American fashion designer Marissa Wilson is at odds with the Guyanese government over what she claims is the unauthorized use of her intellectual property in connection with an upcoming fashion festival in Georgetown.

Wilson, a first-generation Guyanese-American based in Venice, California, said she sent a cease-and-desist letter to officials on April 7, demanding they stop using her name, images, and materials to promote “Origins: Guyana Fashion Festival,” scheduled for May 2–4. Her actions followed what she described as a breakdown in communication after initially expressing interest in contributing to the event.

Speaking to WWD on Tuesday, Wilson said she submitted a proposal in good faith, hoping to foster educational and creative opportunities in the country of her heritage. But she withdrew her proposal earlier this month, citing growing concerns that the event was being politicized as part of President Irfaan Ali’s reelection campaign.

“I submitted my ideas because I believed in the potential of the project,” Wilson said. “But it started to feel more like a political stunt than a genuine cultural initiative.”

In an Instagram video posted shortly after the cease-and-desist letter was sent, Wilson aired her frustrations publicly. She accused organizers of co-opting her vision—down to specific themes from her previous collections—without credit or permission.

In response, Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, pushed back. In a video statement, Walrond acknowledged receiving Wilson’s detailed proposal but claimed its ideas were neither unique nor essential to the event.

“There was nothing original about that proposal,” Walrond said. “The government’s role is to identify and support industries in need—not to adopt every concept brought forward.”

Repeated requests for comment from the Ministry of Tourism went unanswered.

Wilson, whose fashion brand draws heavily on her Guyanese roots, previously showcased a Spring 2023 collection inspired by the Caribbean nation’s post-colonial identity, natural beauty, and cultural landmarks. That show, she said, was born from personal memories of visits to places like Stabroek Market during her childhood.

The designer now alleges that several elements of her previous collections—including themes centered on Kaiteur Falls and the Guyanese diaspora—appear to have been repurposed for the Origins festival without acknowledgment. “I don’t own those locations,” she said, “but those concepts were clearly laid out in my brief.”

Though she’s not pursuing legal action, Wilson said she hopes the incident sparks a broader conversation about respecting creative contributions, especially when working across borders.

“I want to see Guyanese talent thrive,” she said. “But that starts with transparency, mutual respect, and understanding how we can collaborate rather than exploit one another.”

Wilson founded her eponymous label in 2016 after stints at leading fashion houses including Rag & Bone, Oscar de la Renta, and DKNY. She studied fashion merchandising and product development at Marist College and completed internships in New York and Paris before launching her brand.

While she remains disillusioned by the current controversy, Wilson said her commitment to uplifting Guyana’s creative community remains unchanged.

“There’s so much potential there,” she said. “We just have to build it the right way.”