In my sourcing travels I’ve been seeing a lot of pieces from discount or big box retailers that look MIGHTY similar to some designer items popular right now. Imitation in the sincerest form of flattery, or so they say, and these pieces give very similar (in some cases- identical) looks for a fraction of the price.
Rejuvenation Pendant ($209) vs. World Market Pendant ($69.99)
Nottingham Wall Mirror ($495) vs. World Market Wall Mirror ($99.99)
Chelsea Textiles dresser (To the Trade) vs. West Elm Dresser ($699)
Aerin Floor Lamp ($630) vs. Shades of Light Floor Lamp ($200)
Wisteria Acrylic Drink Table ($699) vs. World Market Acrylic Drink Table ($183.99)
Kravet Malibu Sofa (To the Trade- about $4,000) vs. World Market Tufted Sofa ($549.99)
Knoll Tulip Table ($4,055 for 42″) vs. World Market Mid Century Table ($299.99 for 35.5″)
Worlds Away Chloe Etagere ($2,372) vs World Market Etagere ($343.95)
Crate & Barrel Big Sur Table ($) vs. Pier 1 Java Table ($699.95)
Arteriors Zanadoo Chandelier ($2,160- the one in my dining room) vs. World Market Chandelier ($249.99)
Kelly Wearstler Sconce vs. World Market Sconce
Williams-Sonoma Pepper Mill ($79.95- I recently bought the set before finding these…) vs. World Market Pepper Mill
i think the business division is at a stop for us. we “Just” missed the markt turn on this one… we got one offer anyway it was so redicuously low, that we passed and have held and ride it out.
Brilliant!! Thanks much for all the inspiration!!!
Love this post, Erin. Thank you! Not everyone can afford the high end designer pieces. And those who can probably won’t be looking at the imitation pieces. To me, everyone wins!
Also, any chance you can change your links to open in a new tab/window when clicked? :)
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Depends on the object if I will choose an imitation or not! Good to know anyway!
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Great tips! Thank you!
In almost every case, I preferred the look of the knockoff! Bonus that they’re so much less expensive!
Thank you for this! I see a couple of things I had on my search list. Going to WM today.
Some of these are so similar. Great for those on a budget or those like me who just don’t care about something being from the original designer. Inspired by is just fine for some things.
http://www.tehcocooners.com
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” was not how you felt when it was YOUR designs being copied.
But it wasn’t an imitation of her product…that hasn’t even been released yet. It was trying to copy her name and branding which is completely different, making it seem like it was an EOS product itself. The copy cats above are not trying to pass off their product as being the same brand as the original piece of furniture.
Yeah but are they destroying the livelihood of the creative talent? If you choose to purchase the copy, what happens to the business that created the design in the first place? Parasites destroy the host, and then the talentless copycats will have nothing to copy.
Exactly. I’m an intellectual property attorney and the distinction you make is critically important.
Awesome idea and post, Erin! It’s not every day that a designer shares something like this…
I’m disappointed to see so much support for the replicas. It’s a real problem here in Australia, to a point where big chain stores are ripping off young designers ‘ work and eventually driving them out of business. If one can’t afford the original piece then why not go for a different look altogether.
Because that different look altogether is likely a cheaper imitation of something else. So as long as we can only afford the cheap imitation, why not at least choose the style we like?
Also – these things are pretty basic. A wooden table with four legs isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most designers steal ideas from the past or other cultures. It is just the way these things work.
You’re missing the point. The cheap imitation pieces are a part of the whole disposable decorating culture that’s taking over. I don’t agree it’s something we should just accept as “how things work”. The iconic Tulip table for example might not look “revolutionary”, but its original quality goes way beyond any cheaper replicas.
So if you decide to copy the Erin Gates collection at Jill Rosenwald, and make money based on her creative talent, is that OK?
You are right! The original pieces deserve the credit and it’s important to support stores that show the merchandise. We all love a sale but there is disparity in quality and performance with copy cats. If you look carefully you can see that the scale, finish and construction of the copies is not as nice. Don’t fortet ”you get what you pay for”.
copy cztting is just the way it is. if it’s not fabulous, you don’t have to worry about imitation
Wow. Yet more stunning disregard for intellectual property law. Copycatting is piracy. Not OK.
In many cases, they’re identical twins. Or at least, fraternal twins. And who doesn’t love twins? Sometimes you really want the quality of the real thing; but in many cases, look-a-like will do just fine.
Fantastic blog post today! Loved all of these. Would love to see this more often.
Love, love, love this post! Thanks so much for sharing and please share more like this!
West Elm’s boerum table is a near match for the Crate and Barrel one. I should know, I just brought it home!
OMG! I
Must get that etagere
This is one of the best posts you have had in a long time! Bravo!
Best high/low I’ve ever seen!
I think the sentiment here should be World Market rocks at imitation. The original designers are the real heroes.
Thank you Nichole! As someone who works for one of the manufacturers and with the designers of the imitated pieces I sometime cringe at these! But I’m also a girl with champagne taste and a beer budget!
In conclusion: World Market rocks!
Apparently World Market is killing it lately! One thing I recently learned is that *some* of the World Market furniture pieces can be found cheaper at Wayfair. For example, I loved an office chair that I spotted at World Market but wasn’t crazy about the price so I hunted around, and found the identical one at Wayfair for less. So, it always pays to shop around even if you think you’ve found the lowest price!
Yes! What I do sometimes is save the image of the piece I want and then do a Google image search by uploading the picture. Oftentimes a lot of vendors will have the exact same piece but call it by a different name, so instead of searching by name you can search by the image.
Great tip, thanks Nancy!
I agree! i just bought the gold etagere pictured here from Joss & Main (owned by Wayfair) for $60 less than World Market.
LOVE THIS! I don’t always consider World Market, but wow, they are killing it! thanks for this!
As you said, imitation is the best form of flattery- this concept is the whole point of the blog copycatchic.com. She’s been doing this kind of post for ages!
I hope you know tons of bloggers do this. It’s very common. And I can bet copycatchic wasn’t the first.
This post is so old school EOS, i.e. what made me fall in love with you in the first place and takes me back to your first adorable place with the ikea pendant in your home office. (Point: A+ post!, thank you!!)
I was just on their site yesterday and was pretty amazed at some of the pieces I saw there. The lighting that you showed was the pieces I took a second look at. Did you see Design Indulgences blog post yesterday. YOU will love it, all black and white pieces. Check it out and thanks for your little shopping trip. Love shopping vicariously with you.
So, for good-looking designer knockoffs, check out World Market. Good to know! I don’t always remember to check out that site. I went to that store all the time in college; I wish we had one in the Boston area.
There’s one in Framingham now!
Ah! Good to know! Thanks Meg!
YAY! This is an awesome post. Would LOVE to see more posts like this in the future for us younger girls who are purchasing our first condos and homes, and are very budget conscious.
Check out the blog copy cat chic–this is all she does!
Thank you thank you! Just getting into our first house and trying to spruce it up without going into (even more) debt! xo
Thanks for sharing the copy cat chic blog. I still love EOS.
Seconded!! I’m actually looking for a coffee table in the same style as the bookshelf featured here but can’t spend big bucks!