NYT Article on knock-offs

happened across this article in the NYT about the expanding and increasingly efficient business of copying designer clothing.

“If I see something on Style.com, all I have to do is e-mail the picture to
my factory and say, ‘I want something similar, or a silhouette made just
like this,’ ” Ms. Anand said. The factory, in Jaipur, India, can deliver
stores a knockoff months before the designer version"

It used to be that the knock-offs were of poor quality and sold through low visibility outlets that while it frustrated the fashion industry, it was only a minor irritant. But, modern technology and market demand has created an industry that appears to thrive off the "look alike" market

"can deliver her version of runway styles to stores four to six weeks
after an order. "

apparently Anna Sui has led a group of designer to target the demand side of this problem. They've specifically called out (and sued) retailers like Forever 21 to try to bring a halt to the practice. Anna claims that they've ripped off 26 designs.

it seems unlikely that the designers will have any luck. we've seen issues like this in boutique kids clothes market especially around Oilily. of course, we worry more about the counterfeiting issue where people try to pass off low quality knock-offs as the real thing. But this is a bit different, where you have a reasonably reputable retailer selling and therefore vouching the quality of the goods.

Of course, they contend that they're serving 2 different markets.

“Some people don’t want to spend $300 on a pair of jeans just because of the
name,” said Siovhan McGearey, 16, from London. “They may look nice, but why
pay $300 when you can go down the street to Forever 21 and get jeans that
are $30 that look exactly the same?”

But then, we all know that the real differences between the 2 items are slight. but then, we also know the value of being original and unique is well, priceless.

check out the $1,700 versace dress on the left, and the $130 piece of "flattery"from bebe

since copyright law is unlikely to be changed, it's hard to imagine a great solution for the designer. demand and technology will only make it harder for them...