Topshop. More like Copy-shop.

As if you couldn’t have seen this coming a mile away…eventually.

First it was the New Look retail chain, last September, being forced to withdraw thousands of pairs of its Bonbon shoe (similar to a Jimmy Choo product) and reportedly had to pay Jimmy Choo GBP 80,000 after legal action was threatened. Then M&S (Marks & Spencer) fell victim to the crack down in December 2006, having to destroy a GBP 9.50 handbag that was very identical to a Jimmy Choo evening bag priced at GBP 495.00.

Now, the Granddaddy of all high-street has felt the wrath of the counterfeit crackdown implemented by many of the fashion industry’s top houses. Topshop, has been forced to destroy almost 2,000 copies of the lemon yellow dungaree dress (see image below: dress on the right) that is nearly identical to a similar Chloe design (see image below: dress on the left). The dresses were being sold at Topshop for GBP 35.00 each. The original Chloe design was on sale for GBP 185.00 as part of their ‘See’ collection. Topshop was required to pay GBP 12,000 in compensation and legal costs.

Although, I will admit to being a fan of Topshop and I do buy there on occasion. This action will definitely prove to be a great step forward for fashion houses hitting back at what seems to have become the bread and butter of many high-street chains (just making identical copies of high end, and selling them on the cheap) , but is forcing Topshop (a multi-million pound in revenue chain store) only to pay GBP 12,000 and taking the dress off the shelves really enough to make a statement? Or should the fashion houses just suck it up and realize that copying of their designs will always be, and just take it as the highest of flattery? I don’t know…what do you think?

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