I am not kidding when I say that I have seen half a dozen examples of small businesses having their art/designs stolenβ¦IN THE PAST 48 HOURS!!!
These "fast everything" companies will do anything they can to avoid paying an artist or a designer to create stuff for them, even using AI to design prints and products, write product copy, and execute other creative projects.Β And if that's not cheap enough for them, they steal designs and art from smaller businesses (aka artists, designers, and makers).Β And this extends beyond clothing, into just about every category of product. Β
Fortunately, this is a situation in which we as individuals have a direct impact on ending this kind of theft of designs and art:
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Don't buy copies of stuff. Seriously! I know that the knockoff versions are often (but not always) cheaper, but these companies aren't doing you a favor by selling you cheap copies. What they are doing is destroying small businesses, exploiting workers, and flooding the landfills with low quality, short-lived stuff.Β And they continue to make more copies of things when they see that customers are buying them.
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Donβt be a jerk about it. I swear every time I make the mistake of reading the comments on a post from an artist whose work was stolen, I see tons of people blaming the artist, telling them to grow up, that their stuff is too expensive, blah blah blah.Β Seriously? Youβre really going to show up to defend SHEIN or TJ Maxx? Imagine sacrificing your human decency in favor of cheap stuff!Β
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Support small businesses, brands, artists, and designers. I would rather have one rad dress from one of my favorite small brands than 10 copies. It just feels better in every possible regard! Yes, I know some small businesses are shitty and I don't shop from them, either. But in general, even the worst small business isn't having the level of negative impact of Shein or Amazon.
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Call it out when you see it! Be loud on the brand's social media accounts, report them to the original creator, and tell your friends all about it.
P.S. New episode of the podcast is out RIGHT NOW!!
