Target rips off own collaborator Proenza Schouler

Fashion
Top: Proenza Schouler's PS1 bag. Bottom: Mossimo's Messenger bag.
Top: Proenza Schouler's PS1 bag. Bottom: Mossimo's Messenger bag.

These days it seems like knockoffs are everywhere, from shoe stores like Steve Madden to massive clothing chains like Urban Outfitters and Forever 21. Target's in-house Mossimo label has been called out for clearly jacking the trendy Proenza Schouler PS1 bag. Surely these bags may not have the same customer. While they look fairly similar (the V-shaped flap and two straps hanging down the front) and even come in similar colors, the prices vary greatly. The Mossimo Messenger bag (which is fake leather) sells for $34.99, while the leather Proenza Schouler PS1 costs a whopping $1,595. Nevertheless, the Proenza Schouler designers, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, have made it known that they are not too pleased with Target.

"Why save up and buy ours when you can buy theirs right away?" McCollough asked NY Times editor Cathy Horyn. Hernandez admits "the attitude, the slouch of the bag - they got the weight really right." Sure, they're used to copycats, but they're extra mad about these Mossimo bags because they are long-time Target collaborators. In fact, Target is currently selling two of their best-selling Proenza Schouler for Target dresses as part of their Go International Design Collective.

Left: Mossimo's $35 bag. Right: The Proenza Schouler $1,595 original.
Left: Mossimo's $35 bag. Right: The Proenza Schouler $1,595 original.

"So our product is in Target right now, and then this bag comes out," Ms. Cook told the NY Times. "It's just disappointing, especially from someone we worked with." A Target spokesperson told them "it always has been and continues to be the policy of Target to respect the intellectual property rights of others," but after seeing the close similarity of these bags, we think that may not be the case.

Stock up on those affordable Proenza Schouler for Target dresses now, folks-we're guessing they may not want to collaborate again in the future.




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