Fashion designer who created Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime outfit sued by investors
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2014, 11:37 AM
Updated: Thursday, April 10, 2014, 11:38 AM
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Beyoncé’ performed at the 2013 Super Bowl wearing an outfit designed by Rubin Singer. One of Beyoncé’s favorite designers owes a group of investors more than half a million dollars in seed money that has yet to be repaid, according to a lawsuit.
Rubin Singer was loaned the money between 2008 and 2010 to buy fabric and cover other business expenses he had building his rising fashion empire.
Singer, a third generation designer, made headlines last year when Beyoncé dazzled audiences at the Super Bowl halftime wearing a black body suit of iguana, python and lace that Singer designed just for her.
He also made the full body suit that she wore on her world tour.
Singer, whose father designed costumes for the Bolshoi Ballet and grandfather outfitted Russian royalty and Soviet leaders like Joseph Stalin, also designs for Shakira and Alicia Keys.
According to papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, one lender, Keith Kaplan of Los Angeles, introduced Singer to the fashion director of Neiman Marcus where Singer’s clothes are now sold and became a shareholder in one of his companies.
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Rubin Singer is being sued by investors for seed money that he has yet to allegedly pay back. Another lender, Michael Lehr of San Francisco, worked for equity in Singer’s original company, RSI, and loaned Singer $ 160,000 on his own personal credit cards to help his boss stay afloat: this wasn’t repaid either, according to court papers, and as a result, Lehr’s credit was ruined.
In contrast, the investors note, Marciano Estigarribia, “a very dear friend” of Singer’s, was repaid the $ 14,000 that he loaned, according to the court papers.
“RSI did not follow corporate formalities. Meetings of shareholders were not held. Minutes were not kept….RSI’s assets were intermingled with Singer’s assets and Singer’s personal expenses were paid by RSI. Singer refused to allow RSI expenses and revenues to be tracked,” the group’s attorney, Jesse Strauss, says in court papers.
The group wants to be repaid with interest and penalties more than $ 560,828 they claim to be owed. They’re also asking the court to give two investors $ 100,000 that they say Singer obtained fraudulently by making fake promises, according to court papers.
There was no immediate note from Singer.
