Kanye West sued by Turkish sourcing agent alleging she was not paid for Yeezy work

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Dec 5, 2017

Kanye West's West Brands Fashion LLC has been sued by a former Istanbul-based sourcing agent who claims she is owed back pay for work she did on West's Yeezy Seasons 2, 3 and 4. 

​Derya Gulseven ​filed the complaint in November, claiming that she was hired to find manufacturers to make Yeezy apparel in Turkey. Her company, Dde Sourcing, was hired in 2015 to provide “new generation sourcing, buying, and manufacturing solutions" for Yeezy's Season 2 so that the clothing line could be made on a season-by-season basis and distributed in the US.

The Yeezy apparel in question is sold through YeezySupply's site. It is a different vertical from the footwear and apparel manufactured, marketed and distributed in collaboration with Adidas.

​According to her complaint, Gulseven was cut out of the final deal between the factory and West Brands. Allegedly, West Brands made its final deal directly with the factory that Gulseven found. Gulseven alleges this deprived her of her 7 percent commission on Yeezy's $1.25 million order, or $87,000. 

​Despite this allegation, Gulseven agreed to work with West Brands again for Season 3 of Yeezy. According to her complaint, that year Gulseven arranged for a factory to produce Yeezy's $2.4 million order. While her contract stated she was to receive 7 percent commission, she claims she received only 4 percent, or $77,246. Gulseven alleges there was “no explanation” of why the commission rate changed.

​After two seasons of allegedly being cheated out of her rightful pay, Gulseven still decided to work with Yeezy again for Season 4. According to the complaint she again was not paid for her work.

​Gulseven's complaint alleges $228,000 in damages. She has also asked for punitive damages which the court can award in its discretion as a form of punishment when a defendant's behavior is found to be particularly harmful.

​West has not yet responded to the suit.