Adventures in Copyright Apr 23, 2009 @ 10:13am

Adventures in Copyright: Zippity No

by Britt Aboutaleb

steve madden stoops lower.jpg A reader just sent us the link to this Steve Madden bag and our stomach kind of dropped.

We expect him to copy the Fendis, Givenchys and Christian Louboutins, but as always, it’s so much more painful to watch a small, independent designer get ripped off.

Alexander Wang launched bags less than two years ago, just a few styles, all slouchy, all zippered, all made from incredibly soft leather and all at relatively reasonable prices (around $700). Steve Madden’s sold bags forever, all plastic and all shiny and not always rip-offs - the handbag ‘designers’ obviously lack the shoe ‘designers’ budget (because they do go out and buy loads of Chloe and Chanel and Louboutin shoes, rip them up and rebuild them to make the copies spot on).

But someone in that department loved Alex’s Brenda Zip bag so much, they went and made their own and called it the B-Zipcross. Then they threw in a copy of Alex’s model-loved Donna Hobo just for good measure.

Sometimes, Steve really pisses us off.

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posted by miannscanlan

Apr 23, 2009 10:42AM

I'm taking my old, tattered steve maddens out to the rubbish right now!

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 10:44AM

Just about every bag that's ever existed on the planet looks like that

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 11:04AM

in what world is $700 a relatively reasonable price?

I love my Steven wannabe Foley & COrrina. Same functionality but looks different enough

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 11:17AM

Steve Madden is just so hilarious.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 11:23AM

I hardly see how Alex Wang's is considered original considering that it looks like every other bag that was produced in the 80s.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 11:24AM

Its funny because I work at Nordstrom and we sell real alex wang and this Steve Madden version. To be honest although the Steve Madden bag is kind of wrong, it is made of a super soft leather almost identical to the wang it also has a lot more slouch then the pictures show. Although its almost identical, the Wang version was based on Chanel, nothing too original.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 11:25AM

lol @ "reasonably priced"

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 11:30AM

Your are totally kidding about reasonably priced, right? Besides, the Alexander Wang is generic eighties looking.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 12:21PM

Hey Britt, I don't remember this too well, but didn't you do a post about how our minds have been so warped by the 'it bag' prices that we don't even blink at a four-digit figure for a handbag or a pair of shoes? And now you think that 700 bucks is justified for a bag that cost Wang 20 bucks to make, tops? Yes it is adorable, but the price is so not 'reasonable'.
Also, this is sad, but I've been itching for a Brenda bag, and now I don't want it, because I know there will be some girl walking around with that Steve madden mess hanging on her shoulder. Its kind of interesting how this hideous-looking copy might affect the sales of the real thing.

posted by Rockmantica

Apr 23, 2009 12:33PM

celebrity "designers" piss me off more.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 12:40PM

I don't at all see how Wang is considered a small, independent designer. He is certainly not struggling to make a name for himself or hurting for money. I don't think this bag will affect his financial status one iota. Besides, Wang himself has been guilty of some highly derivative designs, especially with his Fall 09 collection.

posted by Pretty Young Thing

Apr 23, 2009 1:43PM

I saw the Steve Madden version in Nordstrom last week and did a double take, ran over to it, and freaked out that they might be carrying Wang (though I was skeptic...). Then I looked at the price, the Steve Madden label, and felt a little guilty for thinking it might be the real thing. But what really pangs me the most is that when I found out what it really was, and in the blink of an eye realized Abercrombie and Forever 21-wearing suburban princesses would soon be carrying the wannabe of the same purse I've been coveting, I would be too proud to carry it. That's what's really shameful. I'm horrified that for that minute, I considered myself "above" that. Ick.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 1:45PM

I have to agree with posts 3, 7, & 9, (especially in these times of people losing their jobs, their homes, & their retirement funds!) who considers a $700 bag reasonable? I'd love to have their life, damn!

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 1:46PM

It's like saying Georgina Chapman has a small, indie label called Marchesa. Or Susan Dell's fledgling label Phi.

