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Could Rick Owens be one of the most oft-imitated designers of our times? The New York Times seems to think so, having come up with a laundry list of names who have "borrowed" his post-apocalyptic look of washed-out leathers, jagged angles and thin, draped layers. Citing talents both emerging (Gareth Pugh, Ohne Titel and LA's own Grai and Raquel Allegra) and established (Helmut Lang, Zero + Maria Cornejo), the article suggests Owens' influence has to do with his refusal to court the '80s and his rejection of obvious luxury, not to mention society's current fascination with all things vampiric and mysterious. Owens' "terse" reaction to these claims: "Suffice to say that it’s motivation for me to do my best to move forward." [NYT]
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