I’ve been in a bit of a daze for a week now; ever since I realised that a company that I actually know, has stolen two of my designs and is passing them off as their own.
It’s bad practice, bad business and to say that I’m livid is an understatement.
I make my living from the designs I do and no one has the right to simply copy my design. Yes, I make my designs for other companies under their own label (ie, the bags go out with their name on instead of mine) but that’s OK because we have an agreement to say that as long as I’m making the bags for them, they are allowed to sell my design. This also means that I have control of the quality of the workmanship. The one on the right, above is an example of this. It’s a bag I’ve made for a company called Peter James.
The bags that have been copied are not as nicely made and I’m appalled to think that my customers might think they’re buying one of my top quality, handmade bags when really they’re popping money into the pockets of a counterfeiter.
The counterfeit bags are obvious to me but maybe not to you, so if you’re looking for a tweed or Harris tweed handbag this Autumn, please only buy one of my designs if they are labelled with my ‘easton’ logo or my customer’s logo which is Peter James.
I make these 2 handbag designs for my genuine customer, Peter James, in Harris tweed and in Herdwick tweed as well as occasionally in another British wool fabric. All of the genuine bags made for Peter will have his logo embossed on a leather patch inside the bag, just like my own collection has my ‘easton’ logo inside every bag.
I hope that helps you to spot a counterfeit bag. Please don’t help their business and do let me know if you spot one!
Thank you.