Mark Zunino (PatrickMcMullan)
Kleinfeld Bridal, the iconic Manhattan wedding shop, yesterday sued a famed designer for allegedly undercutting its business by designing discount dresses for sale on QVC.
Kleinfeld says it hired Mark Zunino — who has created custom wedding gowns for Raquel Welch, Heather Locklear and others — as “creative design director” last year for exclusive gowns and related apparel.
The hiring required Zunino “not engage in any design activities that would conflict or compete” with Kleinfeld’s busy Flatiron District store featured on the hit reality TV series “Say Yes to the Dress.”
Zunino’s five-year pact promised him $175,000 the first year and $200,000 a year after that, court papers say.
But Kleinfeld claims it discovered this year that Zunino “had begun designing bridal apparel for and to be sold by Nolan Miller Inc.” That firm was founded by Zunino’s late mentor, Nolan Miller, who designed dresses for TV’s “Dynasty” and for the home-shopping network QVC, court papers say.
Zunino “cannot devote his full efforts to designing wedding gowns, related bridal apparel and jewelry exclusively for Kleinfeld and, at the same time, perform the same services for Nolan Miller,” says the Manhattan Supreme Court filing.
West Hollywood-based Zunino has threatened to sue Kleinfeld in California to say their deal is over, the suit says.
Meanwhile, dresses designed by Zunino, which range in price from $6,000 to $15,000, “are still on the floor,” according to Kleinfeld spokeswoman Jennette Kruszka.
“We do very well with him,” she said, especially since his designs were recently featured on “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
Zunino’s lawyer didn’t return a call for comment.