April 23, 2025, Lahore: Renowned Pakistani fashion designer Maria B has been accused of withholding payment from Turkish content creator Türkan Atay, who collaborated with the brand on a shoot in Türkiye. Atay, in a video message shared on social media, claimed that despite completing her part of the project, she has not been paid in full even after three months.
“They’ve wasted my time, dodged complete payment, and treated me unprofessionally,” Atay said, alleging that Maria B’s team shifted the goalposts after the work was done. According to her, the agreement was per outfit, but the brand later insisted that payments were made per social media reel, leading to a dispute over dues.
This is not the first time Maria B has courted controversy in Türkiye. The brand made headlines last year over its “Palestine Collection”, which was heavily criticized for plagiarizing Palestinian cultural symbols. While the collection, featuring keffiyeh prints and watermelon motifs, was marketed as a gesture of solidarity, it quickly drew backlash for appearing to profit off a genocide, with some accusing the designer of cultural appropriation.
Adding fuel to the fire, Maria B recently posted a video calling for a boycott of multinational brands in solidarity with Palestine—a move seen by critics as contradictory given the ongoing allegations.
Maria B, a graduate of the Pakistan School of Fashion Design, is considered one of Pakistan’s most influential designers. But as her brand expands its international footprint, questions over ethics, professionalism, and accountability continue to cast shadows over its reputation.
No official statement has yet been released by Maria B’s team regarding Türkan Atay’s claims.
Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds.
