Back in college, one of my professors said ‘good designers appropriate, great designers steal.’ Of course in the fashion industry, people are very protective of their work, and stealing design is a rather serious issue. Although, the very notion of stealing can is somewhat questionable in some cases, as one can never really steal, as no matter how many designer knock offs Steve Madden does, their shoes are always impossible to walk in. No matter how many dress designs forever21 steals, you will only ever be able to wear the damn thing once or twice if you take real good care of it. And no matter how many red carpet gowns ABS replicates, no regular person will ever be able to afford the real thing, and no Hollywood starlet would ever appear at the Oscars in something from the Macy’s sale rack (though, I would LOVE to see that!).
Ann Kathrin Rohr and Saskia Hammen took inspiration from the notion of copying in the fashion industry. Their collection Copy of an Imitation, as their need to copy because there is nothing new out there. “Especially in fashion there are an awful lot of copies. We have tried to copy a positive influence in the work, “says Saskia. The tongue-in-cheek approach, made for an it-bag transformed to a dress and a tote bag with an it bag printed on it. However, like true designers, even with copied elements, they’ve managed to create something completely unique, making the whole notion of copying a paradox, there’s nothing new, yet nothing will ever be the same.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
love the dress top left! what a great concept
That’s such an interesting idea! And the results are beautiful.
Psst, their name is Copy of an Imitation

Jessie´s last blog ..Label: Viva H
yikes! thanks for catching that… well it’s what they get for writing copyofanimitation
which can easily be copyofanimation
Awesome collection. It reminds me a bit of Slow and Steady Wins The Race.
Nikki´s last blog ..
Jennine, so true! Btw, I’m in contact with the girls, wishing they would sell their collection. Unfortunately they will not build up their label at the moment. So sad - bad bad financial times.
Jessie´s last blog ..Label: Viva H
❤ pro…oh yes! the braiding is so amazing!
❤ nikki…oh yes, i think the concept is pretty similar, yet SSWTR tends to go along the more generic route, and plays more with surface… or lack thereof
❤ jessie…omg that would be amazing! part of me really wishes they’d have something kind of like etsy, but more upscale. you can find a lot of great designers on etsy, but there is a lot of crafty designers to sift through, not that it’s bad, it’s just a different market. these two ladies would do well in a consignment shop, or selling their pieces made to order… for now anyway! until the economy gets going!
Top row in the middle….beautiful!
Fashiongrail´s last blog ..Celebrity Copycat: Stella McCartney’s Look for Less!
beautiful!! I love the 2 dresses on the left
xo
maggie/noirohio vintage´s last blog ..ZOMBIFIED
what a cool concept! Love that pink chiffon-y thing at the top.
Shay´s last blog ..The Velvet Room Boutique
What a great concept!! Their ideas are so very unique and inspiring.
It’s hard not to be inspired by other designers or artists, but I feel its sad when people blatantly copy other peoples ideas.
maria´s last blog ..What I Wore Yesterday: 07.19.09- A Day in Beacon Hill
I love the concept. Very cheeky, but it came out wonderfully.
The it bag as a shirt? Genius. =D
Alicia´s last blog ..Half Nelson//Shop the Sale
Ha! Great concept. I’ve got a post coming that might need to quote this one.
WendyB´s last blog ..Paris, Day 6: More Castelbajac
OH MY! that top is brilliant and i love the rosy tones.
VINTAGE TOPSHOP MILITARY JACKET!!!
C´s last blog ..Having to sell…
Drool! I love all of it! I hope they can gather the cash to keep working and hopefully sell their stuff for a reasonable price somewhere in my area…
Korka´s last blog ..Last Week of Project Survival
I’m just going to be hokey and say “Oh, texxxtures!”
Korka´s last blog ..Last Week of Project Survival
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