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

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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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I totally agree with you, MintyTea. You know that Customs Officers do random luggage search and then it's up to them to decide whether the item is what they consider a replica or not.
On The other hand I think they can't know about all designers and models whether inspired or not.
A friend of mine brought back a fake Jimmy Choo bag about 10 years ago.
At the time, no one knew who Jimmy Choo was in Europe. I am not sure they know about him now.
She had no problems at the Customs.
Might be another story today with, let's say, The Stella Falabella tote...though all the inspired designs are in leather... when Stella material is polyester...
 
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.
Me too, belle belle belle. :smile:
 
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Me too, belle belle belle. :smile:

I agree. Here are some interesting articles about how it can be difficult to pursue legal action against another label for copying.

http://fashionista.com/2016/12/fashion-law-patent-copyright-trademark

http://artlawjournal.com/fast-fashion-retailers-built-billiondollar-businesses-stealing-designs/

http://www.whowhatwear.com/copying-in-the-fashion-industry-copyright-the-fashion-law-julie-zerbo

While I do think that some labels (H&M, Zara, Mango, etc.) goes too far with taking too much creative liberty with other designers, I don't think that a person should be looked down upon for wearing these highly inspired items. Maybe they don't want to spend $$$$ on something when a lesser item can totally meet their needs/wants. Some people are offended that other designers "copied" from their beloved designers and goes on to take out their dislike towards another person for buying it. Yet they have no problem wearing products that are most likely inspired from someone else.

Blatant replicas and fakes are legally wrong. No doubt about that. Inspired products, very much an ongoing debate. Even some premier luxury designers have been caught taking too much liberty with someone else's design. Karl? :coolio:
 
As a designer, I would add that we all go to Premier Vision, for example, and we all see a ton of hardware, leather, colors. There are trends and most of us follow them (certain materials are available from season to season and others are not). So, we create a bag believing it to be totally original only to find that others were inspired to put the raw materials together in a similar manner. Thus, we have market trends first with the materials we use, and then with the design trends. I think it's rather good, actually and it's better for me to just go with the flow than defend my own originality. It's a sort of collective consciousness, I suppose.
 
Hello all! I was wondering if you could help me. Do you think these bags are too similar to be lawful?

Hermes Picotin:
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Etsy bag maker:
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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?
honestly, I think this one is a little too similar.
 
The MAB is actually inspired by the Balenciaga Metro. The MAC and 5-Zip are definitely original, though. RM is literally becoming the female version of "Michael Kors" now. If Kors is the "king" of knocking off other designers, might as well pass the "Queen" title to RM herself. She even went as far as making an exact dupe of the Balenciaga City/First/Hip with her absolutely hideous "Regan" bags. I cringe every time I see them in the stores.

I'm a Bal fan, but I believe the MAB was released way before the Bal metro. Contemporary designer doesn't have to always copy Premiere. Sometimes, it's the opposite.
 
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?

Can you tell the name of the Etsy designer?
Thank you!
 
I own this Botkier, it's pretty old. This MZ Wallace bag (2nd pic) looks similar to me.
 

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I'm a Bal fan, but I believe the MAB was released way before the Bal metro. Contemporary designer doesn't have to always copy Premiere. Sometimes, it's the opposite.
I believe the MAB was released in 2005 and the Metro in 2009.
You're right! [emoji6]
Always good to get the facts!:tup:

I think I presume that it's premier to contemporary too often and sometimes it's just not. I should know better than to presume.

But again for me, I'd prefer something more original but it may be darn near impossible to be completely unique at this point. There isn't much new under the sun in fashion. And some things are just beautiful and serve as wonderful inspiration or a launching points (not models for copying) for something else.
 
yes, to me, inspired designs are 1000 x better than fakes. There are many people who are unwilling to spend too much money on bags, therefore inspired designs are alternatives for them.
I'll go even further and say inspired designs and fakes aren't comparable on any level. Most if not all of fashion is inspired to some extent by something. Yes, I'm not crazy about reeaaaallly close inspirations but they are just that, inspirations sold under a different brand almost always with some tweaks to the design and different materials.

Fakes and replicas however are flat out theft by criminals. The selling or known buying of these bags are a crime and a moral issue.
 
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.
That's totally fine, but how much of a "twist" or differentiation does a brand need to put on a design to so-called "make it their own"? For instance, what about Michael Kors just replacing the logo on designs with his own? What about the Etsy-Hermes Picotin example earlier in the thread where there were additions, but at a glance I would've assumed it was an actual Picotin?
 
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