With a tough economy presiding over us we have seen an increasing trend towards buying online. When a client starts their shopping adventure it often begins on line. Of course a savvy client will have researched things before she heads out shopping. In that research she will no doubt discover a myriad of choices displayed on lovely websites. Over the past few years there has been an increasing trend copycat dresses. Of course this has always existed, but the prevalence has risen with the internet and the global market place easily accessible.
As we plan our event we imagine that the dresses that the supplier is offering will be exactly like the picture. The picture created by a reputable designer: their personal creation of artwork. When that photo is seen and then the product the quality and workmanship becomes apparent. The copycat gown will not be the same as the original design. When your copycat gown arrives you will find that, nearly without exception, the cut, the fabric, the construction, the embellishments ...everything will be different than the original. Should you hang the two gowns side by side you will find that they are different on nearly every level: not even comparable
Over the last several years increasing numbers of clients have arrived at our salon in distress over an on line order that had gone badly. It could happen that you get a gown that is satisfactory and you are happy, but there are greater chances for disappointment in the end. These clients have already spent good money on a gown that is either poorly constructed, ill fit, or can not even be made to work for their event. The problem is that the price was so alluring. The prices are often listed on line for far less than the reputable designer is willing or even capable of producing their garments. This client now finds herself having a lot of stress and is often near desperation because she now has no time to order from the reputable manufacturer. The reputable manufacturer will take any where from 16 - 32 weeks to produce your quality garment. The china factory will offer you your product in 3 weeks. Perhaps that should be one of the first red flags.
She now finds herself having to make her second choice as the first one simply is not available in her time frame. Or she will need to order on a rush, which drives the costs up as well.
There have been countless law suits for infringement on the works of art that these designers create:
American Bridal & Prom Industry Association, Inc. , Mon Cheri Bridals, LLC , Promgirl, Inc. , Maggie Sottero Designs, LLC , La Femme Boutique, Inc. , Bari-Jay Fashions, Inc. , Alyce Designs, Inc. , Allure Bridals, Inc. , Watters Designs, Inc. , Next Century Productions, Inc. , Mori Lee, LLC , Emme Bridal, Inc. , Simone Cavalli Corp. , Bonny MT Enterprises Co., Ltd. , Casablanca Bridals, Inc. , Impression Bridal, Inc. , Formosa Sunrise LLC , Essense of Australia, Inc., Edward Berger, Inc. , Jovani Fashion Ltd. , Lizzette Brodsky , Frank Disantis, Precious Formals, Inc. , Countess Corporation, Jordan Fashions Corp, Eve of Mi Lady have all been litigants just to name a few.
What?!?!? I hear you say. Yes, over the last twenty years the designers of formal gowns have worked very hard to protect their creations. They are now deemed as works of art. It is not uncommon for a designer to spend an entire month creating a creation. She might spend even longer in the actual production of the creation. Much time and effort goes into the creation of a gown. Some designers design every aspect of their gowns, the fabric, the lace, the beadwork: every little detail has involved thought, development and creation. Yet a desperate Chinese factory might bang out a cheap imitation of the gown and in the neglect of the intimate details create something that is vastly different than the original gown which they are advertising to be offering.
Many reputable designers do not allow their gowns to be made available on the internet. They protect their works of art and creations valiantly. They recognize that the product must be seen, touched, tried on to fully appreciate it. There was a time when artists of this type were respected and appreciated for the great efforts that they took. Unfortunately today's client tends to have been raised in this hot and now: more for cheap, cheap, cheap society. So the belief has developed that the product has little to no value in spite of the tremendous efforts that are involved in creation. I seldom hear a client exclaim: Oh my goodness! That must have taken months to make that!! And indeed it did. No, we no longer hear that sort of appreciation. What we do hear on a regular basis is that "the cost of a gown is ridiculous!" I mean after all, it is only going to be worn for one day. As an artist this is very demeaning and depressing to experience. After all, the money is not what anyone would define as great, so clearly the efforts are acts of love.
So you know the old saying: "If it's too good to be true: it probably isn't true." While you may only wear this gown for one day: you will have a life time of memories to accompany you.
