[quote=Txgurl06;2206197]

Selling stuff that is not made by the seller itself is fine. But implying that the items are made by the seller(in order to promote and advertise them this way) when in fact they are made elsewhere is an issue here on YT and that is why she mentioned it. Yes I do sell my own designs in which I personally sew them and I also offer products from other popular designers which I always make clear that I do not make those items myself.
The problem chattiesmomis refering to is there are some members of this forum (Ive especially started seeing this happen lately with some new members) is that they come on here selling thier clothing and imply that they make thier items when in fact while they actually do design thier products they do not make them and instead they outsource them in factories. Lots of YT members like to support fellow members that sew thier own designs and other people are trying to take advantage of this. Buyers will buy from these people because they are led to believe they are making thier own designs and these sellers never correct anyone when a buyer post "look what so & so made me" and some of them have even been point-blank asked if thier products are made themselves or made overseas and they ignore these questions. So Im not saying outsourcing is bad, I just dont think those poeple should imply they sew thier own clothes as they are delibratly doing to try and get sales. Basically, it is not fair to those of us who make our own products to have to compete with the pricing of someone who outsources overseas (which is incredibly cheap labor) claiming thier items home-made. For example I can not make a dress for $10 because I would make no money for my time and cover all my other business expenses so I have to charge $15 + for my handmade dresses. But someone who buys fabric and send it overseas can get a dress made for easily $2 a piece and then come on here and charge $10 . I knwo this is business and this is just fine. But when that same person whose dresses were made in a factory for $2 implys that they made the outfits themselves(or they just do not correct people when they say " look what so & so made me") it is not fair to the rest of us seamstresses who are really doing the work by making our own products. So chattiesmom is just trying to shed some light onto this. I know nothing can legally be done about people who copy and people who dishonestly try and advertise that they make thier products when they dont, but basically I started this thread to bring these problems to light because Im tired of sitting around and watching it happen. And I really started this thread after a fellow friend and seller had her patterend blatantly ripped off and some exact designs were copied. Its just not right. And if more people are aware of it Im hoping maybe YT members will not support members that do this.

sorry my post are so long. I was not given the talent to "sum up" my thoughts, lol :rolleyes::p

You know I totally agree but in all fairness, there are a small percentage of people, not necesarily on YT, see something really cute, but maybe not know where it comes from. Then they commission someone like you, who has a reputation of being a good seamstress and tells you what they want, thus duplicating someones pattern.

I agree I think most is scamming your ideas, but there will always be some doing exactly as you stated without knowing they are doing wrong.

Is there any way you ladies who do put so much work into these patterns can have it pattened? Just food for thought.

Shana, I feel your pain!!! I have been designing clothes for 14 years, first as a children's clothing designer and for the last 4 years as a doggie designer and this has been going on forever!! I did a few Art & Wine festivals and Harvest festivals with my children's clothing company when I first started, on my second or third show I saw a booth that I thought was mine and it was a competitors!! She had not only stolen all my clothing designs, she also stole my whole booth design!! It looked like I had purchased 2 booths at the show but I hadn't!! I had met a patent attorney on one of my flights (I'm also a flight attendant for United) and he drew up a cease and desist letter and she stopped doing the shows but I found out from him that design patents aren't worth the paper they are printed on because the person only has to change the item by about 30% and they can sell it as their own!! That means that she could just sew a round collar, shorten the dress by an inch, add a different bow, etc... and it was different enough!! Now, I design for a dog company and we see the same thing. We will go to a trade show with our stuff and on the next trade show we will see that someone has taken an idea of ours and decided to make and market it!! It's frustrating but I have decided that because I am the one that has the creative mind and I am the one that can think of new ideas, I just try to stay one step ahead of the rest. They will always be one step behind the creativity!! They will be copying me and I will have thought of something else and I will be onto that!! That's the only thing that keeps me sane with it!! I design for companies that manufacture their products here in the U.S. and overseas and they do the best quality they can with the limitations. But when I hand make my own products, I sell them for the "hand made", "couture" price and most people who know quality could definitely tell the difference! I think you should try and support the creativity even if you have to pay a bit more for the hand made quality v.s. the factory product. Some people can't afford that and there is something out there for everyone!!

that just downright stinks what happened to you! You certainly have a very good attitude about it though.

