Dear Honey bunnies,
We had the release party it; brilliant, beautiful, glamorous. All I can say to describe it. You can get issues in world or you can check us out
www.reveal-sl.com Pdf baby!
OK so let me get into serious mode. Recently,
Linden LifestylesPublished a post regarding Second life and Real life fashion. In which second life designers are stealing from Real life and Second life designers stealing from their counterparts. I would briefly like to talk about it. I have thought about this since I had heard about the Frangi Pani incident a while back. It wasn't until the lovelies mentioned it did I realize wait others care too.
Stealing Ideas from Real life and what does it mean to the consumer?
It means you will have an outfit similar to something you own or something you wish you could have but, cannot afford in Real life. 3oo Lindens is nothing compared to the thousands of dollars it takes to mimic your favorite celebrity. On an artistic level it is to some extent stealing.
Stealing in the fashion world isn't as black and white as one is left to believe. Influences will always be scene. Be it the empire waist or the Lucite bangles your wearing. It was someones original idea and you are wearing the copy. Is it fair that someone is photoshoping an image to a template and then using it as a texture? That is a matter of ethics. I fully believe when more companies like Dior and Gucci come in this will become a more relevant issue. Because remember a t shirt can sell for 40 lindens you put the Nike "Swoosh" on it and your in another ball game.
Second Life Stealing from Second life.
If some one can do it for cheaper and gain it for profit they will. Whether
it be making a fake Chanel bag with a messed up logo or some one copying X3d's textures. People are evil, greedy jackasses. Just because you bitch on a blog doesn't mean they will go "you know, your right. I'm sorry for I have sen the light" such bullshit doesn't exsist. Second lifers need to look at real world clothing companies and learn from them.
Key phrase and I will repeat it a billiobn times if needed "It can always be done cheaper to get a profit" If something is in high demand people with some skill can copy it and sell it. This happens all the time with larger companiies. This is why they have stores like forever 21. They have a middle class, average demographic that wants high end clothing.
The same thing applies with Secondlife. No one is going to give up the chance to sell something cheaper to people who can't afford to buy a 800 gown because it's "in". So with that demographic and with the skills people can copy items and sell them for the fraction of the cost. It sucks and it's aweful. But, it's buissness.
What can you do to prevent this?
Nothing. It will happen. Instead try asking the lindens what you can do. a way to protect yoru rights as the designer. Establish a loyal fan base that will buy on name and name alone [it works in RL people] Create groups or utilize exsisting groups to spot if this happens so you can speak to the desinger who commited the act and see what can be done. Also try to create items that consumers without unlimited budgets can buy. With an ever changing economy and ideas of what's hot in sl Fashion be creatize in marketing strategy and how you present your buissness so you don't loos emoney over this.
Inconclusion it absolutely sucks this happens but, as long as you photoshop so will someone else. Influcence is one thing but, resist the urge to steal. It's hard to say "Stealing is bad" Because to some extent it allows peopel to buy something cheap they otherwise couldn't afford.
It's like music and programs like napster. Yes it sucks for the record companiesyet, alot of undiscovered music gets out there. So it's you as the reader to decide what to do.
Love ya,
azar k
