If you need a textile designer to directly copy something you found on the internet...
You may want to think twice!
Here are three reasons why copycats lose:
1. Legal Repercussions:
Copying another designer’s work can lead to serious legal consequences. Copyright infringement lawsuits can be costly, damaging both financially and reputationally. Fashion brands that engage in or endorse copying risk losing their credibility and trust within the industry. Can you imagine producing large quantities of products and then being forced to take them off the shelves due to legal issues? Yeah, it's not fun.
2. Stifled Creativity:
Relying on copied designs stifles innovation and creativity. The essence of fashion is to push boundaries and create something new and exciting. By copying, designers miss out on the opportunity to develop their unique style and voice, which is essential for standing out in a crowded market.
3. Brand Identity Crisis:
A brand built on copied designs lacks authenticity and originality, which are critical for building a strong brand identity. Consumers today are savvy and value authenticity. Brands caught copying can suffer from losing consumer trust and loyalty, ultimately affecting their long-term success.
In the competitive world of fashion print and surface design, originality is key.
But here’s the thing: many new business owners don’t know how to properly use references or conduct research to initiate an original print direction.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Collect multiple images and gather them into a mood board
List out the colours, characteristics, techniques, mood, vibe, or feelings that these combined images evoke. Focus on the overall list rather than any single image. This approach will guide your print designer in creating a new, unique design.
Fixating on a single image can lead to unintentional copying and potential copyright infringement. This is a serious issue. The goal is not to replicate another designer’s work but to develop something newer and fresher.
3. If you’ve genuinely fallen in love with one particular reference, follow this general rule of thumb:
a) Extract the colour palette
OR
b) Extract the motif style or technique.
But never both.
Did you find these tips useful?
If you are a fashion brand that values creativity, self-expression, authenticity, and collaboration, I’d love to hear from you!
I create beautifully bold fashion prints and textile designs for brands that love colour and want to make a statement.
Get in touch to book your next best seller: hello@carolynquan.design