Page 2 | Asking a tailor to copy a design

SVDWoodson · 2024-03-20T12:05:46+00:00

I've seen a dress online. I saw Stacey Dooley wearing it and managed to find the designer on her Instagram page. The dress is nothing too special, but I've fallen in love with it; it's midi length, black, long sleeve, but it's really well-suited to the variety of models (of all body shapes and sizes) wearing it, and it's also 100% silk. The problem is that the dress has a RRP of over £1,000, which, whilst not out of my budget, is just ridiculous for a black dress. So I was thinking of buying it and asking a tailor to copy it for me, and then I'd return it. I think this will work out cheaper, and I may opt for another material instead of pure silk due to the maintenance it will require. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Does it work out well in terms of being copied, or does it depend on the tailor and their experience?

botemp · 21/03/2024 09:15

It's not The Row, but La Collection I recognise the dress and know the brand well. They use a very specific silk that's hard to get hold of for non professionals, the silk Marocain crepe that Joel and Sons stocks is probably the closest thing you can buy, I think it's something like a £150 p/m. 3 meters of that plus the cost for a tailor that will finish it to designer standards (french seams, hem finish, etc.), you'll likely be spending far more than the original as you just don't benefit from the economy of scale.

You could potentially do it for less with a cheaper silk that will lack the weight to give the dress the drape that it has and use a cheaper tailor who will finish it to high street standards and even if it's cheaper than the original you're essentially vastly overpaying for a high street piece of mediocre quality.

As for the IP issues, Iirc there have been several court cases but they've not gone anywhere as it's difficult with clothes design to claim authorship. I've copied some of my own clothes to replace or just because I really like them and occasionally will trace something I've ordered (and returned) but would have to alter so much starting from scratch makes more sense or the quality of fabric or construction is poor for the price so I rather make it properly myself. Sometimes I trace something I've returned because the construction was really interesting and wanted to know how it fits together, never make a thing from the pattern. I usually make some changes and if op went down the tailor route they would definitely alter it to some degree that it would never be a true copy anyhow.

SetinTime · 21/03/2024 09:17

OP why cant you just send your tailor pictures of the dress? If they are skilled then they should be able it replicate it. You don't have to buy the dress and return it.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 21/03/2024 09:20

botemp · 21/03/2024 09:15

It's not The Row, but La Collection I recognise the dress and know the brand well. They use a very specific silk that's hard to get hold of for non professionals, the silk Marocain crepe that Joel and Sons stocks is probably the closest thing you can buy, I think it's something like a £150 p/m. 3 meters of that plus the cost for a tailor that will finish it to designer standards (french seams, hem finish, etc.), you'll likely be spending far more than the original as you just don't benefit from the economy of scale.

You could potentially do it for less with a cheaper silk that will lack the weight to give the dress the drape that it has and use a cheaper tailor who will finish it to high street standards and even if it's cheaper than the original you're essentially vastly overpaying for a high street piece of mediocre quality.

As for the IP issues, Iirc there have been several court cases but they've not gone anywhere as it's difficult with clothes design to claim authorship. I've copied some of my own clothes to replace or just because I really like them and occasionally will trace something I've ordered (and returned) but would have to alter so much starting from scratch makes more sense or the quality of fabric or construction is poor for the price so I rather make it properly myself. Sometimes I trace something I've returned because the construction was really interesting and wanted to know how it fits together, never make a thing from the pattern. I usually make some changes and if op went down the tailor route they would definitely alter it to some degree that it would never be a true copy anyhow.

Edited

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