Plus, you could have a whole adventures in copyright marathon with Wang vs Helmut Lang, Givenchy & Versace.

posted by Signature9

Apr 23, 2009 1:48PM

The problem I see with 90% of these copyright adventures is that fashion is so derivative at every level. Big houses borrow liberally from smaller designers. Mass market stores borrow liberally from larger houses. And at some point they all borrow from something someone's done in the past. 10% are a blatant ripoff where nothing's been changed, or the change is so minuscule that no one could notice - and there are usually laws in place to deal with those cases. But this one and the vast majority re exactly why it would be almost impossible to copyright designs or patterns.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 2:05PM

This is pretty much the reality of fashion nowadays, as witnessed by the comments you get for every Adventures in Copyright. I just bought adorable Calvin Klein suede fringed sandals (which I am desperately waiting for a warm day to wear) and nearly fell off my chair when I saw identical shoes from Payless for $24.99. Yes it ticked me off for a minute, but you know what, good for them. Not everyone can spend the money for a high end brand and for something trendy and not necessarily inteneded to last forever, go with the less expensive brand. As long as it isn't counterfeiting a logo or malicious copying, I think it is hard to say there anything wrong with this. Fashion is a constant trickle down (or up!) of ideas.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 3:08PM

If I had to wait until the day that I had an extra $700 or so lying around in order to buy a (90's grunge style) purse I'd give up on fashion completely.
Fashion is about style, not price.
I love beautiful leather, but let's be honest, it doesn't need to cost that much. Good for you if you make that kind of money, but if you feel that quality fashion shouldn't be more affordable then you're out of touch with reality and all the poverty in the world and should consider spending a lot more time in third world countries and donating your time to charity.
Alternately, you can suggest everyone needs some $1500 item on your must-have list and ignore all these lower-class options, entirely.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 3:31PM

thanks #11...
in what world is alexander wang a "small, independent designer"?
he has his own personal assistant for christ's sake!
not to mention 98% of his designs are well edited, ripped off versions of past objects.
come on.
kid didn't invent ripped tights.
god forbid he makes a bag and someone else makes one that looks somewhat like it. it won't touch him.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 3:54PM

Both of them look like fanny packs

posted by bananahana

Apr 23, 2009 6:41PM

Amen to Guest 11.
These Adventures in Copyright sure do stir up controversy. Maybe it's because I'm too poor to be angry my beloved Wang bag has been ripped off for other poor people to buy.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 7:06PM

700 for a well made designer bag isn't that unreasonable! I work hard, and if it was truly worth it for me, I could get it. I'm no millionaire...just good with money. You could spend $50 on bag after bag that doesn't last- or- you could invest in something well made...although A. Wang's shit is made in China, which doesn't exactly scream quality product. Now I lost my point. haha.

posted by guest

Apr 23, 2009 8:12PM

Though I do understand Fashionista's outrage expressed in their Adventures in Copyright posts, I must say that I kinda disagree...
While $700 is reasonable relative to the prices of many other designer bags, $700 is still TOO MUCH money to spend on a handbag for most people, thus making the A. Wang bag far out of the reach of most.
Though more of a manufacturer than a designer, I rather appreciate the likes of a Steve Madden for making such trend pieces accessible to the masses.
I believe that if you have the eye to spot and appreciate this bag as having been inspired by Wang's -- and you could in no way afford the original -- you shouldn't be ashamed to buy it!!

posted by rockferry

Apr 24, 2009 8:02AM

"you could invest in something well made"

I agree. It's just that this Wang bag is so not the quality piece I want to be investing in. Not only is it super-trendy, but it's not even very original. Slouchy and zippered? Been done.

posted by austinsamuel

Apr 24, 2009 8:21AM

I think everyone needs to watch the videos of AW on youtube. He is so cool, when I graduate, I wanna be friends with him.

I don't think it matters at all if he ripped the bag off from the 80's or 90's. Fashion is recycled, and that's his aesthetic.
Let him have a little of the past, you big meanies.

posted by guest

Apr 24, 2009 9:06AM

small, independent designer?! i can't think of a single designer who has more success right now. seriously, he must be one of the most profitable designers in this economic climate.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Apr 24, 2009 12:17PM

Alexander Wang's bag is in no way and orginal concept, the chain shoulder strap has been done, so has the shape of the bag, and the zipper side pockets etc therefore there is not copyright issue to be addressed. I think the real issue is the timing in which Steve Madden was "inspired" by the Alexander Wang bag. If they would have waited 6-7 years it would have just been a steve madden bag with side zipper pockets!

posted by guest

Apr 24, 2009 4:12PM

Um, I am reading this after just seeing the DVF post where the jacket is IDENTICAL, a complete rip off, and you defended DVF saying it's a coincidence. So when a mass label rips off you condemn, but when an upscale label does it, it absolutely cannot be???!!!

posted by guest

Apr 24, 2009 7:47PM

There is a another Alexander Wang bag knockoff from Steve on the site-

http://www.stevemadden.com/item.aspx?id=48933

posted by guest

Apr 26, 2009 1:36AM

@ guest 27: It's got to be that way, because if it isn't, no one at fashionista will get into the high-end fashion shows. Can't trash the desired can you? I think every blog needs to take a course in Ethics before they start posting.