Change.org Petitions Forever 21 Over Stolen Designs
WASHINGTON, DC — Thousands of Americans have signed an online petition calling on the mega-retailer Forever 21 to remove an original design copied from the socially conscious New York label Feral Childe.
The retailer has a track record of rip-offs, and more than 2,500 people have joined a Change.org campaign calling on Forever21 to pull any remaining copies of the Feral Childe design from the shelves and work with the designers to determine fair compensation for their work.
“It's bad enough that Forever21 makes cheap clothes for disposable consumption with production practices that harm factory workers and the environment,” said Eliza Starbuck, a Brooklyn-based eco-designer whose work has been featured in Glamour,
The New York Times and other major outlets, who created the petition on Change.org.
“Now, by copying one of Feral Childe's designs and selling it for $15.80 a tang top, Forever 21 is not only saying it has no respect for original work of independent designers, the company is also undermining the entire eco-fashion movement and its effort to foster a broader sustainable ethic within the fashion industry.”
In the past, Forever 21 has been accused of copying a number of major brands such as Anna Sui, Diane Von Furstenberg and Anthropologie.
Feral Childe designers Alice Wu and Moriah Carlson have already filed suit against Forever21 for stealing their hand-drawn, copyrighted “Teepee” print, which took months of collaboration to create.
Starbuck’s petition is one of many similar campaigns on Change.org which target fashion labels for irresponsible practices. One successful recent Change.org petition, for example, helped pressure Versace to ban the dangerous practice of sandblasting its jeans. Others have targeted Dolce & Gabana and Urban Outfitters.
“This may seem like a small case,” said Corinne Ball, a Change.org Director of Organizing. “But Eliza Starbuck’s campaign to hold Forever 21 accountable in a very public manner will hopefully make Forever21 think twice about its practices in the future. Socially-responsible fashion designers will be better off for it.”
Live signature totals from the campaign on Change.org
Journalists interested in contacting Forever21 should try:
Forever21
Corporate Headquarters
(213) 741-5100
Background Coverage with Images of Copied Designs:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07/is-forever-21-an-eco-fashion-design-thief-photos.php
http://ecosalon.com/fast-fashion-giant-forever-21-steals-sustainable-label-feral-childes-design/
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_05/b4213090559511.htm
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by
more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.
