Topshop ripoff they have copied our brooch design
One of our (super lovely) customers bought to our attention that Topshop have RIPPED OFF our design. Can you believe it? I’ve even blogged about Topshop before and how they copy other indie designers before but this time they have blatantly copied our ORIGINAL design. I knew there was a reason it just felt wrong to have the “new” and “exciting” Topshop opening in Sydney. What a load of shit – that shop is like a disease on our city (and country). Incu should be ashamed to stock such JUNK in their store! They haven’t even tried to change the design!. We work our ass off (literally) to produce our own designs from drawing them, cutting them, gluing them, packaging them, sending them out and trying to make them as original as we can – they just take it and mass produce it (which is one thing we never wanted to do).
Topshop we HATE you!
Here is our original (and original drawing too)
And here is their copy – I think they have even just used the “auto trace” in illustrator…
Irit says:
Theirs is so inferior! Ugh!!!
This is truly revolting. Have you contacted TopShop about this? Maybe it’s not their own brand. I’ve heard of several Asian companies (mostly Chinese) that copy other artists’ designs.
Christina says:
This is just the worst thing ever! I am so glad I own a mbw original :)
I am going to email top shop & incu and voice my disgust, I have never seen such a blatant copy.
never, EVER buying top shop again
x
lyndsay says:
Oh yes I didn’t think of that :( lets hope not. Dam Topshop I’m going to call them tonight when their offices are open.
thanks for your revoltion :)
There will be an update soon!
Betty Jo says:
That is so blatant….I think we should start a mini REVOLT and spread the word. If Top Shop have a conscience, they will remove the piece as soon as they know WE know!
geek+nerd says:
That is UNBELIEVABLY lame. I’ll tweet and re-post elsewhere to spread the word. Horrible. Is there any legal action that you can take?
Natalie says:
Saw the tweet. Totally appalling. Yours is infinitely better. Their rip-off specialist didn’t even do a very good job at it. So sorry this happened to you.
Violet says:
This makes me really cross! I found out from Vanilla Pixie who tweeted this. The word is out now and the best form of action is getting this knowledge out. Sellers without integrity do not last and their inferior products go under ~ you reap what you sow!
cath from chunkychooky says:
That is just BULLSHIT!!! What can we do?- how can we help?
Shall we write letters to top shop? send emails???!!!
Lilli says:
That’s outrageous! I’ll tweet about it too – let’s make sure the word gets out there. Will you take them to task about it?
Frankie & Ray says:
Fellow GeorgieLove ladies. My heart goes out to you. I had a copycat situation last year and was very lucky to have a speedy and non-legal resolution. It breaks your heart and turns your stomach when so much hard work and orginal thinking goes into your work. I’ll be spreading the word for you.
lyndsay says:
I’ll be calling them tonight – not sure what good it will do but will be interesting to see what they say! Depending on that outcome I will work out what to do next. But yes I wont be letting it slide by that’s for sure! I’ll let you all know what they say!
Sarah says:
I think it’s probably a case of their suppliers copying the design without Topshop’s knowledge. But the buck stops with Topshop.
I’d suggest calling Incu to make them aware and emailing Topshop asap and following up with written letters.
Then seek advice on copyright infringement and what your rights are if they can’t resolve it to your satisfaction.
As a shopper I can’t know about every design coming out and I’m annoyed that this happens SO often. I don’t want to purchase ripoffs!
dana says:
That is disgusting! I feel sick when I hear about this sort of stuff. Do not give up – I would fight the bastards! You have evidence.
Good luck!
amy says:
lowlife’s! all they care about is money!
emmaline says:
aghh! this is so unfair
really hope you get somewhere with them.
ive seen someone’s designs put ona tshirt and topshop didn’t realise it wasn’t an original design… i think they were pretty good about it in that case and actually followed up, so here’s hopin’!
Hello Sandwich says:
Oh no! What a horrible situation! I hope you find out who is copying you and get to the bottom of it! Please keep me posted you poor thing!
Love Hello Sandwich
xxx
Alisa says:
I’m spreading the word too. This makes me so mad!
Me And Boo says:
This is unbelievable – I will NOT be shopping with them (if they ever come to Melb). I’m all for being inspired by other designs but a direct copy is not on.
Alyssa says:
You would think a company like that could afford to hire designers to make original work or at least CONTACT someone if they really like their image and offer to pay them for it!!
Its really disgusting when a company does this..
I wish you lots of luck sorting it out!
Lucy says:
I keep seeing blog posts by indie designers about large chains ripping off their designs. It’s so unfair. What are you doing about it? What CAN you do?
Mum says:
How dare they steal my talented girls designs, just let me at them!!
Sam says:
Bastards.
Caroline, No. says:
omg! that is just shameful! mass market design pillage. ugh.
Amy says:
This is a horrible horrible thing. You have my heartfelt sympathy. Sending positive vibes.
Laura says:
Don’t get disheartened I would get in contact with someone who deals with copyright infringement before contacting them directly. That way you know where you stand.
It does prove one thing, that TOPSHOP has very little natural creativity.
