Alexander McQueen is suing Steve Madden for copying his Faithful bootie which was inspired by a motorcycle jacket. Steve Madden’s cheaper version called Seryna bootie is an exact copy of the shoe. Not only has McQueen’s lawyer’s noticed the studied imitation so similar but also bloggers all over the world. McQueen’s lawyers sent a cease and desist letter to Steve Madden in September. But Steve Madden refuses to stop making and selling the Seryna bootie. Steve Madden is known for copying fashion designers and make them into more affordable shoes. Question is, do we want Madden to continue copy high fashion shoes or should he be stopped once and for all?
Image source: fashionising.com
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
We do… we do! I guess we all want an affordable version we can all afford. Maybe dear old Steve should have at least changed the design a little!
as a designer myself I don’t agree with this point of view. What about one’s right to protect intellectual property? If the world had to come to this no one will make an effort to create anymore since it will just get ripped off. D
I totally support David’s point of view. As an artist and a former lawyer I think that Steve Madden’s behaviour is unacceptable. It’s not only the legal issue but the moral aspect as well. Also from the creative point of view – I would have been embarrassed to copy “one to one” someone else’s design without giving the credit to the original artist. It’s different if you take an inspiration from someone else’s work and give it your own interpretation, but copying it exactly is a different story.
I agree with David and Holly!! It’s not OK to copy another designers hard work just to get some easy cash… It’s no different than buying fake bags…
So in your opinion the big fashion houses should dominate the market forever??
The above conclusion of Ylenia is incorrect – smaller fashion houses definitely have place in the fashion industry and should leave their mark, but not by copying one to one the big fashion houses. The small fashion houses can still create a good and affordable fashion by being original. A truly good fashion label will not copy exactly the same designs, but will take an inspiration from others and create something creative and innovative of its own, thus leaving its unique fingerprint in the industry.