^that's true too,gius.
and i certainly don't think everybody copies either. whether we're merely speaking of mass market,that's another story since of course they do get ideas from the catwalks and designers. but speaking purely about talent or so-called talent,i don't believe that. it's too general to make that kind of assumption. i do however think it's rampant amongst our big brand labels and our hyped-up established designers. like marc jacobs for instance. of course,it's very easy to point him out though. but last season he blatantly ripped-off kawakubo and yamamoto and made no qualms about it. and it wasn't mere influence,through certain techniques,but clearly throughout the collection in the styling...in the use of volume... he's done it before too. in his marc collection,a few years ago,he took walter van beirenonck's signature mask design he uses in his aestheticterrorists collection and plastered them very obviously on t'shirts throughout the collection. and miuccia has in my very knowledgeable(i know since i'm a fan,i mean) eyes,taken very specific ideas and elements from pejoski,willhelm and persoons before as well.
and i'm certainly not blaming them altrogether because in japan they copy the heroes all the time. margiela(of which i've read some japanese journos complain about)and i've seen copy-cats of undercover all over yahoo japan auctions.