they say it’s the sincerest form of flattery

but to me it just looks like a really shitty no-talent rip off.  better check and make sure they didn’t rip off your artwork too.

UPDATE: THE OFFENDING ITEMS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, THANK YOU!!!

per the request of cyroline.de,  i have removed the side-by-side comparison image showing the artwork they copied.

43 Responses to “they say it’s the sincerest form of flattery”

  1. Claire Says:

    Whoa, that’s BLATANT! I hope you’re taking legal action?

  2. katy Says:

    god. i’m sorry. are you going to take any action?

  3. andrea Says:

    disgusting!! this makes me soooo mad! shame on you, crappy no-talent t-shirt store!!

    hang in there, hannah….
    xx andrea

  4. CN Heidelberg Says:

    I hope you can nail these guys. I would be livid.

  5. femke Says:

    Hi Hannah, I can’t tell you how sorry and mad I am to see this!!!
    Your work is much more beautiful, and clearly you have much more talent! keep up the good work!!!
    Kind regards, femke

  6. Boney Says:

    That’s outrageous; I really hope you’re taking some kind of action. I cannot imagine how wicked mad you are.

  7. Vintage Says:

    That is terrible. You should email the company; they might not know. It looks like they are just a retailer.

    I’d also suggest sending this to http://www.counterfeitchic.com/ – they discuss indie knock-offs sometimes.

  8. Mel Says:

    Holy crap!

  9. Joy Says:

    Whoa, well there is gleaning ideas and blatant copying, badly as you say. Give em hell

  10. Lisa Says:

    Wow! That is crazy!

  11. strikkelise Says:

    This is so gross. Looks really bad, too.

  12. Markie Says:

    That…looks…wretched! I can’t believe the fraudulent, ugly design copying and how misshapen the skirts look. Not only are yours original, but the quality and workmanship are obviously far superior. I hope you get ahold of these phonies and get those monstrosities down. This is pathetic.

  13. Inky Says:

    jeez, that’s terrible not just in the downright theft of your art, but in quality. I do hope it’s viable for you to pursue some sort of legal action.

  14. rino Says:

    and they´re not in a million years as beautiful as yours

  15. jek Says:

    holy crap! the copies are made so poorly and soooo utterly reflect your originals it almost reads as a joke. how awful. eegads but this makes me mad!

  16. Shari Says:

    I just saw this posted on Christine Hayne’s Facebook. OMG! I guess since they are in another country they didn’t think you’d notice that they ripped you off! And they didn’t just copy one design, they copied so many! Get ’em Hannah! We are behind you 100%!!!

  17. Shari Says:

    I wrote a simple note to that shop and told them they were stealing and directed them to this store. I think everyone should do that so they know they are busted!

  18. Heidi Says:

    Wow. It’s so blatant and so badly done, I don’t even know what to say.

    So is this company like the German version of Hot Topic that straight out rips off so many small designers?

    There’s a great website about ripoffs called http://www.youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/

    So sorry you’re having to go through this. It really bites!

  19. Margot Says:

    So sorry!! That is blatant! At least their rip offs are pretty ugly. It is amazing what the little differences make. Plus I don’t like the cut of their skirt.

    This sort of thing is happening a lot lately. You are the forth case I’ve heard of in about 2 months.

  20. Holly Says:

    Oh, Hannah, I am so, so sorry! How do these people sleep at night?! And the copies are so poorly done that it somehow makes it more infuriating. I hope that you have the resources to stop them. Best of luck to you!

  21. lisa Says:

    I am so mad for you!!!!!
    my honey and I were just discussing how the hack managed to eradicate the most charming portions of your designs in their pathetic attempt to mimic you. it just shows how some folks can create beauty and some can only prove their inability to see what makes it beautiful.

  22. liz noonan Says:

    oh god, how AWFUL!!! I’m so sorry! Get’ em’!

  23. tina Says:

    HANNAH! John and I are literally sick to our stomachs after seeing this. You have to do something about this. If you need any kind of support, please let us know. Sue the bastards. This is terrible. Don’t let them get away with this.

  24. lisa Says:

    I’ve written a strongly worded email(HAHA) to the shop and asked my bro who is in Berlin to go check it out. I will keep you posted.

  25. Heather - Dollar Store Crafts Says:

    Oh no! That is wretched!

  26. Betty Jo Says:

    This is so infuriating. I am sure with alot of support and online action from fans of your work we can get them to at least take them down for now.
    It worked with at least three jewellers I know who were ripped off by Top Shop.
    This website might be a good place to start spreading the word and posting your story:http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/
    Also get your tweeting friends to mention it.
    We should all shame these culprits!

  27. Wendy Says:

    They say it’s a free world! But this has happened to me also in the gourd art world. It really hurts your heart! Hope you do something to make those rip offs pay. Your work is awesome! Take Care! Wendy

  28. Lynn Says:

    Oh, that is really, really bad. I just don’t understand people. How do they think they won’t get caught? So sorry this has happened to you. Lynn

  29. Mary Says:

    Hannah,
    You are the best, and everything you make, is the best!
    Love, Mary

  30. Irene Says:

    Those cheapo skirts are obviously NOT made with love. Good luck with whatever action you’ll be taking…those knock-off idiots needs to be dealt with!

  31. Lynne Says:

    speechless with dismay here!

  32. Krissy Says:

    I’m so sorry that you’re going through this! It just infuriates me how big companies blatently rip-off independent, creative artists such as yourself. It’s so unfair! (As an aside: interesting that despite all the money behind these large companies, they still can’t seem to hire people with any creativity or ideas of their own…..)

    I really hope you are able to do something about this. Maybe even a “cease and desist” email will be sufficient? Their designs are such an obvious copy (even down to the colours they used!) that there must be something you can do.

    Just know that there are many people who support you and are on your side!

  33. susan b. Says:

    This is horrible. I’m so sorry, Hannah. Let us know what we can do to help you!!!

  34. Ed Walters Says:

    ……..this happens to Jen all the time and always the copies look really bad, Once some even used her descriptions…. these people have no talent and are everywhere looking to cash in until people see how bad there copies are.
    Sorry this has happened to you.
    ~E

  35. Julie Says:

    I have to tell you both me and several of my Etsy friends have been SERIOUSLY copied on Etsy. It’s HORRIBLE To deal with and I’m sorry it is happening to you. It’s a REAL shame that Etsy doesn’t care AT ALL about what’s going on. :(

  36. Julie Says:

    oh…and it’s CLEAR who the original ARTIST is here. Your work is FAR FAR better and I think ANYONE could see that.

  37. margie oomen Says:

    Their copies are just so sad and really ugly in comparison to your artwork.
    I just don’t have any idea how they sleep at night.

  38. hannah Says:

    thank you guys SO MUCH for all of your comments and support, it really means so much to me. i just posted some info on how i became aware of the copies and what i’ve tried to do so far: http://madewithlovebyhannah.com/WordPress/?p=1384 . any and all advice is greatly appreciated!! thank you so much again. hannah

  39. Emily Emza Says:

    Man, they REALLY have no talent- can’t even copy! Makes me sick!

  40. hannah Says:

    i received an email from them this morning that the items have been removed, although they do not agree with me that there was any copyright violation. thank you guys!!

  41. Alex Says:

    Note: I’m being driven by a grim curiosity. What was it?

  42. hannah Says:

    (psst…you can take a peek at it over here http://madewithlovebyhannah.com/ripoffcopy.jpg )

  43. tess Says:

    Wow, yours are SO much better. You are a really talented screen print artist. (I love my 5-year old Swartzwalder skirt!)

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