Romania faces down Vuitton for ‘stealing’ its beloved blouse

Maria Gioanca, one of the last 20 dressmakers of the Vaideeni village, who still hand-sew the black-and-white traditional blouses. Photos: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Villagers in Vaideeni at the foot of Romania’s Carpathian Mountains are fuming at French luxury brand Louis Vuitton for “stealing” the design of their traditional blouse.Maria Gioanca, 69, one of two dozen women who still hand sew the black-and-white garment in the village, told AFP she “won’t let the costume be stolen” for fancy beach...