Guess Withdraws Bag After Being Accused Of Copying Design Label Telfar
Image via TY Lim / Shutterstock.com
Guess has been accused of ripping off the handbag design of independent brand Telfar.
Designed by Liberian-American founder Telfar Clemens, Telfar’s vegan leather shopping bag is described as gender-neutral.” Dazed and Confused even hailed it as “the decade’s most important accessory.”
The bag is recognizable for its circular-shaped ‘TC’ monogram, rectangular shape, and straps of varying lengths.
With such an iconic look, many users have accused fashion brand Guess of copying its design to create one of its totes. The Guess tote boasts the same shape and a similar circular logo to Telfar’s, and fashion watchdog Diet Prada even posted an image of both bags side-by-side to highlight the similarities.
In response, one Instagram user commented, “Stealing from black creatives, pathetic.” Another said, “Stop stealing from Black Creatives!”
Guess has since withdrawn that particular tote bag from sale. It said, “Signal Brands, the handbag licensee of Guess, Inc., has voluntarily halted the sale of its G-Logo totes. Some on social media have compared the totes to Telfar Global’s shopping bags. Signal Brands does not wish to create any impediments to Telfar Global’s success and, as such, has independently decided to stop selling the G-logo totes.”
Telfar has responded to the controversy on its Instagram account, writing, “Bag Secured.”
[via The Guardian, cover image via TY Lim / Shutterstock.com]
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