Dig The Earth says:
That is SO blatant, you really need to get some legal advice and threaten to sue them. There is NO excuse for this it’s appalling!
Jolicious says:
Totally out of order Top Shop! Hope you get it sorted!
Zara says:
hope topshop get to the bottom of it, im sure they didn’t realise the design was copied – very sad thing to have happened – hope you get justice xxx
vInTage VioLet says:
that is terrible – i heard about it on twitter {aint twitter a great information tool} – hope you get it resolved fast.
Stacey says:
Like alot of people I read about this on twitter and it’s horrible that your hard work has just been stolen like that.
Hope Topshop are able to give you some answers.
sally boyle says:
OMG! this is outrageous! they haven’t even pretended! it supposed to be 5 major alts in the UK – or something like that – b4 you can call something you’re own… tell ‘em. some lowly designer might hav just passed it off as their own.
sally boyle says:
OMG! this is outrageous! they haven’t even pretended! its supposed to be 5 major alts in the UK – or something like that – b4 you can call something your own… tell ‘em. some lowly designer might hav just passed it off as their own.
PennyDog says:
Eagerly awaiting what response you get. The copy is so inferior to your original. I’m just glad you spotted it, I bet it goes unnoticed so often :( Good luck!
Vonnie says:
What a nightmare! You seem to have accrued a bit of support on twitter though and plenty of people spreading the word – I hope you get a resolution but as well as contacting TopShop I’d also be contacting a lawyer x
all five horizons says:
Hey there, just came by your site via a twitterer (@tuileries) and love your designs and website. This blatant copy by top Shop is disgusting and as has already ben mentioned, vastly inferior to your original. I suggest you contact them immediately if you have not yet done so. I will be tweeting about this to spread the word. Let us know if have any comment back from Top Shop.
Satellites says:
I’m going to stick up for Topshop a bit here, they probably got the design from a 3rd party supplier, rather than some evil bod at head office singling out your design for copying. I once bought a necklace with an unusual bead on it, only to find my friend had jewellery with the same bead bought from topshop. We worked out that there was a bead supplier who was selling to my independent handmade woman as well as to Topshop.
I’m sure if you approach Topshop calmly and with the fact that it might have been a supplier’s fault in mind, you’ll be able to achieve a suitable resolution. It does make Topshop look really bad, so they’ll be as keen as you to find who is responsible and ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Internet Police says:
Firstly, your blog is so painfully slow I want to cry.
Secondly, if you don’t like the way you’ve been plagiarised, I’m pretty sure the best thing to do is sit and complain on the Internet.
Karys says:
Saw a tweet about this, and had to comment.
I really hope you sort this out, I can’t believe how blatently it is copied. As an artist/maker of things weird and wonderful myself I worry about copies, so I really feel for you. I can’t imagine how devastated Id be if this happened to me.
Beth says:
Saw this tweeted, I’ve emailed Topshop (it’s for sale in the UK too) and have found that Topshop have previously been court ordered to destroy dressed they’d copied from Chloe: http://www.intangiblebusiness.com/Brand-services/Legal-services/News/Topshop-ordered-to-destroy-dresses-copied-from-Chloe-design~816.html
I think it would definitely be worth you filing a lawsuit.
Good luck
Claire says:
Heard about this through India Knight on Twitter!
I make accessories of original designs I draw myself and this is my worst nightmare! I can’t believe such a massive chain store would blatantly do that – they barely even altered it, or made any attempt to make it look different. That is gross thievery and I shall certainly be spreading the word. Shame on Topshop. Independent designers unite!!!
Karen says:
How much more blatant can you get! That is such an amazing piece and so distressing to see somewhere just lift all your creativity and pass off as their own. x
Michele says:
That is horrible. It is the most awful feeling when you see one of your original designs or drawings ripped off. It has happened to me too. This is copyright infringement!
Louise says:
Do you know if this design is worldwide? And which countries’ Topshop is it being sold in?
In the UK a concession supplies the jewellery under the name ‘Freedom’. This is the second time I’ve seen this happen and it’s really starting to hack me off.
The last time I saw this happen was in Australia, and if I recall correctly the situation was resolved by the ‘boss’, who had no idea and certainly didn’t consolate what had happened and it was the down to the design team who I guess he took it up with, they’re supposed to come up with original designs but it looks as though they’re not capable of even that.
Kirsty Hall says:
Wow, that is SO blatant – good luck getting a fair resolution to this.
Julie Cliff says:
I am shocked by this, I HATE Topshop, I vow to NEVER shop there again! Love your designs!
Jen says:
How horrid. :-(
AUbergine Ink says:
That’s awful!
Your design is obviously superior too.
I would second those recommending that you seek legal advice.
Nick says:
That is a disgrace, how the fuck are you supposed to make a successful career when capitalist enterprises just take the piss like that! I hope this gets resolved you dont deserve that!! makes my blood boil!! Good luck with the revolt!!!
Beth says:
This is absolutely terrible! I’m tweeting as much as I can, and will email TOPSHOP too!
My tweet is here: http://twitter.com/roseofwinter/status/7672565340
Beth says:
Totally agree that TOPSHOP might not know about this plagiarism, but important to tell them!