Who dun it?

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The fine lines though between copying, weak inspiration and sheer coincidence is one big muddy lake and lawsuits thrown around between big houses aren't anything new.  However, what of the young student designer who hasn't even graduated yet?  Fannie Schiavoni, a final year LCF fashion student came to me with her beautiful chainmail pieces to accessorize her final collection, fretting over the possibity over her collection being compared to the recent Givenchy couture collection, when it is presented in April.  Now in all honesty I wasn't bowled over by the couture show and haven't really been paying too much attention to the finer details.  The chainmail pieces by Givenchy are more sparkly and chunkier versions of what Schiavoni has produced with similar styling perhaps, but I wouldn't point the copycat finger just yet.

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Still, for a final year fashion student striving to be as unique as possible to shine at that final show in hopes that a fashion house is out there watching, the thought of people making the remotest comparison is a horrid prospect.  These pictures as proved by Model Mayhem, show that Schiavoni's pieces were produced long before Givenchy's H/C show, yet some people might be quick to make that lazy judgement anyway.  I'll do my best to reassure Schiavoni, whose collection of tailored chiffon/silk juxtaposed with these chains will make its debut in April, that only real nitpickers would bother making that comparison and that the less shiny harnesses and chainmail glove would work beautifully with a ton of layered vintage slip dresses.  Ok, that last statement was for my private benefit… I've found someone to concoct my chainmail fantasy afterall…

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26 comments

  1. Her pieces are awesome…. seems like she’s got talent…good thing u did this post way b4 the time for the fashion show at least its a proof :o)

  2. It must be aggravating to be an established artist who has their work undercut by copycat downmarket boutiques and ebay sellers. But ideas also have their own life. Think of the up-and-coming artist who sees dopplegangers of their original ideas displayed first on a bigger platform. Its like the ideas are out there in the ether waiting to be taken, and sometimes you can’t really know when you’re late or slightly ahead of the curve.

  3. “But ideas also have their own life. Think of the up-and-coming artist who sees doppelgangers of their original ideas displayed first on a bigger platform. It’s like the ideas are out there in the ether waiting to be taken, and sometimes you can’t really know when you’re late or slightly ahead of the curve.” — good point.

  4. the chainmail was fantastic.
    by the way, I added you as my fashion reference 🙂
    do check out my blog, if you have time 😉

  5. Schiavoni’s designs are amazing, love the light & airy silk chiffon juxtaposed with those chains!
    I wouldn’t have thought of Givenchy, only because the manner in which the chains were used was quite different IMO.
    xx

  6. I love the chainmail work, much more industrial than the Givenchy, more raw, military? Agreed, being undercut as a designer isn’t good, but at the same time, as an up-and-coming it must be excruciating to see something similar in a major collection just as yours is being prepared.
    However, love it. Almost more so than the Givenchy.
    xxx

  8. I can see some Givenchy-inspired elements here, but her designs really are original. The chainmail is so captivating; I really love it.

  9. their versions of chain mail are both very different. but i understand her concern.
    oh well, it’s a shame, nothing is really “original” anymore, i guess it’s more brings it into popularity.

  11. I am a chainmaille artist. 99.9% of the designs are copied from ancient times. Chainmaille has been around for centuries. Combining chainmaille with other materials is half the fun! All the items shown on your blog are made using the same weave, the Europeon 4 in 1, which was made to make armor centuries ago. If you really want to see some gorgeous chainmaille visit my shop at http://www.thechainmaillelady.com.
    Thank you for your time,
    The ChainMaille Lady

  12. Both designs are beautiful. I also think people are way too sensitive…I mean geeze…everything EVER has already been done before anyways :-/

  14. you will always note the similarities between fashion collections, the thing is, because the similarities emerge at around the same time…that’s why they call it a trend..

  15. Yeah, everything in fashion has been done at least once. Its not anymore about coming up with new stuff, its about making it your own and how you put it together in an outfit.
    However I do feel for the student, as people will always assume that she copied something as soon as they see a similarity.

  19. that’s a bit weird now aint it
    i made a necklace over the summer that had the “chainmail” look except it is not actually chainmail and it’s in gold. hum…

  20. that’s a bit weird now aint it
    i made a necklace over the summer that had the “chainmail” look except it is not actually chainmail and it’s in gold. hum…

  21. This is always a problem with design. I can understand her worries but I actually prefer her pieces to the Givenchy pieces. I can definitely see them making their way into some of your fabulous outfits!

  23. People are so quick to make incorrect snap judgments because they’re stupid and ignorant! Her designs are fantastic and she has a genuine talent – that can’t be copied x

  24. Copies aside (I can’t judge on that having too little knowledge on the subject), I really like the “chain” in the last picture.

  26. I love these pieces-it’s so intricately made. Everything is “borrowed” in fashion. The only thing that is ever original these days is raw talent.

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