Multi-millionaire fashion designer Giorgio Armani has bought a fake ARMANI wristwatch - because he finds it flattering to be copied.

The Italian style icon picked up the pirate timepiece for $22 (GBP12) - instead of the $710 (GBP395) his own legitimate watches cost - in Shanghai recently, and takes the widespread counterfeiting of his designs as a complement.

He laughs, "It was an identical copy of an EMPORIO ARMANI watch. I know I have some stores in China that have nothing to do with me.

"On the other hand, it's flattering to be copied. If you are copied. If you are copied, you are doing the right thing."

22/04/2004 13:34