Replicas = rip-offs

Replica furniture is copied furniture. In fashion, a ‘replica’ Louis Vuitton is a fake, for movies: bootlegged. The issue is a difficult one, but Urbis is committed to supporting designers.

Most designers don’t make much money; they do it for the love of their craft and because they believe in what they are creating. But their work, and possible income, is severly reduced when cheaper (and usually more cheaply made) copies come onto the market. Copyright laws differ from country to country, meaning a design has to be registered in each place, which even large manufacturers can’t afford to do. So what happens to small designers like our own David Trubridge? 

At the end of the day, while it would be good for the law to be strengthened to support authentic design, this isn’t a legal problem. As design writer, stylist and editor Anne-Maree Sargeant explains in her consise and approachable argument here, it is about consumers being aware and educated about their choices. Do you support research and development, environmentally-forward-looking manufacturing, and quality, or do you take your chances with cheap labour and materials and take income away from the designer who had the insight and expertise to create that design in the first place? The article is short and to the point, and well worth a read. 

What do you think?