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Fashion Is Fun Nov 19, 2008 @ 10:36am

Urban Outfitters: Thieves?

by Natalie Hormilla

kiosk sign vs urban outfitters sign.jpg Scene 1: Kiosk, a fun galleryish store on Spring Street gets their neon arrow sign stolen in the middle of the night. The owner blogs about it the next morning and posts the security video.

Scene 2: The sign, or a sign that looks a lot like the sign, appears outside a new Urban Outfitters in LA, and the Kiosk store owner goes ape on his blog.

Kiosk wants their sign back, and Urban Outfitters, to our knowledge, hasn’t said a word.

Though we do kind of like the idea of a fun fashion crime, does anyone else think the signs actually look a bit different? Kiosk’s arrow seems fatter, and Urban Outfitters’ frame seems thicker…

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posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 10:46AM

umm, is the owner of kiosk blind with rage? those two arrows do not look alike! neon signs arrow signs are more common than he seems to think they are...

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 10:52AM

The signs are obviously different. The owner of Kiosk is retarded.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 11:02AM

the sign is definitely not the same.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Nov 19, 2008 11:06AM

LOL really.... this is just dumb.
Someone stole the sign from NYC hopped on a plane with a big ass neon arrow and put it up at an U.O. in L.A. I think not. the Kiosk owner needs to shut his face before he is sued for making wild false accusations.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 11:13AM

the signs are obviously way different. the kiosk sign is probably hangign up in someones house and they're laughing about it.

posted by maw_photo

Nov 19, 2008 11:39AM

Plus we have no idea what color neon the Urban Outfitters sign is, at it doesn't look as though it's turned on. If it's a different color, that seals the verdict on their innocence.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 11:56AM

what a loser (kiosk owner)...does he think he invented the concept? i've never heard of the boutique before, but i'm definitely not shopping there now.

posted by etoilee8

Nov 19, 2008 12:21PM

I don't think the Kiosk owner is wrong to be suspicious. Let's be honest. . . Urban Outfitters is KNOWN for ripping shit off. But the two signs look nothing alike. UO really shouldn't copy concepts so blantantly. That is lame.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 12:21PM

Natalie, stop wasting our time with crap. These signs have nothing to do with each other. you know, they make more than one neon arrow sign in the industry. Get to work and bring me some real news.

posted by etoilee8

Nov 19, 2008 12:25PM

Guest 9, if you're reading fashionista in the middle of the day, something tells me Natalie's not wasting your time :)

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 12:39PM

Yeah, the signs look totally different. Kiosk is a seriously great shop, though.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 12:41PM

Yeah, the signs look totally different. Kiosk is a seriously great shop, though.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 12:51PM

what concept is there to copy? an arrow sign hanging outside a shop? *gasp* I think the kiosk owner needs some publicity.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 12:58PM

i agree with #13 above^ the kiosk guy obvioulsy wants some pr.
i don't think someone would take a sign, on a plane, from l.a. to nyc and they are in no way similar.
i love the neon sign idea but this dude didn't invent it.
wacko

posted by etoilee8

Nov 19, 2008 1:13PM

I disagree. If no one else has been doing arrows in their signs lately (and how many signs do you see which feature this arrow, pointed in such a way?) than yes, I do think they're ripping this guy off. They didn't do it first. And while it's not ground breaking original, it's still not something you see featured in a sign every day. It's not like a comma or a question mark.

posted by tasha

Nov 19, 2008 3:03PM

I live in L.A. and we have plenty of arrow signs around like that, so I don't know what the big deal is. I mean, maybe it's unique in New York or something, I don't know, but it's not here.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 3:46PM

orrrr they didn't steal it and take it to LA, they just stole it so UO would be the only one with the arrow sign.

But that's just an idea for the conspiracy theorists.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 3:52PM

orrrr they didn't steal it and take it to LA, they just stole it so UO would be the only one with the arrow sign.

But that's just an idea for the conspiracy theorists.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 4:19PM

orrrr they didn't steal it and take it to LA, they just stole it so UO would be the only one with the arrow sign.

But that's just an idea for the conspiracy theorists.

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 4:27PM

Ummm.... We (yes I am part of KIOSK) did of course not think the *actual* sign ended up there -- we were of course hinting at their likeness - the arrow with the name hanging below. Of course we are not the first with an arrow (and we didn't even do the arrow ourselves!) but we do see our vibe ripped off every so often. Yesterday, it turned out that one of Swedens cheezbaggiest of junky R'n'B singers did a shitty music video in front of our other neon sign in our entrance. We are glad people like how we look, but when other big companies make serious money off our visuals - yeah - we get annoyed - we could use that money ourselves. Bottom line, UO and others, us included need to look less at others for inspiration. Or rather when they do, give credit for fucks sake. /Marco

posted by etoilee8

Nov 19, 2008 4:45PM

Here here Marco!

posted by guest

Nov 19, 2008 5:36PM

wow. this is really funny!
the arrow is DIFFERENT! HAHAHAHA XD
i saw that right away...i'm guessing
Kiosks guys just wanted attention, which is fine since they dont normaly get any. (sorry). why would ANYONE steal a sign and fly to LA and post it up there. are you serious. well...you never know. but honestly. its a NEON light. BUY A NEW ONE. and...chain it to the bricks and stay up all night with a video, jump on them and put a bag on the thief's head and MAKE HIM REALISE WHAT THAT SIGN MEANT TO YOU! ...jeez.

posted by Pretty Young Thing

Nov 19, 2008 11:40PM

#20, I hate to break it to you, but I highly doubt that neon sign is what's causing Urban Outfitters to make "serious money." That's credit goes to their merchandise. Do you think they're going to put a little sign in the window that says, "We got inspiration for this arrow sign from Kiosk, a little shop in NYC." Heck. No. That's like Marc Jacobs putting a card in every Stam that says it had inspiration from the iconic Chanel 2.55. In case you haven't noticed, fashion is all about inspiration. Deal with it. Move on. This sign thing is such a joke. Seriously, what the heck does this have to do with the fashion news I came to this site for?!?!

posted by etoilee8

Nov 20, 2008 1:15AM

No pretty young thing, they make their money off their "inspiration" (aka ripping off people). Ever heard of Johnny Cupcakes? Look it up. Or just look up "Urban Outfitters, lawsuits, copyright infringement". There's plenty of proof out there if you're willing to open your eyes. There's a fashion newsflash for you.

posted by etoilee8

Nov 20, 2008 1:17AM

I'm sorry but if any of you were designers or actually worked in fashion you would be pissed too if some mega company like Urban Outfitters ripped you off. You would and you know it. Especially since Urban Outfitters is NOTORIOUS for this sort of thing.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2008 12:28PM

yes, 25, as someone who works in fashion i too would be pissed if any company, big or small, actually ripped me off.
that is IF there was any legitimacy at all to the claim that you are in some way entitled to take credit for INVENTING A SIDEWAYS ARROW!

posted by etoilee8

Nov 21, 2008 12:55AM

They didn't say they invented, but don't pretend like the two signs don't look very much alike. And please don't try and talk to me, I've worked in fashion too, thank you very much.