Designer Antthony Mark Hankins Sues QVC and HSN After Partnership Ends

Antthony Mark Hankins, the founder and designer of Antthony Design Originals, filed a federal lawsuit against QVC and HSN after what he calls the abrupt end of a retail partnership that lasted roughly 31 years. The complaint was filed Feb. 11, 2026 and the matter was publicly announced in a Business Wire press release dated Feb. 13, 2026; Business Wire lists the action as Case No. 2:26-cv-00912. The case is currently pending in federal court and Hankins is seeking $30,000,000 in damages.

The filing, as reported by FashionUnited and tied to a Law.com docket posting, lists multiple claims including breach of contract, discriminatory treatment, defamation, and tortious interference. The complaint specifically alleges discriminatory practices such as limiting Hankins’ on-air exposure outside of Black History Month and “using coded language when referring to Black customers,” according to FashionUnited’s reporting of the Law.com filing.

FashionUnited’s coverage also places the termination in August 2025 and asserts that the complaint alleges QVC and HSN “continued to use Hankins’ image without authorization through January 2026.” Those post-termination use allegations are cited in the complaint as a basis for the unauthorized-image claim and figure prominently among the damages sought in the lawsuit.

Hankins framed the decision to sue in a Business Wire press release distributed from Savannah, Ga. on Feb. 13, 2026. In that release he said, “This decision was not made lightly.” He added, “It is about standing up for the values my brand was built on, protecting my legacy, and ensuring that fairness and accountability matter - especially for creators who have given decades of their lives to their work.” The press release further quoted him: “My commitment to transparency, dignity, and forward momentum remains unchanged as the legal process begins,” and “I am deeply grateful for the support, love, and trust of my community.”

The Business Wire announcement was republished as a paid press release by Yahoo Finance and picked up verbatim by regional outlets including the Caledonian-Record and the Eagle-Tribune. FashionUnited, which cited a Law.com filing for the complaint details, provided the most specific public account of the legal counts, timeline, and the $30,000,000 figure named in the suit.

Business Wire’s release notes that additional litigation details will be provided through legal counsel as appropriate. For now the dispute puts a long-standing designer and two national retail television brands on a collision course over contract terms, alleged discriminatory treatment, and control of creative image rights that Hankins says imperil the legacy he has spent more than three decades building. The case will proceed under Case No. 2:26-cv-00912, with further updates to come through counsel.