Designer Accuses Topshop of Stealing His Design

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but sometimes it’s just outright plagiarism, and artist Faig Ahmed would agree. The Azerbaijani artist is accusing Topshop of copying one of his designs and using it on a T-shirt.

While Ahmed wanted to sue the company, he cannot because, as he shared, “it costs from 20,000 to 50,000 pounds, and their lawyers are capable of extending the judicial process, which can cost even more money — which leads to the bankruptcy of the artist.” So, like any other up-and-coming creative in the millennial age, he took to social media to stir an uproar.

On his Facebook page, he posted side-by-side images of his work of art and the article of clothing being sold through Topman, Topshop’s men’s department, to show the uncanny similarities.

The U.K.-based brand was selling the shirt for 25 pounds before it went on sale for 15 (about $20).

Ahmed’s studio has reached out to Topman, but according to an interview with Hyperallergic, the artist’s team has been given the runaround.

Topman is dismissing the allegations by blaming the company that designed the T-shirt, Globe, pointing out that the stores are simply responsible for selling it, not manufacturing or production. A representative from Topman told Refinery29, “Topman is aware that Faig Ahmed has made certain allegations in relation to a T-shirt that was sold by concessionaire, Globe Europe, on the Topman website. Topman had no input in the design, creation, or selection for sale of the T-shirt. Faig Ahmed has not contacted Topman in relation to this matter.”

Ahmed’s interpretative carpets have been showcased in galleries and festivals in cities including New York, Venice, and London. “He is well known for his conceptual works that utilize traditional decorative craft and the visual language of carpets into contemporary sculptural works of art. His works reimagine ancient crafts and create new visual boundaries by deconstructing traditions and stereotypes,” his Facebook bio reads.

So there’s no denying that Ahmed came up with the bleeding carpet design, which he began showcasing on Facebook in 2015. According to his website, he was making carpets with the Topman-style designs in 2012.

Despite the similarities and what could be considered an honor, Ahmed says there is no link between himself and Topman. “We can fight this system if we unite, as we are the consumers and the parts of it! Their strength is us and ours is unity! ‪#‎topshame‬,” he wrote on Facebook.

“I’m not surprised [about the shirt], as plagiarism is a very common practice among such big companies. But unfortunately, the international judicial settlement costs a lot of money, and not every artist for this reason can defend their rights. One of the main points in my art is that I’m not doing it for the commercial purposes. I have received various invitations to collaborate with designers and large companies, but I always refuse direct involvement in the production of mass products, since this contradicts the very principle of art,” Ahmed told Hyperallergic.

But the worst part is that it’s not even an accurate copy. “If you will look at their design closely, you can immediately see a huge number of defects and inaccuracies.” And cutoff sleeves?! They could have at least made it cute.

As of now, the tee is out of stock, and it has been removed from the European site.

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