Not only are books, music, or movies the subject of “fan fiction,” but there is now a contingent of do-it-yourselfers who recreate runway looks for pennies on the dollar. These do-it-yourselfers will use common materials to make items that are similar to the fashions created by the luxury brands (e.g. Prada, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, etc.). They appear to be fashion enthusiasts who take pleasure in seeing an item and creating it using inexpensive materials and tools.
Surprisingly, the luxury brands are not targeting these do-it-yourselfers for copyright infringement as they do with other knockoff makers. Instead, they appear to embrace the do-it-yourselfers as fans and viewing them as potential customers in the future. In some cases, the luxury brands utilize the creative efforts of the do-it-yourselfers to help create accessories for the fashion designers or assist in creating products.
One reason that the fashion designers may embrace rather than fight the do-it-yourselfers is that the do-it-yourselfers are not interested in selling their wares. They seem to thrive on helping people make their own. The luxury brands appear to view the do-it-yourselfers benignly because the copying is not necessarily for profit. I guess it is true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
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