I started Gloomth in 2007, over the years my designs have been copied or stolen by big and small organizations both local and beyond. It never gets easy seeing your work ripped off. However there’s always something especially difficult about seeing another small business do it. Siiiiigh.

This is absolutely not meant to be a “go attack this person” post. I don’t want anyone to get hatred directed at them (the internet has enough of that). I do think this time it’s important to post about it though. To acknowledge the harm this causes, to the community and to other artists.

I launched my “Dracula’s Bride” dress in 2018, it’s nearly sold out currently but has been very popular. Seeing this almost identical copy above made by (presumably) a small brand was beyond disappointing. This scene is small enough without stealing from one’s peers. It’s also antithetical to the very spirit of alternative culture. The only visible difference is adding a shabby bow instead of buttons at the yoke….?

We all know Shien and Dolls Kill have spent their lifespans copying and stealing from independent designers and artists. At this point half their business model seems to be getting word of mouth advertising from every small brand howling on social media about the knock-off’s of their work. I rarely post about those copies, there’s no benefit to that for me. They don’t change their business model when artists are upset.

I don’t know what I want from posting this. I guess just a public record that it happened, I saw it, and I don’t appreciate it. Just because another creator lives in a different country doesn’t mean you can just wholesale copy their work, the alt fashion scene is too small to get away with that perpetually.

With the rise of AI it seems the borders of what’s owned by the creator and what’s “free to use” is getting increasingly blurred (I fucking hate generative AI). For the record, my designs are not free use. I have poured my soul into this label since 2007 and your inability to come up with unique designs on your own shouldn’t be at the expense of other artists.

-Taeden.