Do you own any bags from designers who were inspired by other designers?

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I am not sure if the Edith is still this popular that anyone (apart from tpfers) would recognise your bag as a look-a-like when your out and about with it in the wild. If you love that bag carry it!

I gifted it to my best friend who wouldn't know what 'chloe' is, and she loves it so yay!

I saw RM & MK for the first time in stores just this month, they didn't used to be in stores in this country, so I only knew about them from afar. Now that I've looked at them in person....omg the love crossbody and the MK Sloan? That's.....I am sputtering. I am absolutely not a bag snob but..... I just can't wrap my head around blatant copycating right there on the shelf in a high end department store! Isn't this at least frowned on? I guess not, and even the MK Sloan has taken obvious branding off to try to be more like a premier quilted flap from a distance. I mean okay whatever but.... Why is it that hard to just come up with your own slightly different design with many of the same elements? Just a bit of an original spin on a popular concept would already be very classy in comparison with this in my little mind..,,
 
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I remember taking the Bal tote in my hands and thinking, well it reminds me of the GP.....
Could it have been an another model?
Anyway, I prefer the GP....:smile:
More discreet....

I thought the Hermes garden party looks very similar to LL Bean Boat tote, which came out in the 1950-60s.
I really don't mind designers taking inspiration from each other. There are only so many basic shapes to a bag and each designer add their own features to make them a bit different.
Sometimes the inspired bag is a better bag because it satisfied all the requirements of the buyer. For example, the boston/speedy/doctor's bag. Variations of that shape has been introduced by many many designers.
 
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I thought the Hermes garden party looks very similar to LL Bean Boat tote, which came out in the 1950-60s.
I really don't mind designers taking inspiration from each other. There are only so many basic shapes to a bag and each designer add their own features to make them a bit different.
Sometimes the inspired bag is a better bag because it satisfied all the requirements of the buyer. For example, the boston/speedy/doctor's bag. Variations of that shape has been introduced by many many designers.
Absolutely Minty Tea!
it's become very difficult to know who inspired who. ;)
 
Hello all! I was wondering if you could help me. Do you think these bags are too similar to be lawful?

Hermes Picotin:
IMG_1484982944.185196.jpg
Etsy bag maker:
IMG_1484982953.104937.jpg

I can't decide if I think the design differences are too subtle. The differences in the bodies of the bag are subtle, but the Etsy bag maker added a strap and a zip compartment which were both lacking in the Hermes design. I think any Hermes lover would easily be able to tell.

Having worked in a creative field, I would hate to think that I'm wearing something that's creative theft, and I haven't made up my mind about this one. So what do you think?
 
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Hello all! I was wondering if you could help me. Do you think these bags are too similar to be lawful?

Hermes Picotin:
View attachment 3580969
Etsy bag maker:
View attachment 3580970

I can't decide if I think the design differences are too subtle. The differences in the bodies of the bag are subtle, but the Etsy bag maker added a strap and a zip compartment which were both lacking in the Hermes design. I think any Hermes lover would easily be able to tell.

Having worked in a creative field, I would hate to think that I'm wearing something that's creative theft, and I haven't made up my mind about this one. So what do you think?
Once a lady asked the same question about a "Balenciaga" bag.
I phoned the French Customs, they told me an item is considered as a counterfeit if "visually" the bag reminds you of Balenciaga, even if there is no designer logo on it and a few differences...
My father , a retired Customs Officer, agreed.
He said " If you see a bike that looks like a Harley Davidson, you will think it's a Harley but it isn't, is it? And that's all that matters to the Customs."
France is very strict about counterfeits.
 
I have a quilted Rebecca Minkoff bag and absolutely love it. I also own two LV pieces. But I love both equally! That being said, I don't think I will spring for the Love Crossbody by RM because it's a little too similar. I don't take handbags seriously enough to judge others when I see an inspired piece.
 
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Hello all! I was wondering if you could help me. Do you think these bags are too similar to be lawful?

Hermes Picotin:
View attachment 3580969
Etsy bag maker:
View attachment 3580970

I can't decide if I think the design differences are too subtle. The differences in the bodies of the bag are subtle, but the Etsy bag maker added a strap and a zip compartment which were both lacking in the Hermes design. I think any Hermes lover would easily be able to tell.

Having worked in a creative field, I would hate to think that I'm wearing something that's creative theft, and I haven't made up my mind about this one. So what do you think?

It may not be illegal but I think it's wrong, I've seen another very distinctive design copied by an etsy maker and I think creative theft is a good way to describe it.
 
I can't decide if I think the design differences are too subtle. The differences in the bodies of the bag are subtle, but the Etsy bag maker added a strap and a zip compartment which were both lacking in the Hermes design. I think any Hermes lover would easily be able to tell.

Having worked in a creative field, I would hate to think that I'm wearing something that's creative theft, and I haven't made up my mind about this one. So what do you think?

If I see you carrying this while I have the Picotin, I would not care. It's not stamped with Hermes, therefore it's not a fake.

Do you associates with people who care about you buying inspired designs? Do they think less of you for doing it? If they don't, then what strangers think of you shouldn't matter. Most items in our homes are inspired products of the original designs anyway (bags, shoes, clothes, household goods, jewelry, furniture, etc.). It would be very tough to only buy non-inspired items.
 
