I came across this on outsapop, and yeah, says it all really.
However, I’d just like to expound on my personal philosophy on the subtle differences between inspiration and copying, and a further explanation on my label “own design” that I use from time to time.
I am inspired all the time by so much around me, including the work of great and talented designers and am often moved to create something for myself based on someone else’s idea. However, the end result is often, if not always, very different from my original source of inspiration, perhaps because of some design whim of my own, or a personal colour/length preference, or to fit a quirky design detail within the practical considerations of my life. In this case I consider myself to be “inspired” by another’s work, rather than for me to be “copying” another’s work. It’s very rare that I set out to reproduce a piece exactly, and I’ll always reference my inspirations! some small consideration to intellectual property!
I do use commercial patterns, for basic shaping and sizing, but a lot of the time will add my own twist to a pattern. Altering a hemline, neckline or incorporating fitting features are just part and parcel of basic dressmaking variations; but anything more complicated than this and I will start to consider added features as my own design, and I’ll label it as such, even though I always display my original starter pattern for reference.
As for the self-imposed fear that the home seamstress often has of “ripping off” designer items….
Take a basic blazer. Who invented the blazer? Let’s even take it a step further and narrow it down to a military blazer. It’s been around since Civil war era and I’m pretty sure no-one knows who actually invented the thing, but it definitely wasn’t Balmain and yet I see fashion editorials devoted to the horror of “Balmain copies”…. please, it’s a trend, not owned by anyone, and free for the home seamstress to play with as much as she/he fancies.
I say if you want to take a piece of cloth, make your own sharp shouldered jacket and put a few brass buttons and epaullettes on, then yay for you! You made yourself a blazer! You win!
On a related note, true story: a few years ago I made myself a ball dress that I spattered all over with fabric paint and told a friend that I got the idea from a Dolce and Gabbana gown. He asked if I was worried about getting sued. Seriously.
What are other’s opinions on this point?
I am in agreement with you. Can you believe that someone would actually think that you could be sued?
My thoughts entirely. Inspiration springs from many sources. It always need a trigger.
I'm with you on the inspiration issue. And I have the same experience when sewing things 'inspired by'. Anyone thinking you could get sued for something like that should take a closer look at catwalks over the course of a few years, and at high street stores not linked to catwalk-showing brands. That's where the real copying is going on. And anyway, in fashion design the general rule is, if you change one small design element, the 'original' designer can no longer prove you stole his design. I don't approve of such lazy work in a commercial and professional design environment but I have also had the experience of coming up with the same idea at the same time myself. In my personal view, as a hobby seamstress, you can look everywhere for inspiration and even starting out on a full-on copy can be OK, as long as it is for your personal use and not make money for it as your design.
Absolutely agree with you, especially about the Balenciaga thing. It’s really funny someone thought you can be sued for that.
Creating something totally new is a tough thing in these days fashion. Then you could say that everything is copied. I think the biggest attempt should be to “reinvent” something, to see well known things in a different way and put something from your own.
But I don’t see anything bad even in the fact that some stores are copying clothes straight from the runaway. That’s how fashion world is build, it was happening all the time through the history, only in a different level.
This is a great point! Love you attitude! I couldn't agree more!