So, Michelle Obama has definitely made a fashion statement by picking lesser-known designers over the big names (poor Oscar de la Renta). But now, her fashion posse is launching a campaign of their own to see to it that Congress passes a bill that provides copyright protection on their designs.
This isn't about street vendor fakes, it's about H&M, Forever 21, and other discount lines that the designers claim are ripping off their creative work--and bank accounts--by copying their looks. Maria Cornejo, Thakoon Panichgul, Narciso Rodriguez, and Jason Wu went to Washington this week to lobby for a bill that would provide copyright protection on clothing designs. Accompanied by the CFDA's Stephen Kolb, they made the rounds with legislators trying to convince them that they need a congressional safety net.
If this anti-piracy bill does pass, I hope that these lines will hire the designers they rip off to design in house. It will probably make for better clothes and still be right on budget.
