer’s computer, six months of research and a selection of accessories.
“They chose very selectively. They took my Powerbook with six months of designs, ideas and fabric innovations, but they left the mouse. They stole bags and shoes but not some samples I had hanging nearby. I had also developed a new dying process which I was about to use on my samples. But without the computer, which had all the research and the dying recipe, that is now impossible,” the designer told FWD.
“I am really angry about what happened. It prevented me presenting the collection and looks very suspicious. The thieves did not touch cash I had lying around, or any other of my equipment,” Poell added.
Widely regarded as one of the most arresting and iconoclastic young designers around, Poell has developed a cult status in Milan for his inventive tailoring techniques and path-breaking shows.
This time 12 months ago, he eschewed a catwalk altogether and literally staged his show in one of the Navigli canals. Models floated under a bridge and south down the canal as fans and passersby applauded enthusiastically, in the most poetic fashion moment of recent years.
argghhhh.. i so hate this kind of high fashion espionage,
>shouldnt be talkning, highly un-organised myself< 