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If I see you carrying this while I have the Picotin, I would not care. It's not stamped with Hermes, therefore it's not a fake.

Do you associates with people who care about you buying inspired designs? Do they think less of you for doing it? If they don't, then what strangers think of you shouldn't matter. Most items in our homes are inspired products of the original designs anyway (bags, shoes, clothes, household goods, jewelry, furniture, etc.). It would be very tough to only buy non-inspired items.
Of course, Minty Tea. I don't know about the US but in France you can get into real trouble if you cross borders with a "very"inspired bag.
The Customs will confiscate it, the fine will be twice as much as the genuine item and you can be sued.
 
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Of course, Minty Tea. I don't know about the US but in France you can get into real trouble if you cross borders with a "very"inspired bag.
The Customs will confiscate it, the fine will be twice as much as the genuine item and you can be sued.

I understand that France and Italy are very strict with counterfeits. However, isn't it subjective to how far a designer/brand can get away when taking inspiration from another designer/brand? I know of several people who have carried very inspired bags & watches into France and nothing was done. Maybe the Custom officers were lenient or maybe it isn't as enforced.

For instance, let's take the shape of the dome satchel. A quick google search will show countless variation of the same basic shape. Some minor features (feet, shoulder strap, fold down handles, leather, PCV, extra pockets, etc) may differentiate the bags but if the bags were all in one color and one material they are very very similar. Some members in Hermes & LV are very passionate about who came first, while others see the similarity but they are fine with it. Both are French labels with a very long history. Looking through some of the vintage photos, there are other bags that are very similar to each as well.

BTW, I think it's interesting to discuss what is things like this. (Much better than reading about the loose threads and hairline scratches.)
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Once a lady asked the same question about a "Balenciaga" bag.
I phoned the French Customs, they told me an item is considered as a counterfeit if "visually" the bag reminds you of Balenciaga, even if there is no designer logo on it and a few differences...
My father , a retired Customs Officer, agreed.
He said " If you see a bike that looks like a Harley Davidson, you will think it's a Harley but it isn't, is it? And that's all that matters to the Customs."
France is very strict about counterfeits.
Of course, Minty Tea. I don't know about the US but in France you can get into real trouble if you cross borders with a "very"inspired bag.
The Customs will confiscate it, the fine will be twice as much as the genuine item and you can be sued.
Thanks for sharing this!!!

But I'm confused. Rebecca Minkoff quilted bags definitely remind me of Chanel. The OP's bag reminds us of Ralph Lauren double zips which remind us of Prada double zips. But all of these are inspired and legal. So the "remind us of" test would seem to be almost impossible to apply. But of course we don't want brands or individuals ripping off designs. Is there some additional test they use?

I can't see them snatching a Ralph Lauren DZ away to protect Prada.

This is fascinating.
 
Of course, Minty Tea. I don't know about the US but in France you can get into real trouble if you cross borders with a "very"inspired bag.
The Customs will confiscate it, the fine will be twice as much as the genuine item and you can be sued.
:amazed: And this is all just because somebody thinks that it looks like something else? Who gives the opinion about similarity?
It is an absolute nonsense for the designers to state that they own the geometrical shape and to claim that this is their knowhow. Bags in all kinds of the shapes have been made for centuries.
In Europe they have a very strict and stupid rules about food, for example. Parmijana cheese is only produced in Parma, champagne- only in Champaine province. Really???? Like other people never made hard cheese and brut bubbly wine? Do you know how is it called? Monopoly! The worst thing in the world. Do you want people to buy your product-make your quality and price the best. And that is called fair competition!
 
To be honest, I don't think the debate is even settled legally. Laws are varied across countries, and in the US, there constantly are lawsuits on all kinds of art, including fashion. I think it's a debate that can go on endlessly on TPF! As long as we're respectful (which we have been) I really enjoy reading other people's thoughts.
 
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:amazed: And this is all just because somebody thinks that it looks like something else? Who gives the opinion about similarity?
It is an absolute nonsense for the designers to state that they own the geometrical shape and to claim that this is their knowhow. Bags in all kinds of the shapes have been made for centuries.
In Europe they have a very strict and stupid rules about food, for example. Parmijana cheese is only produced in Parma, champagne- only in Champaine province. Really???? Like other people never made hard cheese and brut bubbly wine? Do you know how is it called? Monopoly! The worst thing in the world. Do you want people to buy your product-make your quality and price the best. And that is called fair competition!

To be honest, I don't think the debate is even settled legally. Laws are varied across countries, and in the US, there constantly are lawsuits on all kinds of art, including fashion. I think it's a debate that can go on endlessly on TPF! As long as we're respectful (which we have been) I really enjoy reading other people's thoughts.

I think there needs to be some standard to protect innovation. That's why patents exist.

But art / fashion / food are harder because many times "innovation" is a tweak. And it always amazes me when the designers at fashion week all show the same new trend. How does that happen. All of a sudden long floaty skirts are in every collection. Or like the past few years, every designer shows bags that are very embellished. How does the clarion call for a trend get into the psyches of various designers in the same year and even the same season and why does no one cry foul that they thought it up first?

Selfishly as a consumer, while I would like there to be differentiation in true design, I don't want one brand to "own" a shape. There are brands whose aesthetic or quality or price I just don't like. And, I'm glad another brand can use the shape, put their twist on it and give me a product I like better.
 
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