How we meet
When I meet the reps from DollsKill at London Edge in Las Vegas and they took my card; I thought – “I finally got my first wholesale account”…instead I got something else. That something..a series of knockoffs of my designs. As an ethic owned brand, this is nothing new and the fact that no one stands up for ethnic creators makes it even bigger a problem.
the first offense
The first offense – a padlock necklace inspired by Sid Vicious but in complete plastic chain and a costly padlock in red. We are not saying we invited the style nor that the idea’s originality but simple the design was ours alone. When we complained to the same community that stuck up for white designers (later resulting in them being paid) we got “they are nothing alike” and we should be flattered, honored or just quietly accepting.
This attitude sounds familiar. The fact that ethnic designers have always been coming up with ideas and never giving credit,unfortunately, is not new. We hoped that things change but the more they do, the more they remain the same.
the second offense
The second offense – a fringe sweater that I made as a gift. The sweater they copied was a gift for my sister and never meant for sale. I am trying to be positive but I thing it is time to seek legal action. If you have been copied by DollsKill and have never gotten justice. We must combine our voices. If not, you do come across this post and actually feel like sticking up for the little guy; Contact DollsKill and tell them to reimburse us or take down the fringe sweater.
White designers’ voice are the community but Ethnic designers have none. Time to see if Black lives really matter or was it just smoke…
