Independent artists versus the fashion world.

Imagine you're out at the mall, or browsing online and suddenly see something very familiar. Something that belongs to YOU! How would you feel? Cheated, ripped off, maybe flattered? It's happened to many independent fashion bloggers, and happens more and more frequently as the number of influential bloggers increase (along with the number of their followers)!

The latest one, discovered by Parisien blogger Betty of le blog de betty, left her puzzled and unsettled.
It seems that Zara's TRF line 'borrowed' her photo and used it for a tshirt design.

While under the right circumstances, finding a tshirt with obvious inspiration from something that you had created would be amazing. If the company had approached you and you agreed to your image being used and all that. But if you come across it by surprise, I can't imagine the emotions you'd feel. The resemblance is too uncanny to ignore.

Other OBVIOUS examples of plagiarism by large companies: 

Boyfriend tshirt by Thrasher Store (which they say they have been selling for 20 years now) and on the right, an Urban Outfitters tshirt, only on sale sometime in 2009.

On the left - cute earrings by LolaPop and on the right, Hello Sailor earrings by Topshop, which coincidentally were released a few months after LolaPop was featured in NME magazine in 2009! These LolaPop designs are CUTE AS HELL by the way! I'm definitely checking back at the store when it's open again (early June).

The design above originally by Tabitha Emma to be used in a Leeloo event, was blatantly copied by Alannah Hill for window displays around Australia. Shortly after the Leeloo blog and definatalie spread the word, Alannah Hill sent an apology letter, but the opinion of most other independent artists was that Tabitha should receive monetary compensation for her work being used by such a well known design house.

At the end of the day, plagiarism is rampant in all parts of the art community. Not just by bloggers or fashion design; also in multimedia, advertisements, novels, music, poetry, films and games. And it's not always the brands fault - they could just be buying the artwork off a hired illustrator that has claimed the work as their own. I'm sure most of these big brands wouldn't want to sell 'stolen' artwork... I hope honest young designers and creative minds aren't deterred from doing what they love out of fear/the expectation that someone else will profit off it!

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Original Sources

Betty's blog: leblogdebetty.com

Tabitha Emma/Alannah Hill: definatalie.com and leeloo.com.au

Thrasher store and LolaPop xamples from this interesting website (open for public submission):

http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com

Asian wave.

You may have noticed in the last few years, the rising number of Asian models in the market - be it in fashion shows, international magazine editorials or ad campaigns for brands such as Benetton or Gap.

Just like the waves of Brazilian and Russian supermodels in the past decades, Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China have plenty of home grown beauties to offer the fashion world. These models have always been prevalent within Asia; understandably preferred representatives in their home countries, but lately perhaps due to the economic shift and China's growth in advertising and sales revenue, they are able to have their success in global markets.
Hopefully it's not just a fad, as this trend could last. For example, with a nation like India who have potential to be a prominent economic market - it could also mean we see an increase of Indian models gain international recognition.

Design houses are offered a 'blank canvas' with Asian models.
Generally with non-dominant facial features, lean figures and long, graceful necks, their silhouettes almost perfectly correspond to artist sketches.

Here are some photos of this new breed or supermodel that I really admire:

Mackenzie Hamilton represented by dna model agency

Fei Fei Sun represented by elite model london

Definitely a face that's hard to forget, the beautiful Devon Aoki.

Last but not least, I worked with this girl once or twice in Melbourne, years ago. So glad to know that she's working the circuit around Asia on modeling gigs and having an awesome time while at it. I reckon she'll be a star!
Wish you all the best Koko, I'm a fan:)

Mariko Davies represented by j.i.m. modeling
Photos by Gabrielle Murphy

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 Original Source written by Frédérique Renaut
Material is under ©Copyright http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com

Photoshop not required.

 The April issue of Marie Claire France is numero 100% sans retouches! All the photos in the entire issue are unretouched (excluding the advertisements). Judging by the photos I've see, I wonder why they'd need to be photoshopped in the first place - the girls are naturally beautiful.
I hardly find knee creases or shiny cheeks to be confrontational or offending.

Frédérique Renaut, Fashion-Beauty Editor of Benjamin Kanarek blog, mentions the 'old school pre-photoshop' tricks the magazine would have used, such as: burning out the skin using overexposure, soft light, adding a half blue filter to whiten the skin, pulled back images, large smiles for celebrities so their nasal labial folds are hidden, pulled back hair with hands stretching the skin and smoothing the wrinkles. Using grainy film and converting the images to black and white to neutralize the skin tones.

(I guess, these are some tricks for the rest of us!)

Covergirl, French actress Louise Bourgoin.

Of course, by seeing the beautiful and slim models still look almost perfect and gorgeous without any photoshopping could very well play on the insecurities of women even more!:-) I love the natural look of the photos though and vote to see more magazines rely more on photography tricks!

Internationally, Marie Claire are known for promoting good body image for their readers. The February 2010 issue in Australia shows former Miss Universe and all round loveable Aussie girl Jennifer Hawkins, naked and unretouched. A dimple and a hip crease never hurt anybody.

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Original Source: All of the material is under ©Copyright http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com/