NYT: Designers seeking legal protection

[AlanC]

In today's Times, the article below. They are not talking about stopping Chinatown fakes, but lower end versions of designer items, or apparently even similar items that couldn't even reasonably be called knockoffs.

O.K., Knockoffs, This Is War
By ERIC WILSON
Published: March 30, 2006

FOR readers of Marie Claire, one of its most popular monthly features is Splurge vs. Steal, a column that shows an expensive runway look next to a knockoff costing a fraction of the price. But within the fashion trade the magazine column is roundly disliked, at least by designers whose work is included under the Splurge heading.

"I wish the magazine wouldn't encourage that kind of behavior," said Behnaz Sarafpour, after seeing an issue in which her $1,565 silk trench coat was shown next to a similar design for $159 from Jones New York. "I mean, thanks for the lovely picture, but no thanks."

Customers who crave inexpensive designer look-alikes at retailers like H&M and Zara or close-enoughs at Gap and Banana Republic or line-for-line copies of Oscar gowns by the label ABS may have little empathy for designers who denounce knockoffs.

Lesley Jane Seymour, the editor in chief of Marie Claire, which has included designer clones in Splurge vs. Steal by Banana Republic, Steve Madden and American Eagle Outfitters, said shoppers understand "” and generally approve "” how fashion offers them expensive runway originals alongside lower-price versions of the same styles.

But those inexpensive copies could be history if the Council of Fashion Designers of America has its way in a new anti-copying campaign in Washington....

 

[dah328]

Interesting. I can't see the anti-copying campaign having much effect, though, as there are many heavy-weight retailers that make a lot of money on knock-offs. And knock-offs are an inevitable side effect of fashion-oriented clothing. You're certainly not going to find similar knock-offs of a Savile Row suit, for example.

 

[Brian SD]

You're certainly not going to find similar knock-offs of a Savile Row suit, for example.

Banana Republic is doing their best to cover this one too.