Imitation is the highest form of Flattery

The strangest thing happened to me this morning. Tell me what you think.  

I was up at the school when I saw someone wearing an exact copy of one of my necklaces. It is one of the wooden necklaces with the black and white painted beads with a red velvet tie and a black tulle flower. I knew it wasn't mine because it was a a different, brighter red velvet which I would never use and the black tulle was different and smaller so not in proportion to the necklace. I sold these necklaces for $30-$40. 

The wearer openly told me that she had a person from the school copy it because she loved it so much. As you can imagine I was quite upset.

If this person was at a different school or city or had a variation of the design, I might not have been so upset. It happens all the time and this is certainly not the first time my designs or ideas have been copied. The upsetting part is that this person went to so much effort in having someone from the school copy it and in no way made an effort in finding a way to contact me. To do this in an environment that I am a part of 5 days a week and will be for a few years to come AND to think that these actions are OK is very disappointing.

SoniaM is a business of creativity, individuality, uniqueness and craftsmanship that I have built over the past 12 years.  People recognise and appreciate this when buying a SoniaM piece. I sell to a number of boutiques and many private clients. I have sold many of these same necklaces to a lot of the women at the school for themselves and for gifts. People would associate this distinctive style with SoniaM. For someone to cheaply imitate and wear it knowing people will associate this with a SoniaM design  piece, devalues and insults the workmanship and the 12 years I have spent building the reputation of My business.

But also to the person who made it. To know that it is someone else's design in the same environment and still copy it regardless, should have known better and said no.