You’ve seen this before: a prominent clothing store knocks off an independent designer’s creation, and the community around that designer cries foul.
That’s precisely what happened with jewelry designer Wendy Brandes, who found her popular “Swear Rings” the target of a cheap knock-off.
This one hit a little closer to home since I’ve become acquainted with the designer; so it was really quite an experience to see the power of social media take control of the situation.
It started with Wendy’s Sunday blog post, after the discovery of Topshop’s eerily similar rings. Not long after, a firestorm of disappointed bloggers and tweeters voiced their support for Wendy, and their voices were indeed heard:
@WendyBrandes This is a clear rip off by @topshop. You don’t deserve to let this go. Big business needs to know better. Or compensate you.
— Em. x. (@boombands) April 30, 2012
To Catch a Predator — @Topshop — they prey on independent designers like @WendyBrandes tinyurl.com/cm6tcrq — stacy lomman (@taffetadarlings) April 30, 2012
Writers: piracy happens everywhere. Show support for designer @WendyBrandes & say ‘no’ to @topshop knock-offs bit.ly/IHARz7 — Dawn Rae Miller (@DawnRaeMiller) April 30, 2012
Vote w/your wallet. Buy original. RT @WendyBrandes I Cried When I saw Topshop’s version of my swear rings wendybrandes.com/blog/2012/04/i…
— Veronica (@duncandesign) April 30, 2012
We are launching #TeamWendy to support @WendyBrandes‘ original version of her swear rings against the ‘other’ ones! #SayNoToDesignPlagiarism
— The Sama Gazette (@SamaGazette) April 30, 2012
Shocked and appalled that Topshop have so blatently ripped of Wendy Brandes’ fabulous F@#! rings! Disgusting…. fb.me/1RMhPVzGk — Reena Rai (@Reena_Rai) April 30, 2012
anyone else having issues with Blogger? I desperately need to write about how po’ed I am that TopShop would knock off @wendybrandes — Vyque (@Fasshonaburu) April 30, 2012
Frankly i am so angry for you, bullying of the highest kind. RT @WendyBrandes: @chicgorgeous8 nah, (cont) tl.gd/h7jih6
— Datin Anna(@chicgorgeous8) April 30, 2012
@WendyBrandes You’re nobody until somebody rips you off.Congrats.Sort of.
— etoilee8 (@etoilee8) April 30, 2012
And those were just the tip of the iceberg. By Tuesday, Topshop had issued an apology to Wendy, both personally and via Twitter, and pulled the rings from their e-commerce website.
The @WendyBrandes style in question has been removed from sale. We apologise for any misinterpretation and its similarity to Wendy’s work.
— Topshop (@Topshop) May 1, 2012
You can read Wendy’s take on the ordeal.
It’s happened before, and it will happen again. Anyone with an issue can access social media platforms and make their case against a brand with the public acting as jury. And the public tends to side with the underdog.
[Image: J.Sanna]
