Berlin fashion spoof causes chaos as Adidas denies involvement

Garments from the Realitywear collection shown at the spoof launch event. ‘This announcement is not by Adidas and not correct,’ a spokesperson for the sportswear company said. Photograph: Realitywear

Adidas has had to deny it appointed a former Cambodian union leader as its new co-CEO and launched a Derelicte-style collection of garments pre-worn by factory workers, as a spoof launch event at Berlin fashion week sent confusion around the fashion world.

A spoof press release, written by culture jamming activist duo The Yes Men and sent to fashion bloggers from a fake Adidas email address, announced a “revolutionary plan” for the German sportswear company, designed to “own the reality” of working conditions in the south-east Asian factories where many of its clothes are made.