Three Victims of Topshop
05:03Type 'Topshop' into Google and the fourth suggestion is 'Topshop copying designers'. Says a lot about the Philip Green owned high street brand, doesn't it?
In some places, Topshop are more famous for their crimes than their clothes. Let's take a quick look at some of Topshop's notable victims over the years, shall we?
3. Yasmin Kianfar
Back in 2012, an unknown designer publicly accused global mega-brand Topshop of theft with social media shouting ground twitter as her place of announcement. Unfortunately this is the only place such young designers can bring attention to Topshop's thievery, as huge brands like that against small, unknown designers like Yasmin mean legal action is simply not an option and going for a PR disaster is the only way.
Left: Yasmin's design. Right: Topshop's.
(Telegraph, 2012)
"The style in question has been removed from sale with immediate effect. We apologise for any misinterpretation of the design and its similarity to Yasmin Kianfar's work."
- Mary Homer, 2012.
Talent 1, Topshop 0.
2. Chloé
Whoever green lights the theft at Topshop was having a bad morning back in 2007 when they copied luxury brand Chloé, turning their military-style dungaree dress into a khaki-vomit disaster you'll no doubt be seeing doubles of in Tiger Tiger.
Left: Chloé. Right: Topshop.
(Telegraph, 2007)
Unlike Yasmin Kianfar, Chloé did have a legal team at their disposal and swiftly took Topshop to court where they were ordered to destroy the remaining 1,000 dresses in stock and pay £12,000GBP in compensation to the designer brand.
With a bitter grunt, Topshop boss Sir Philip Green said:
"We paid them £12,000 without any admission over whether it was or it wasn't (a copy). It was easier to do that and get on with the rest of our lives".
- Sir Philip Green, 2007.
Talent 2, Topshop 0.
1. Kanye West
Although Kanye never directly accused Topshop of theft, he didn't need to: The theft was so blatant that the public did it for him via twitter. People didn't dress like tramps until Kanye's Yeezy collection, so it was rather suspicious that Topshop decided to debut it's highschool weed dealer not long after.
Left: Topshop Right: Kanye West
(Daily Mail, 2016)
Rust was a colour used in the artist's latest fashion show on his sweatshirts particularly. The trend had been set and the colour along with other military pastels soon flooded the high street market. Topshop is selling a Granted rust three quarter length sleeve sweatshirt for £50, showing that Kanye isn't the only victim of theft here but also the public.
Unfortunately, no legal action has been brought against Topshop and the other highstreet brands who blatantly copy Kanye. We will take this as a loss for talent and a win for Topshop.
Talent 2, Topshop 1.
References:
1. Waite, A. (2012). Topshop accused of copying a design - Telegraph. [online] Fashion.telegraph.co.uk. Available at: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG9148634/Topshop-accused-of-copying-a-design.html [Accessed 30 Nov. 2016].
3. Hodgkin, E. (2016). Is the British high street copying Kanye West?. [online] Mail Online. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3644981/Zara-Topshop-Forever-21-accused-selling-bootleg-versions-Kanye-West-s-Yeezy-collection.html [Accessed 30 Nov. 2016].
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