Heard a designer at a fabric store in Portland say something that got me worried

I was picking up some cotton twill last week and overheard two people talking near the pattern books. One said, 'Just copy the trending stuff on social, no one checks anymore.' They were discussing how to fast-track a collection by basically ripping off smaller indie designers. It made me think about how many original ideas get stolen before they even hit a runway. Has anyone else noticed sketchy stuff like this happening more often?

3 comments

3 Comments

wadejenkins12d ago

Honestly, it goes way beyond just patterns and fabric choices. I saw a small artist get her whole color palette lifted for a fast fashion line last year. They called it "desert sunrise" but it was her exact gradient from a viral post. The real kicker is they used the same Pantone codes. That level of detail copying shows it's not just inspiration, it's a system now. They have people whose job is to scan social media and file off the serial numbers before the original designer can scale up.

the_faith12d ago

My friend Kara had a whole jewelry line concept stolen. She posted mood boards with these specific oxidized silver chains and rough cut moonstones. Three months later a big brand dropped almost the same collection, even used her exact phrasing about "wabi-sabi imperfections" in the product description. She was just saving up to produce her samples.

wells.evan12d ago

Ugh, that's so gross. It reminds me of this local potter I follow. She posted a video of her making these mugs with a really unique, drippy glaze technique she'd spent months figuring out. Like, she showed the whole failed process. Next thing you know, a home goods chain had a "handcrafted artisan" line with the exact same glaze pattern. They even copied the way she photographed them on a raw wood slab. It's just so blatant.