Forever 21's a big player now
There's an article on the ever-so-popular trendy clothing store Forever 21 in the NYT todoay. If you're interested in getting to know more about the store, the owners and how it got so huge, check it out. Faster Fashion, Cheaper Chic. I'm a big fan, even though I haven't bought one single piece of clothing from Forever 21. One of my dear readers, Donna (thanks doll!), informed me that it is coming to Toronto soon. That is very exciting news! Maybe their website will even start shipping to Canada.
(The founders, Jin and Don Chang)
Can you believe they have expanded to 400 stores since they founded the company in mid 1980s?!!
"Ms. Boisset [the company’s vice president for merchandise] described the Changs as ever on the prowl for ideas and trends. While it takes a designer like Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors several months to get clothes into stores after their debut on the runways, Forever 21 delivers interpretations of the same looks within six weeks.
...
The chain says it employs no designers, “just very savvy designer merchants,” Ms. Boisset said. Although these merchants’ skills are at the heart of Forever 21’s success in offering shoppers faithful adaptations of runway hits, the company declined to make them available for an interview.
...
Diane Von Furstenberg filed a lawsuit last month against Forever 21 for replicating a DVF dress down to its print, fabric and color. Current law does not protect clothing design from being copied (logos are an exception), but Ms. Von Furstenberg and other American designers have been lobbying Congress since last year to expand the copyright statute that protects music and books. Such a change is considered a long shot.
...
(Fashionista.com compares the styles of Foley & Corinna, left, and Forever 21.)
Anna Corinna, a partner at Foley & Corinna, a boutique on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, was startled to discover a photograph of a Forever 21 evening dress on a blog, Fashionista.com, alongside one of her store’s designs. From their fluid cut and noodle straps to the floral panel running down their fronts, the dresses were almost identical. The Foley & Corinna dress sells for more than $400, the copy for about $40."
Hmm...looks like Forever 21's keeping their customers happy but also pissing off some designers in the meantime. What do you think of Forever 21's success?
4 comments:
Is copying designers 100% fair? No. But the fact of the matter is that the difference in quality is just as huge as the difference in price. The people who shop in Forever 21 (me included) are not going to spend $400 on a dress so I think that its fair overall.
High end designer's aren't targeting me as a budget conscious entry-level shopper! So yeah, there will be people who will go and buy their clothes just for the name, so I don't feel so bad to have something look good and on the down low.
I love shopping but at least I'm not a brand name wanker.
I love Forever 21, but I never buy any of their designer knockoffs. They are laughably obvious.
I am sitting at work right now wearing a Forever 21 shirt that I adore! Some of their knockoff stuff is way to obvious (lile maddy said), but I like the pieces that takes on the same STYLE the high-end designers are creating and just give it a different pattern or color. I won't buy something if I know its a 90% replica!
Post a Comment