You be the judge.
Last Friday, whilst perusing the Internet (as one does, especially when one’s Dude is busily screaming at the TV during the Sweet Sixteen), I meandered through one of my former favorite sites, LiveJournal’s Steampunk Fashion. And while skimming through the endless “look what I just made and you can buy one at my Etsy site” posts, I found something interesting.
It was a discussion – actually, a continuation of an ongoing discussion – about how yet another costuming company saw their very specific designs knocked off by a low price outlet. We’ve watched Target do this, Forever 21, and the worst offender (as well as the one being discussed here), Hot Topics.
The item being knocked off is an Etsy artist’s corset-laced tops hats. Now, as someone who dresses in Steampunk attire MAYBE two or three times a year, I can see why someone would rather buy a $15 Hot Topics cheapo hat, as opposed to the $150+ ones being sold on Etsy. Are the hand-made originals better? Absolutely. But you know what’s better still? Paying my mortgage, instead of shelling out umpty-ump dollars for a totally impractical item. Heck, even this beaut was less than $30:
Nothing beats a cheese-head top-hat. NOTHING. Moving on.
However, I feel the artist/hat designer has every right to be mad as hell. She spent time and money creating wearable artwork – only to see it be cheapened by a store selling a low-rent version next to Twilight T’s and fake combat boots.
And that gives rise to my pressing question of the day – how do we feel about knock-offs? Good? Bad? Or do we take them on case by case basis. Here are some of my feelings about the issue, please be sure to share yours, too:
1. Beauty products. If a knock-off exists, I WILL try it. That being said, not all beauty knock-offs are created equal. Target’s version of Pantene shampoos and conditioners pale in comparison to the real thing. I treat beauty knock off’s on a trial and error basis – keeping the ones that work and dumping the inferior products. And I feel no guilt in buying knock offs, since most beauty products are insanely overpriced to begin with. NO ONE needs a $400+ face cream, I’m sorry.
2. Shoes/purses/clothing. I would love to buy the originals, instead of encouraging the knocker’s off (especially everyone and their mother who’s stolen the Herve Ledger bandage dress. Enough is enough, people.), but I can’t afford it. Plus, when I HAVE bought the real deal, the so-called quality hasn’t always been there.
Case in point – I bought a brand new, from the actual boutique, Betsey Johnson dress… only to have the straps snap off after I wore it twice. So, my verdict with clothing and accessories? I have some guilt about buying blatant knock offs, which I try to offset by being eco fashionable (i.e. shopping at thrift and consignment stores). One good deed will undo a bad deed, right? RIGHT?
Plus, I always admit to the item being faux. No one likes a poseur.
3. Someone else’s designs. In the realm of costuming (where I have a time share, not a principal residence), ripping off someone else’s design happens ALL THE TIME. You show off your modded Nerf Gun and the next thing you know, geektastic convention halls are swarming with people and their spray-painted water pistols (myself included). Here’s my stance on knocking off a costume/pattern/idea – it’s okay for personal use, but don’t you DARE try and peddle it on Etsy.
For example, when my buddy, Princess, bought an extremely expensive (and in my mind, overpriced) tribal belly-dancing top, I rushed to make a pattern out of it. With that pattern I’ve made two vests, but I will not sell them (even when I get too old and have to give up belly wear, SOB). I feel it’s wrong to make a profit off of someone else’s creativity. Granted, I will someday give away the tops (and I’ve shared the pattern with close friends), but will not earn a penny.
Bottom line, knock offs are cheaper. Creating a “look for less” is cheaper. Taking someone’s costume idea and making it myself is cheaper. And my name says it all – I AM The Cheap Chick. But there is a flip side – you get what you pay for. And sometimes, the original is the best.
Let’s open this up for group discussion. How do you guys feel about knock-offs, faux brands, designer imposters, etc? And where do you draw the line?
5 Comments
Knock-offs are precisely the reason we never pitched the Cozy Corset Cuff to the likes of Caribou and Starbucks. We KNEW they’d say, “Hey, that’s great! We’ll be in touch” and then turn around and find someone in China to make it for them.
As far as brands go, they mean squat to me. I care about one thing, and that’s the $$. Like you said, so often the big name isn’t any better quality. We’ve already discussed that I will buy almost anything generic, and the same goes for clothes. The only time I splurge is on shoes, specifically shoes for work. $15 Target shoes are not going to cut it when I’m on my feet for 8 hours. They just aren’t.
I’ll copy for my personal costuming use – because I can’t afford to buy the real thing. $450 for a corset I MIGHT wear twice is way too steep for my budget when I can make a similar one for $30. And if I get tired of it (which rarely happens, since I’m possessive about my costuming stuff!) I’ll sell that one item. However, I would never copy someone work and make items just to sell. Even though items of apparel can’t be copyrighted, and are therefore fair game to anyone who isn’t bothered by the unfairness to the original designer.
I feel bad for designers of items who get ripped off. But if it’s any consolation, oftentimes, if I know I am looking at a faux version of this or that, or a copycat version of something, the quality just isn’t there. Sometimes, it’s very obviously bad. If I can’t get an original, I’ll try to find a reasonably-priced copy/similar version, one that’s good enough quality for my liking. Sure, I’d love to buy a Betsey Johnson dress too. But like Erin said, sometimes not even the high-end brands mean you’re going to get anything better than you would at, say, Kohl’s or Target, etc., etc.
Basically, if I am looking for a long-lasting item (say a jacket) I will pay more if the quality is good. If I need T’s for the summer, I will pay less. Who cares if they are Michael Kors or not? I certainly don’t.
I respect others for their brands, and I do not believe in copying someone’s work and passing it off as my own. But I do agree with Lis – if I am inspired by something and make it, and then get tired of it, I will sell it. But not make 25 of them for sale all at the same time. And something I make is NOT going to be exactly like what I see offered by someone else. What is the fun in that?
Also? You, my friend, may have a time share in Costumelandia, but I have a vacation home. Heh.
Re: brands
I was mega disappointed with two (not one, but TWO) Betsy Johnson watches — a jewel fell off one, bands fell apart on both. The company did not stand behind their products. Thrifting is one thing in BuyerBewareLand, but these were full-price retail purchases. As a result I will NEVER buy anything from Betsey Johnson again. The best watch I ever bought was $10 at Wal Mart.
Re: knockoffs
It’s wrong to make a stitch-for-stitch copy of someone else’s design. It’s okay to be inspired by a design and turn it into something else.