Hong Kong designer sues Prada for US$5 million over abandoned Rolls-Royce project

A Hong Kong-based designer, Jonathan Riss, is suing luxury fashion brand Prada for up to US$5 million, alleging that the Italian company broke its agreement to co-develop a marketing initiative involving the redesign of Rolls-Royce cars. Riss claims Prada unilaterally abandoned the project for accountability reasons, despite having invested heavily in the initiative.

Prada's executives, including chairman Patrizio Bertelli and his wife Miuccia Prada, are also named as defendants. The designer, who has worked with brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermes, was initially engaged by Prada in February 2024 to redesign their Galleria and Nylon bags. However, the two parties later agreed to work on a joint project called "Prada Strada," which involved redesigning at least 10 Rolls-Royce Corniche cars for global exhibitions and rallies.

Lawyers argue that Prada failed to finalize the necessary paperwork and that Riss acted as if a contract was in place, investing in technology, design, and research for the project. After more than two years of collaboration, Prada allegedly "paused" the project citing accountability reasons, which Riss claims is a wrongful repudiation of their obligations under the agreement.

The designer is seeking US$5 million in damages, including for breach of contract, restitution for work done, and threatened copyright infringement.