Oops… they did it again! Major retailer Forever 21 is accused of blatantly stealing (again) a design from an indie brand. Last week, Emily Oberg of Sporty & Rich was given a heads up on the copycat by one of her followers on Twitter. In a very elegant way, she posted the photo on Instagram with the caption “When Forever 21 copies you” followed by a heart emoji. *multiple applause emojis*.
The knockoff, a white hoodie that reads Smart & Pretty suspiciously resembles the one Oberg began selling last year. “At first, I didn’t really care because my followers and customers know it’s wack and they would never support a lamer version of my brand,” she claims. FYI, back in January Fresh Tops shamelessly put up for sale the exact same hoodie.
Victim of the fast fashion phenomenon, Forever 21 and other retailers have turned to plagiarize not only from high-end brands but also up-coming designers in order to remain alive. “I think that we’re in a time where people are just so out of ideas and don’t feel the need to be inventive or creative anymore,” says Oberg.
But to be honest, these brands are just playing themselves. What they actually do is draw attention to the original designs making the costumers aware of their dirty work. “They’re the ones who make the brand special and in-demand in the first place, so as long as I have them, I’m good,” she remarks.
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