Sue Eggens of Giant Dwarf is one of my favorite crafters. Her unique felt creations just make me squee with joy every time I see them. So, you can imagine my sadness when I saw this on her twitter feed:
Please help me understand why someone would possibly do this to me? Trying to not cry! http://srslyliz.com/2010/08/12/diy-starlet-crown/
I went over to read for myself, and I was just so mad I had to write a long comment on the blog. Copycats make me angry! It’s one thing to not be able to afford someone’s work, and decide to make one for your own. It’s another thing altogether to insult someone’s prices, and then show the whole internet how to rip them off, albeit poorly. Don’t kid yourself, no one would ever mistake this for the original.
Here’s my comment in full, in the event that it does not get approved for moderation:
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While it’s nice that you’re inspired by other people’s creatively to try your own hand at crafting, there’s no need to be so negative about another person’s hard work. A lot of factors go into a $50 price tag that may not be immediately apparent to a non-professional.
1. Research and development. It takes time to refine a product line to the point that it’s professional enough to sell, especially if you already have an excellent reputation to uphold, as the original creator of these crowns does. You’re paying for a product that is guaranteed to be well made.
2. Material cost. Quality costs, and the difference shows. Naugahyde vinyl and high quality felt will last a lot longer than glitter felt you bought at a craft store. Not to mention silk ribbons vs. cheap metallic ribbon. The glass glitter with real silver? Again, the differences are obvious.
3. Construction. The original crown is a solid piece, sewn to a ribbon to tie it on, not hot glued. I own several pieces by the original artist, and can attest to her superb construction abilities. I don’t have a crown yet, but I’m sure the build quality and durability is better than floppy felt hot glued to a ribbon.
4. Overhead. You can’t sell a product for the cost of the materials and make a profit. Even if you made one for $5, selling it at double wouldn’t get you very far. Professional crafters are paying for materials, packaging, marketing, websites, show fees, studio rent, and still have to be able to make a profit so they can make a living.
This is not meant as a justification for unreasonably high prices. (For the record, I think $50 is a fair price for the original crown.) But do try and consider what else you are paying for. You’re not buying some shoddy trinket made by third world sweatshop laborers. You’re buying a handmade lovely that someone you met in person worked on. This artist supports herself fully by making gorgeous pieces, and pours her heart and soul into coming up with original designs, then working insanely long hours every day to make them. On top of that, she then sells them, in person, at shows in crazy hot weather!
Now you say, why should I pay all that money to support someone else when I can make it myself? Of course you don’t have to. But it’s a little tacky to insult someone else’s hard work, and then go and copy it. Not only copy it, but publish instructions for others to also copy it. It’s a fine line between inspiration and blatant theft. It might be legal, but it’s tacky and disrespectful.
If you are so inspired by someone’s fantastic creation that you must have one, but can’t afford it (or just don’t want to pay), don’t knock them down publicly, and then rip them off.
For all of you reading this, who find that quality and originality matter, and want to support the original artist, you can find her crown here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/51952795/giant-dwarf-starlette-crown-diamond
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Well, that’s it for my copycat induced rage today. Buy Sue’s work, and support original artists!
Hear, hear! As Sue’s most recent boothmate at Renegade, I witnessed handfuls of girls GLADLY paying $50 for her gorgeous work. It’s the detail, the quality, the special Sue-ness that makes a product hers; for this girl to be so insulting about that is infuuuriating! Thanks for taking the time to post this–I hope it’s read and understood.
Thank you for writing this post! I have run into the same problem about people taking my idea (hand lettering style, design, copy writing) and I just don’t know what to say when I see it!
I’ve seen it far too many times to the point where sometimes the original artist is lost with other copy cats (for example, the wonderful felt mustache on a stick from Something’s Hiding in Here)
Support the original artist!
It’s so true, copycats really dilute the brand of the original artist. I’ve hesitated to post about my own copycats, because I don’t want to drive any traffic to their site, and I’ve just always hoped that people would be able to tell that my quality was superior, but that’s probably wishful thinking.
Thanks so much for responding to her post! I saw this too and was instantly hurt but didn’t have the guts to comment. I just don’t understand how people, especially people who seem to be so in-tune with the handmade/small business community, could do something like that. You have to be aware of your audience and know that there isn’t really much that goes unnoticed online. Sue’s work is phenomenal and I would gladly pay for a piece made by her.
Yay!
It’s important to be able to discuss these issues and I’m glad that so many people out there “get it”.
I agree fully with all that you state here.
This is an important discussion that we should not be afraid to talk about. I am 100% in support of DIY but I also support fostering a kind community in “blog land” where we can build each other up instead of writing rude comments about cost and then copying the idea.
Niceness rules