KNOCKOFF DRAMA IN IRELAND

an item from the karen millen collection.(mosaic-fashions.co.uk)

if you've ever shopped at forever 21, joyce leslie, or h+m ( i am very guilty on all three counts) then you know the deal: low end retailers copy from high-end designers - and high-end stores- all the time. well the buck stops here, at least for three stores in ireland. according to wgsn, karen millen, whistles, and coast , all based in ireland and owned by the same company, are suing dunnes stores for allegedly selling knockoff versions oftheir clothing at a much cheaper price. the case is set to go to trial in october and the outcome could be bad for dunnes. if the three stores win, which seems likely according to an expert in the case, then the three designers will win legal protection of their designs for at least three years.