We are taught that copying other’s ideas is a bad thing, yet the entire idea of a ‘trend’ is that many, many people are doing it at the same point in time. A ‘trendsetter’ started the idea (good for them), and many of us copied that idea exactly as is, or perhaps adding our own spin on it along the way. Therefore every idea, product or creation comes from a slightly tweaked version of a previous idea, product or creation, so is it all that bad?
What about when someone wants to partake in a trend, but cannot afford it? Let’s say the Cult Gaia bamboo bag for instance, that every blogger under the sun has been wearing for the past 3-4 seasons? Now you can find lookalikes on Etsy and ASOS for a fraction of the price, some of them so perfect you could pass it off as the real thing. Or how about the blue molded Eames chairs in my dining room that retail for about $65, compared to the original which is roughly $500? I love the style and can’t afford to buy 8 of the real thing, so is it bad that I took part in this trend by buying a lower priced copy?
{My dining chairs looks a lot like the original!}
Obviously, the downside is potential lost sales for the Trendsetters and Designers who create these pieces. Intellectual property laws work well for written creations like books and code, but are loose for items with a more ‘hard to define’ beauty, like shoes, clothing and interior products. So does that mean that the designer or trendsetter can charge whatever they want (sure) and those that cannot afford will not be able to partake?
I take a different view on copies and replicas. I think my unique take comes from the combination of creator/designer and the merchant/buyer in me. I appreciate good design, but from a business and sales standpoint, I understand that all people should be able to buy a beautiful piece. So my thought is that, if a similar looking piece can be made and sold for a less expensive price than the original, so be it.
How does this though translate into fashion and home decor? For instance, take the famous Saarinen tulip base marble tables. The original designs distributed by Knoll designs, for instance the 60″ round dining table, costs upwards of $5000 for a white laminate top. A lookalike, with an artificial marble top, costs $750. If you compare marble tops to marble tops, then you are looking at about $8000 to $1200. So, the cost is not in the quality of the materials, or the labor to make such materials, it is in the brand name. Some people are happy to pay more for a name, but not me. Especially, when that original design is roughly 50 years old – passed the typical 7 year patent law that applies to most inventions!
{my painted bamboo bag is artfully inspired by the original Cult Gaia bag}
Now let’s take an opposite approach. Let’s look at this embroidered lace Carolina Herrera gown or this lace inset Elie Saab dress. For the Carolina Herrera, you will struggle to find any lookalike with fabric even remotely similar, because the cost of making that fabric is so high. For the Elie Saab, even though it’s just crepe fabric and simple lace, all of the cutwork and handwork required to make those insets is incredibly time consuming, therefore the price. In both these instances, I understand why the price is so high and therefore don’t believe you could really buy a knockoff, because nothing would really be similar.
Now a lot of reasons why brands like Zara can create something similar for a fraction of the price of the original is quantity and production location. Which is fine. If you care about buying something that is made in Italy or by local artisans or by Fair Trade means, then you will have to pay more than for something made in terrible conditions on a huge production line. To me, both are ok- but it’s up to you to make an educated, conscious decision about how you would like to participate in each trend.
{I’ve never seen a pair of Valentino Rockstuds that look as good as the real thing!}
Lastly, I shouldn’t have to say it but I will, this of course does not apply to counterfeits. Passing something off as one thing when it is truly another is forgery, and not something I can get behind!
So, even though I respect design integrity, I don’t believe in charging more just because you can. Whether it’s an engagement ring, a dress, a table or a handbag, before purchasing look a little deeper to understand why something is priced the way it is, and you may decide that you are ok spending a little more (or a little less!) on the design.
Would love to know your thoughts on this… please weigh in in the comments!
