The images in question were taken by JimmyC of LuminousImpression, of model Maria Bella. I provided corsets to Maria in exchange for photographs to be used promotionally by my company. We three (JimmyC, Maria, and I) are the only ones that have permission to use these photos. Naturally, permission was not granted to the manufacturers using the images. I am not the only corset maker/designer that's being ripped off - however, I can only fight my own personal battle with these companies, and make the general public aware of what's going on.
After finding the image on Facebook, being illegally used by a Facebook member who was selling versions of mine and several other designers' corsets, I became aware of two major manufacturers in China (Dear-Lover and Shining Lingerie). These websites are wholesaling the corsets for as low as $9 and $10 a piece! That search then led me to over a dozen "reseller" sites selling these same corsets in the US and overseas. So far, I have successfully managed to have every listing removed via DCMA Takedown Notices. Huge websites, like eCrater, DHGate, AliBaba and AliExpress were all very accommodating and helpful. The smaller, individual reseller sites were a lot more of a chore to deal with, but eventually they all took down the image. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get a response to my repeated inquiries from either of the manufacturers, so I suspect that this will be an ongoing issue.
Dying to know what one of these knockoff corsets looked like, I purchased one from one of the resellers (shortly before having the image removed from the site).
Let me me make a very clear point: I am really not concerned about the knockoff itself. The standing rule in the fashion indsutry is that any garment can be changed by 10% and be considered "original". The knockoff is significantly different than the original, and anyone can see there is no comparison between the two. Not to mention, this particular fabric is available to anyone in the world, so it can be used by any individual or company for their own purposes. The resellers are not entirely at fault - they are simply using a 'stock' image from the Chinese website. They have no idea it's a stolen image, and as long as they take it down when asked, I have no problem with them personally.
The problem is that the image(s) are being used illegally, without permission from me, the photographer, or the model. None of us have received any credit, or any compensation for the use of the image. And frankly, I don't WANT an image of my hardwork being used to sell the fruits of some sweatshop labor. The very basis of my business is high-end, handmade quality corsetry. Let me reiterate the words "handmade" and "quality".
The danger of this image being used to sell mass-produced garbage is that it could be very damaging to my company and my reputation. The retail price on my website for that corset: $380. The price I paid on the reseller site: $31.99. Anyone see something wrong with this? I couldn't even buy the fabric to make that corset for $31.99.
Now, any person that is only willing to spend $32 on a corset, is highly unlikely to purchase a custom corset from me. And conversely, any client of mine (or of the handmade industry in general) is probably not going to buy a $32 corset made in China. However, the average person (who may or may not know much about corsets) who sees both images on two different sites, is probably not going to choose the more expensive option. Then, when they get the corset and see how poorly made it is, they may assume that I'm either ripping people off, or that I'm selling the same level of quality.
The point is, these websites can sell anything they want, they just cannot use my image to do so. No one is allowed to take credit for the hard work of all the individual involved, except the individuals involved.
So what can you do? Don't support the Chinese sweatshops!! If you see any website using photos that you KNOW don't belong to them, let the owner of the image know! Don't turn the other cheek and just go "Oh, this happens all the time." It happens all the time because we allow it to. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that as a handmade artist, I can't afford to lose a single cent of income, let alone to someone who is virtually stealing right out of my hand.
Enough of my lecture. On to the pictures!
These are the images that were stolen by the sweatshops:
And images of the original corset handmade by me:
HERE is the version they are selling using my images:
(The gussets are fake; they just stitched down fake casings that don't even have boning in them.)
And here's the lovely "thong" they included for 'free'!!
If you've read through this entire diatribe, thanks for hanging in there!
