DESIGNER TAKES ON INSTA THIEVES
A DESIGNER has hit out at copycat crooks who steal images created for his clothing and prints and use them to sell their own versions for a fraction of the price.
Social Recluse, which has a small shop in Glasgow, creates merchandise inspired by music, fashion and football.
A counterfeit Instagram account based in Malaysia was set up to replicate the firm’s hard work.
Merchandise using the designs is being sold via the account at cut prices, a trend that has surged during lockdown as crooks cash in on ideas from other businesses.
Designer Robert Chambers said: “Whilst we are only a small studio, we do have a good reach with what we do worldwide. The downside is that people copy our products.
“This happens largely in the UK and as far as Malaysia.
“I am now making sure the fake prints and the people behind them are exposed by sharing them on our social accounts and putting them in front of our followers, to raise awareness of the problem.”
Designers and brands are spotting a surge in counterfeit Instagram accounts replicating their work and products, an industry worth £1.38trillion a year.
Luke Hodson, founder of the printing company Awesome Merchandise, said: “Counterfeit products are nothing new but it’s not surprising the community is growing, particularly on Instagram, due to the easy access of printing and free versions of design tools such as Photoshop.
“Supporters of these counterfeit products forget that for the designers and artists behind the piece of artwork, a huge amount of time has been devoted to creating them.
“It’s a skillset that is unique.”