In April 2025, a dispute emerged between Pakistani fashion designer Maria B and Turkish influencer Türkan Atay over alleged non-payment for services rendered during a brand shoot in Turkey.
Background of the Collaboration
Maria B, known for her fusion of traditional Pakistani designs with contemporary fashion, engaged Türkan Atay, a Turkish content creator with a substantial following, to manage a location shoot in Turkey. The agreement reportedly included charges per outfit to cover local production costs. Atay, who produces Urdu-language content and has over 850,000 Instagram followers, was seen as an ideal collaborator to bridge cultural aesthetics between Pakistan and Turkey.
The Dispute
After the project’s completion, Atay alleged that she received only partial payment. She claimed that Maria B’s team disputed the original agreement, asserting that payments were typically made per social media reel rather than per outfit. Atay expressed her frustration in a video message, stating, “It’s been three months. They’ve wasted my time, dodged complete payment, and treated me unprofessionally.” She also accused the designer’s team of deleting prior communications after her husband attempted to mediate.
Legal Actions Taken
In response to the allegations, Maria B, whose real name is Maria Butt, served a Rs100 million defamation notice to Türkan Atay on April 26, 2025. This legal move came after Atay had issued a legal notice to the designer, demanding $8,000 in unpaid fees and a formal apology.
Public Reaction and Broader Implications
The dispute has sparked discussions about the importance of clear contractual agreements and professional conduct in international collaborations. As the fashion industry becomes increasingly globalized, such incidents highlight the need for transparency and mutual respect between parties from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
Current Status
As of now, there have been no further public statements from either party regarding the dispute. It remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved and what impact it may have on future cross-border collaborations in the fashion industry.
