Martin Margiela's t-shirt too similar for artist David Penfound's taste

[Blondes]

^ which makes it all the more idiotic that they would try to copy the image and hope that no one notices, instead of just, you know, paying the artist.

[ultramarine]

Ill have to admit ... I didnt expect MMM to be another one of the houses copying designs

If Martin himlself will fall .. whos next?

[kiddokiddo]

It's rather disheartening...I have a weak spot for that horse print. It's practically a rip-off

[Mutterlein]

MMM's design team never thought some cheesy second rate fantasy artist would ever be on to them.

When I saw the image on the runway I assumed it was taken from a source like this, ideally vintage and copyright free. This situation isn't so severe, doesn't seem like more than a slap on wrist.

Maybe next time they should change a bit more when they want take "inspiration", maybe like the way these guys did: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/st...3006&langId=-1 ?

[mirrra]

the only word that comes to my mind is why? PR?

[Casualuxury]

Honestly, it said in the article that the graphic is licensed to a bunch of different projects. I'm guessing since the graphic was probably taken from a t-shirt and scanned into photoshop and retouched (which is what my school teaches us to do if we like a print, it's really common in the industry), then there really wasn't anything that said "Behold this is a David Penfound origional, guard it with your life, and don't ever copy it or else". I mean seriously. The only thing that this article did for me was let me know where i can find a knock-off of one of fashion's most influential designer's top selling piece from his summer collection.

[nqth]

^ Yes I think it could be the case. MMM is known for searching vintage fashion and recreated the basic designs. Maybe they just came across this print and used it without knowing that it's a copyrighted design. But anyway I think one has to be more careful with prints.

[Spike413]

I expected it eventually, and it seems to have come to it.

It's kind of funny how, this being Margiela and all, some people are trying to legitimize the fact that MMM took an original artwork (not some random vintage tee shirt) and changed a few minor details. If this was a more mainstream and less revered designer, say Dolce and Gabbana, most people would be flipping a s***.

I don't see why Margiela should get any more benefit of the doubt than any of the other designers who've been caught in the same situation and have been labeled knock-off artists as a result.

[Blondes]

Casualuxury, I find it very surprising that they would TEACH you to do that. The Berne convention states a minimum of artists/authors life + 50 years of protection for signed work and a minimum of 50 years from creation for anonymous work. Some countries have made it 70 years in national legislation.

Given the fact that t-shirts with print weren't exactly all the rage in 1950's or 1930's, there would be very few images that were copyright free.

It's quite ironic how this is an industry constantly crying wolf about all the bad bad counterfeiters, while if given the chance the "real designers" don't mind infringing on other peoples rights.

[KKnardi]

god! I hate that print.

[june gloom]

And here I thought it just looked like any other bad fantasy t-shirt.


(t-shirt-world.co.uk)

[LostInNJ]

Originally Posted by Spike413

I expected it eventually, and it seems to have come to it.

It's kind of funny how, this being Margiela and all, some people are trying to legitimize the fact that MMM took an original artwork (not some random vintage tee shirt) and changed a few minor details. If this was a more mainstream and less revered designer, say Dolce and Gabbana, most people would be flipping a s***.

I don't see why Margiela should get any more benefit of the doubt than any of the other designers who've been caught in the same situation and have been labeled knock-off artists as a result.

I don't think people are not flipping out because it is Margiela, but because it is such a basic print (in a way). It is something you can find in a little shop in a mall in middle America or from a vendor in NYC. This somehow reminds me of when designers "create" their own Warhol prints.

[LostInNJ]

Originally Posted by june gloom

And here I thought it just looked like any other bad fantasy t-shirt.

Thank you! That is my point right there...

[Spike413]

Originally Posted by LostInNJ

I don't think people are not flipping out because it is Margiela, but because it is such a basic print (in a way). It is something you can find in a little shop in a mall in middle America or from a vendor in NYC. This somehow reminds me of when designers "create" their own Warhol prints.

That's kind of unfair. It's not as if that scarf Marc Jacobs was accused of ripping off a while back was some very well known vintage Hermes print. It was a random original piece from some unknown person that he most likely found in a thrift store or flea market. People were still calling him a rip-off artist regardless of whether it was intentional. He never got the benefit of the doubt with people saying "oh I'm sure he didn't realize it and it was just an oversight".

I don't think Margiela should be held to different standards because you can get a similar t-shirt in a mall. It's still some artists original work. Nor do I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt just because he's considered a god among mortals.

But I suppose if the attitude that it's ok because the print is so common is going to win out, no one could fault other designers for using Margiela's ideas. I mean, haven't many of todays more popular designers at some point or another been accused of stealing his ideas? In fact, I remember seeing somewhere on the boards Balenciaga's painted latex dresses being compared to the very MMM top that's being discussed here, and Guesquiere being called unoriginal for using a blurry landscape design that was similar only if you squint. If it's excusable for Margiela to have used this design, would it be equally excusable if next season Marc Jacobs decides to put foot long shoulders on all of his tops, or would he be called a hack because he stole something that someone else already made?

[the-smiths]

when I first saw that Margiela shirt I thought of the other white trash shirts.