COPY CATS

Designer hits out at megastore

A Gold Coast fashion label is accusing a UK giant of ripping off one of their designs

A GOLD Coast fashion designer says a massive UK chain is ripping off one of her designs and selling it as its own.

Isabelle Quinn, founder of the luxe fashion brand by the same name, accused mega store TopShop of selling a knit jumper, eerily similar to her design released last year.

“Disappointed but not surprised,” said Ms Quinn, who has called for the large companies to quit stealing from smaller brands that did not have the money to pursue them in court.

Ms Quinn this month shared a picture of the thickknit top being sold at the Melbourne TopShop.

“I was in Melbourne and I just couldn’t believe it when I saw a jumper that was so similar in the window,” Ms Quinn said.

“I thought that was almost exactly identical from my winter collection last year.

“Not one thing was changed, even down to the stitching of the wool and the drop shoulder. Everything.”

Ms Quinn, who has been working in the fashion industry for over four years, said she had seen this behaviour before.

“I am quite a small store, but have been told apparently they have scouts that take and reuse the work of smaller designers,” Ms Quinn said.

“Not like I can afford to do anything about it. I have tried it before.”

Previously, Ms Quinn pursued a duplication of her designs for velvet dresses and pants which were copied by another designer, down to the colour. “I spoke with a lawyer and they sent letters but there is only so far you can go.

“They know you can’t take them on in a legal battle.”

Speaking from her Mermaid Beach studio, Ms Quinn said she would be in contact with TopShop over the copy.

“I try to be different. I work hard to have designs,” she said.

Ms Quinn is not the first Gold Coast designer to challenge a major retailer.

In 2014, local label Peony Swimwear reported a number of its prints were being used by other major companies.

TopShop did not respond to requests for comment. unique