Similarities VS. Copying

I have been designing floral accessories since the beginning of 2000. It was mainly for myself and a few friends and clients at the time. In all honestly, I had a blip on the map around 2002-4 (when I was in Magazines and got write ups...the interview with W Magazine for my flowers and ankle corsages) and then I admit I dropped the ball and my designing fell to the wayside as more of a part time business. Then in 2005 I began making more jewelry and trying to branch away from the flowers to something "more sophisticated" again. Plus, I was having clients from my day job request items I was wearing...lol. Sometimes they would want to even buy the jewelry right off me! However, no matter how much I tried to get away from flowers Customers always brought me back! I would get calls and requests or run in to people from years ago telling me how they wore their flowers to death that they bought from me LONG ago. Grant you, there was barely a day that went by that I did NOT wear flowers to work...it was sorta my signature and Customers ALWAYS referred to me as "the Girl with the flowers in her hair." LOL! At least there was no mistaking me for someone else! For the last 5 years friends kept telling me that I NEEDED to get in to the Bridal arena and that I would do REALLY WELL there and that I there is a void in HIGH QUALITY pieces available. Meaning there really are a handful of keepers and A LOT of cheap looking stuff. So here I am wading in the pool of the Bridal industry. This brings me to a subject that has recently been floating around...copying and knocking off. Seriously, as I personally have said here as well as on other blogs about this (weather it was about artwork, music, photography...et cetera) It has ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE and there REALLY is not much that is "TOTALLY NEW" I mean, sure, to me or to you...BUT RARELY something that HAS NEVER BEEN DONE. We can pick ANY DESIGNER and choose an outfit...and go back in history to find the elements that were pulled for making this. This was actually an assignment I had years ago in a Fashion class. It was really interesting how every day clothes have their unique history. Anyway, I just realized, JUST HOW MUCH CAN YOU DO IN WHITE AND IVORY?! lol Plus, if you use several of the same elements there is going to be a time where something MIGHT LOOK SIMILAR and there doesn't have to be INTENTION for it...it's bound to happen. Then there is always what I was originally talking about, blatant copying. Without naming names I am about to give you a few examples that I have seen and find VERY DISTURBING. Let me preface this by stating that I have been a vendor on Etsy since November 2006. I am always watching whats going on within my little pool of jewelry and accessories. Since the beginning of this year I started to see a trend of knocking off that really bothered me personally as a designer. I realize that I go to great lengths to produce high quality unique items that I take A LOT of time and effort to create. I assume a few of my peers do the same. When I began to see what I felt as blatant copying it REALLY upset me. Then of course when I became victim of it it made this even MORE personal! But I am not talking about me. For example, Starry Designs. I LOVE here little bird nest necklaces. I noticed them AGES ago, now I have no idea if she started this or not and am not claiming she did, I am just saying I noticed them because they are SO CUTE and then I noticed more recently that I see this EXACT design everywhere! (and they are NOT hers)

Photograph courtest of Starry Design Jewelry
Starry Designs Bird Nest Jewelry.

Another observation I noticed was this:
Here are some examples of a designer that I know started posting in February 2007.

and here is something by another designer AFTER hers came out:


This person didn't even post until January 2008...and I remember when I first saw their items...this person was predominately making other non hair items in the beginning.
Here is the originator(in my opinion started Feb. 2007)


And here is something by another designer:

This shop opened in February 2008.
Like I said before I am not naming names but if you were to look through these particular desigers shops...YOU would SEE what I have observed.
Now, YOU CANNOT tell me you don't see the similarities being REALLY OBVIOUS?!
It's not like when I see a random silk flower with Swarovski crystals because I get that you can find those ANYWHERE! (Not generally as nice as mine but commonplace) I think these are pretty obvious of what I personally FEEL that are good examples of copying. I HAVE NO PROOF AND AM NOT STATING THAT THEY ARE, this is simply an observation that I have made since this has been a recent subject at hand.
Plus, it is in my personal opinion that there are very specific elements in these examples that are pretty signature of who I believe is the originator of the designs...key things that MAKE IT THAT designers LOOK and STYLE. I didn't want to call anyone out which is why I specifically DID NOT use names or photos with faces. I merely wanted to show examples.

This was another:

Within a few days of MY posting this I saw this one:

There was nothing previously in this shop with THIS shape until mine came out. This designer makes lovely items and I am flattered that I obviously inspired this for her...I mean, really...though.

I won't bore you all with my BE issues of copying...but this has just been bothering me SO much I had to write about it.

I understand that this is what happens to MORE PEOPLE THEN WE WANT TO ADMIT to it happening to but it still STINKS! This was a VERY casual post and is merely expressing my personal FEELINGS on the matter. To all the designers involved I wish only the best and to please ask that you try to develop your OWN PERSONAL STYLE and FLAIR so as not to have to be thought of as "...Oh, this looks like a ...design" I mean, I see that you are talented and that there is no need for you to have to make items that LOOK so close to another designers work. Branch off and create for yourself your individual flair! There's enough customers out there to keep US ALL HAPPY and VERY BUSY!
:D