Adventures in Copyright
Adventures in Copyright: The Mother Of All Knock-Offs
By Leah Chernikoff
Willow Smith in anonymous knock off design (L), Mother of London's original creation (R)
After we posted a photo of Willow Smith decked out for the American Music Awards asking readers to name the strange buckled arm sheath she was wearing, a few commenters noted that the piece–one reader told us it was most like a saber fencing plastron so we’ll go with that (though crumper and horseshoe were runners up)–was a knock off of a piece by Mother of London. A pretty flagrant knock off, as it turns out. And fashion folks are real angry about it. We were pointed to a thread on Facebook lead off by photographer “Zemotion” who wrote “I’m so raging right now…Mildred’s been around for EVER way before I started photography and this is one of her most signature designs. It’s just downright disgusting to see this happening to such an amazing designer. And NO her permission was NOT asked for and it is NOT flattering.”
Mildred is Mildred Von Hildegard, the designer behind Mother of London. When asked by site Haute Macabre for comment, she said, “I’m disappointed and saddened that this will negatively impact my business. My original design is now recognized in the mass media as someone else’s work, and it’s very hurtful on both a personal and professional levels. I hope this can be resolved, and I wish nothing but the best to Willow.”
Mariel Haenn, who styles Rihanna and sometimes Willow, has been taking the heat for the flap, though she’s since taken to twitter to deny her involvement. “Just an fyi, we only dressed Rihanna last nite. I don’t like when people try to credit me for work that’s not mine #justsayin,” she tweeted. She also followed up with an email to Coilhouse mag saying, “To be honest I have no idea who ‘styled’ her or the designer. Wish I did. I don’t ask my clients who they used when I’m not available.”
So the culprit is still at large. If you know anything about who made Willow’s harness or who styled her for the AMAs, let us know at tips@fashionista.com. Or do you think the designer who knocked off Mother of London is a culprit at all?
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honestly did not know who she was before this.
if anything it gave her free press.
so this just positive for her sake, even though I never justify the ‘stealing’ of an idea.
just being honest.
But she wouldn’t be getting any ‘free press’ if her friend hadn’t called out he theft and, furthermore, of the story hadn’t been picked up, and even still
not as much press as the designer who stole it got by having it seem by the entire audience of the AMA’s.
No, its not positive. Because this has been ripped by someone else, all the clients who purchased the ORIGINAL design from Mildred cannot wear them. This negatively impacts her business and the only way it could be positive is if MoL had designed the piece Willow wore to the AMA’s, not a knock-off. Btw, no one is upset at Willow, its not her fault, it is the fault of whomever created the knock-off!
Who would WANT to steal this idea? Poor Willow…
That type of clothing isn’t for children per say. I mean, if you look at other pieces by MOL, you’d notice it’s avant garde type clothes. Totally not a style for a 9 year old.
at least the thieving designer ommitted the crotch strap
No offence, but free press on not, it’s theft of an iconic design. Ill-fitting and harsh on the eye, too – so no, not an overall good thing after all.
I’m sure if someone ripped off something unique you do to put food on the table, you wouldn’t be happy…
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
I thought it was gracious of the designer to state specifically that she only wishes the best to Willow, as it’s clear the kid had nothing to do with the theft or design
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
this isn’t Willow’s fault she’s just a kid. Really weird design I wouldn’t have looked at twice before so congrats you have two new viewers!
if you want see other photos in Mother of London Clothing by Mildred von Hildegard please visit my blog myonlyspotlight.blogspot.com tomorow mornig
I’m so glad the story’s been picked up.
Thanks for bringing this to light and I hope we’ll find out who did it, and that things will be resolved soon.
But is still looks total pants whoever designed the thing! and to dress a nine year old in it…
http://www.fashion-mommy.com
this is so ggggrrrr….. stealing an idea from someone else and making it their own. it pisses me off
Oh, God. Who cares.
This is terrible. I know Zemotion, as well as Harmony Nicholas, who are both putting up a fuss on their facebooks and whatnots. They have every right to. In the creative industry, be it painters, photographers, designers, and tradespeople, we’re all suspect to being ripped off. It’s NOT OKAY.
When we create something, we either do it for the sake of creating, or to put food on the table… or both! It’s usually both. It’s terrible that we have to be constantly on guard because some lazy schmuck can’t have an original thought of their own and rip off our work!! I don’t know about you, but my landlord stopped taking “free press” as payment for rent.
What happened to emulation being the greatest form of flattery? She is a nine year old child who drew inspiration from a fashion well. Seems to me that said FB photographer and Milred are the ones who need to grow up. Don’t worry so much when people talk about you – worry when they stop.
It’s theft, not gossip, and Willow didn’t come up with the idea herself. She had a stylist, or third party designer who copied Mother of London’s design.
Uhm no, emulation was never any form of flattery. Whoever told you it was is clearly in the business of ripping creative people off.
Nobody was accusing the kid of anything, because well, she’s a kid. Maybe you need to grow up. Or at least take a reading comprehension course.
This is just bad. And I can not believe no one knows who styled it. A 9 year old did not come up with the concept…
I don’t know . . . Willow Smith is a pretty smart young lady and she travels the world with her parents. I would not be surprised if Willow spotted this thing while in London and, when she discovered she was going to the AMAs, she simply sketched it and her parents had someone make it for her. I’m not saying they “stole” the design, I’m just saying maybe they did not realize they were copying someone else’s work. That happens, you know. I mean, I have a friend who can look at any outfit and sew it up for herself without even blinking. Not saying it’s right, just saying . . .
had no idea that willow is so darned cute.
Honstly shes way to young to be dealing with all this drama. maybe if her parents dressed her like a 9 year old she wouldnt be having this issue. Wether people are mad at her or not it still looks bad on her part and on her parents part for being so ridiculous.
I dont understand why these singers try so hard to gain attentions. they rarly ever look good.
Who “designed” the knockoff?