
Image via The Cut
Alexander McQueen didn't exactly try to camouflage the fact that several of his pieces featuring a winged skull were inspired by the Hells Angels motorcycle group's symbol. The "death head" appears on pieces like the "Hells Angels Jacquard Box Dress" (for $1,565) and the "Hell's Four-Finger Ring" (for $495). However, the name reference alone didn't stop the bikers from suing McQueen, Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos for selling items they thought veered into copyright-infringement territory.
"This isn't just about money, it's about membership," explained Fritz Clapp, a red-mowhawked biker who also serves as the Hells Angels' lawyer. "If you've got one of these rings on, a member might get really upset that you're an imposter."
And don't we all get confused when edgy types in heels with a copy of French Vogue sticking out of their handbags sport rough-looking rings when walking from boutique to boutique? According to a lawyer who spoke to Page Six, "the world is full of skulls," and though the bikers successfully sued Disney previously, it's not exactly a clear-cut case.









