Can I tell you about...knock-offs? Someone once said "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Let me tell you...I'm not flattered. I'm sure I speak as well for other designers who toil away for months at a time to bring their customers something new, unique and special every season, only to be copied sometimes
so fast it's within weeks of the product hitting the sales floor. They say you've hit it big-time when you see your stuff on Canal Street. Well, maybe I should be content with the fact that I'm not big enough to make it on Canal. I think that's a good thing actually. Who wants what everybody else has?! I believe in and encourage individual style and I like to think that so do my customers. I hope I never make it to Canal street. However, I've actually made it to Bangkok and Koh Samui, much to my dismay and amusement. On my recent trips there I discovered Rafe knock offs at the most random stores. I guess," if you're not doing anything worth copying, you're not doing anything worth anything at all". Now, who said that?
Here's the latest knock-off ...Jessica Simpson's latest handbag collection ad features an old Rafe bag, no question.
See the original, and then the knock-off. Should I be flattered....or annoyed?
I like it when a celebrity wears one of my designs, but I'd rather they not claim they designed it. Especially when they're not really designers.
25 comments:
OMG that sux! But at least you are in great company- she knocked off the Chloe platforms and the Louboutin heels- you can't expect any original ideas from someone so vapid. . .
Bravo on bringing up what must be an unpleasant topic for you as a designer making a living off your products it must be infuriating to see others blatantly copy your work and profit from it, sometimes far in excess of what you probaly make from your work. It is theft plain and simple. Everyone should back the "Design Piracy Prohibition Act" bacled by the CFDA and other industry groups - for more info see: The President's War on Copying
Ugh! She totally sucks! Talk about blatant and if you're going to knock off, at least make it look as good as the original and it doesn't! She's probably going to bomb with this one but then again, they must be selling for really cheap, like her image!
I design jewelry and let me tell you I would go out of my ever lovin' mind. Just from the photos you can tell that so much more thought and care went into your bags. Is there anyway you can do a cheaper line of your own designs so at least you can capitalize on your own work instead of Jessica? I love your stuff btw.
Hello dear- I've always thought that, when it comes to design, immitation is not a form of flattery- it's just cheating. Its theft.
People dont understand the kind of time and effort invested in each piece, and the years it takes to get to that quality and consistency. The great thing is you'll always be miles ahead- copy cats can eat your dust... and grommets...
Beyond the shallow knock offs, I think have deeply influenced and inspired people- :) I'm a believer-
Oh my God Rafe. I think it is amazing. It proves to show that your designs are at par with the leading brands in accessories worldwide. It is an honor to be knocked off, but it is annoying in the long run. When these things pursue much longer, you have to have some legal actions against them.
xoxoxo
i am soooo sorry mi amigo....But she is sooo cheesy she has to choice but to copy. Can you sue?
flattering and wrong all at the same time. blame it on our fellow asians feeding the global commercial luxury market!
Very funny. Nice blog. This knock of stuff is going way too far. You should get money for that Jessica Simpson Bag.
xxx
Oh my god! That is the most depressing thing (the vultures are making money on your designs, for free and getting away with it)...I know the feeling : I have a pair of "my" shoes on my desk, only knocked off by some Top-shop brand, may be I should offer them my services!
I guess the best way to take that is to take it as a compliment.
As a Marketing/ad pro, I must admit that your statement on False copy is a very good one.
Jessica Simpson...that BEE-ATCH
I think you should send it to the style editor of the NY Post
OMG the worst!! Although imitation is the highest form of flattery, not sure what to say about this one, except that there is nothing like a Rafe original and true connosieurs know this!
As we'd say in Manila - how kapal naman! That's pretty brazen but its a clear violation of intellectual property rights!
somebody needs to KNOCK that smile OFF her face, just kidding we don't condone violence - right? can't you sue her though? for artistic infringement? wait, is there such a thing?
If her bags came in a box of cereal we still wouldn't wear them. You rule Rafe. I love your bags.
i SO love you for pointing this out!!!!
At first, yeah, flattering, but in a few minutes, you'd want to scream and say, hey, wait a minute!!! That's mine, thief!!!
what a bitch! I bet she didn't even know she's promoting a knock off. does she even know what that means? ugh, she's so gross!
rafe...your were the first person i thought of when i saw the add in the magazine!!! i don't understand...help!!! these stars don't make enough money??? they need to get into the licensing game?? where all they do is find all these so called designers who go out and copy us!!! i just don't get it...no talent in all facets of their careers! i'm sorry...it just makes me mad. no one really understands the money, time and energy that goes into our designs...our collections.
please...i had someone knock me off and try to seel the bags to my very same accounts...of coarse they were refused...but the nerve!!!
anyway..the good news for you...by the time her bags (i mean..YOUR bag) is in stores...you have already knocked out three more collections...keep 10 steps ahead...the can only follow....never lead.
that is my cents..chew on it jessica!
hope your having fun at the oscars you lucky duck...i was suppose to be there too!!! showing in the star lounge...next time we hit it together!!
big hugs
~chris
Your bags are fantastic!
Your bags are fab designs, but do you make any without leather?
Maybe it is not a knock-off after all. She simply had the same idea. Like I could write War and Peace word by word and it would not necessarily be a knock-off. I simply had the same
idea....
I adore your bags. and on a side note, Bury my heart at wounded knee is also one of my favorite reads.
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