Imitation = Flattery?

Its' one thing when I see design "inspiration" taken from established companies and designers but it's quite another when I see styles that look lifted from smaller independent people. It may just be coincidence, but then again it may not be.

This top heel is from dELiAs. It's cute, right? Love the pop culture 80's-ness of them with their neon charm attached.



But to me they look remarkably like the embellished shoes created by ShoeMissy. These are a pair I got from her last summer.



Then there are these fabric heels from Faith. Shoewawa got to preview some of their summer styles and took a picture of these.



I know patterned fabric heels are big this season but when I saw this picture they reminded me of the kimono fabrics that Hetty Rose uses to create her one off pieces.



Obviously you can't directly prove anything but the thought they they could be lifting from these independent designers bothers me more than when a Louboutin or Manolo knock-off is made. These are individuals trying to make a living with their art. They only have themselves maybe someday they'll be bigger and have more stability but now they shouldn't have elements of their designs swiped.