I see you are in SF. I wonder what kind of shows you do? I love to go to shows. Do you have any coming up?

Hi Jodi!! Yeah! It stinks when someone steals from you but my positive attitude about it took me awhile to come to!! I was bitter and angry in the beginning but figured if I wanted to continue and design I had better change my outlook!!
The shows I do now are Pet Industry trade shows and Gift shows, unfortunately they are not open to the public!! The company I design for is a wholesaler and she sells to stores and webstores.

That's horrible that people keep copying you and I do know it is somethign that will continue to happen forever and ever, not much can be done. What I used to like so much when I was first on YT is that people supported creativity and uniqueness and didnt tolerate people that copied but I have seen this change over the years and I long for the good ol' days, lol.

Exactly, Shana. In the good ol' days, vendors supported one another both by encouragement and respect for each other's individuality and creativity AND by pointing out items that had obviously been duplicated by others. I remember a time when vendor's would pm warnings about members who were known to be pirating designs from others.

But I will add that I have a wonderful client base that I love dearly. I really-truly appreciate every single one of my customers.

I have loved everyting I've gotten from Tinkerbells closet, & ChloeBella. There will be customers for all types of sewing.

In my case I did go out and purchase a pattern at Joann's, it took a few attempts & work to make something that looked good enough for Jazzie to wear.

While it is hard work, when making a cotton dress, it is going to need a velcro latch at the neck & waist. The skirt is going to be attatched at the waist, the d ring is attached to the dress by means of fabric... I don't see how that is copying, it is the steps specified in the pattern, I then modified it a bit so that it would fit without gaps.

When Jazzie wore the dresses I made, people complimented, which made me feel confident enough to sell them, to sell them in hopes of making money to provide Jazzie with the luxating patella/femur surgery that she needs, (Dr. Beale at Gulf Coast Veterinary Hospital,). If I like a fabric that someone else may be selling I try to change it up by adding a different bow or other coloring. If the price is low it is because it is better to sell Low than to sell nothing at all.

There are dog lovers all over this world, it is a huuuuge market for everyone.

I work as an admin in Sales, we see copying all the time, it is said that someone copying your idea is a form of compliment. The instruments my comp. sells are copied by others, we don't go suing. In the end the best made product will sell, the best marketing, the best customer service of the product will be the most sold.

I just wanted to clarify again that I totally understand where y'all are coming from, and I think it is ABSOLUTELY, 100% wrong to represent yourself as something you are not....just wanted to let you all know, I don't disagree!! I just also don't see anything wrong with people selling products that are not hand-made, as long as they don't represent that they are.

I saw this happen a few months ago! It bugged me then... :( I hope the offenders see this.

Great Thread Shana!
I totally agree! I have worked hard to create my unique fufu design and i would be very upset if someone "copied" it. My fufu's are sold on a few websites but i have total control since i do all of my sewing of the clothes. I haven't noticed anyone on here copying anyone elses dresses or shirts. :eek: I love everyones clothes and love supporting other YT'ers by buying their products. I love the creativity of the sellers here and seeing what they design. I cant imagine copying someone elses design! that just isn't right!!:(
I would much rather purchase something from my YT friends and always try to support them in any way i can.
I know how much time it takes to design and create unique products and i hope others will appreciate that too.:thumbup:
Thanks for starting this thread...maybe everyone will see what we all go through to offer unique products. :hug:

Hello! I think you might be missing the point of the thread. Of course there is only so many ways to make things in general. However the point is that we should all try to be unique so that our product stands out as one of our own. When everyone's pattern, design, fabrics are the exact same, who really wins in that?

For example, I've just clicked on your etsy link. You have several fabrics that I do and that's FINE, SERIOUSLY. However, for example the linking monkeys dress... the only difference in your linking monkey dress, is that the bow is red bananas, instead of green AND... you used the exact same names on your dresses that i had on mine. :confused: I have since removed the dress from my collection. However I just wanted to point it out that it is suprising for me to see that..and wonder:confused: why?

Wow....:confused: