well, actually i do not know the story, but i wish i could understand. i have decided to write this post today due to another sad story, but i have been thinking about it for quite a while. if you are a photographer, designer, blogger… whatever actually, there is always the chance that your work is being copied. well, this is actually one huge disadvantage of all this online presence and business. people see what you do, what you create, how you do it, and most of the times, they all do this in a very quiet way. and then… suddenly your work is somehow present in another person’s work, blog, photography… who knows what else?
today i decided to write this post, because a friend of mine saw her work being copied and sold at craft fair this weekend. the thing is whoever knows her work, will also know that those fabric dolls were nothing but a cheap copy. her name is rita pinheiro and she manages {matilde beldroega}.
a few months ago, another well-known designer, saw her work being copied… not only the work itself, but the way she styled the pictures to promote her work. the other woman apologized… yet kept doing the same. the designer is {sandra juto} and she knits the famous {wristworms}.
before summer, another friend of mine, well-know for living one delightful handmade life in the most english countryside, shared the same thoughts on her blog. people copying so much of what she does… even the posts she writes… the clutches she sews, the photos she takes to promote the clutches. her name is {concha} and she is the one behind {saídos da concha}.
there are too many of these stories… i just shared three.
why people do what they do when they do a bad thing? well, i honestly have no clue. i was raised to be honest and true to myself. i was raised knowing that stealing was a bad thing, even when internet was not around. and when internet came, stealing kept being a bad thing. just made it easier i think. but then you have this usual conversation… what is copycat? what is inspiration? what is really our own idea? all these doubts & questions are acceptable… with reasonable doubt! i know a copycat of my work if i see one. i know someone who got inspired from me, if i bump into such work. and i also know that my ideas are indeed inspired by what i see & live. i know that my {chevron notebook} was inspired by this {one}.
inspiration is sometimes a hard thing. because we need to be really honest (almost in a tough way) to know if we are being just inspired or if it is too much inspiration and little imagination. we need to be true to ourselves. stealing is easy. creating something different… now that is the hard part. do we feel weakened when that happens? we must not feel like that, but instead feel the strength to make it even better, to change, to innovate. because if some idea was really ours, then it is only in our head, the power to make it even better. and copycats will have to figure out the next step. we know where to go. they just sit and wait for our call. they are the weak ones.
and this stealing and copycat lousy work is not only present in the final work, what defines what we do. it is also in the way we style things… it is also in the way we design our blogs. the way we live our lives. and it does not only come from the quiet ones. i have seen this blog inspiring others. but in that “too much” way. and sometimes that person is not that unknown. blog designs should also be personal. think for yourselves… see what you like, but then come up with something different! i do that, why don’t you?
the story behind those who steal is yet unknown. everyone will have a different excuse, or will not assume the copy. they are still out there, as there are bad people… liars… envious… well, as much as anything else in this world, those who rather follow the easy way will always be present. we just need to come up with better ideas. still, it annoys. it is our hard work. and for those who don’t know, will think that, what they are looking at is the original deal. and that, my friends, that upsets a lot. and has upset a lot of people out there. still, we are way better.
and with this i wish you a delicious tuesday! hope you feel at least a bit of strength and encouragement after this! and you, who know exactly that i am talking about you… do yourself a favour. re-invent yourself. happiness will taste a lot sweeter!
