Eyeing this print since it came out at JoAnn Fabrics I finally took the plunge. Like I need more fabric! The colors are me. I am a big Denyse Schmidt fan. Should I use it for this project? How about that project? It's called Meadowlark.
I got distracted and started looking through my stack of vintage 1930s fabrics. I have a nice little stash of terrific prints. Do you see what I see? A perfect replica of a vintage print. Coincidence? Certainly more than a similarity. So I started wondering about "new" fabric designs being inspired by old. I love that. So many wonderful prints of that era. I know there are fabric designers that do reproduce prints from the 30s and other eras and specifically give credit to that fact.
So I went to Denyse Schmidt's web site HERE and looked for acknowledgement that she reproduced lovely old prints in fresh new colors. Couldn't find any such reference. Out of curiosity I did a google search and found THIS. I was just wondering...wondering lots of things.
UPDATE -- A reader led me to this statement on Denyse's web site -- "Known for her fresh and off-beat approach to quilt design, Denyse now brings her appealing modern twist to fabric collections for FreeSpirit. Denyse's designs are inspired by the vintage charm of some of her favorite flea market finds, and the fresh, bright palettes reflect her signature approach to color. Mix and match pattern, scale, or color to create fabulous quilts that turn tradition on its ear—or fun accessories that will turn heads!"
Hmmm....inspiration or replication?
~Piecefully, Stephanie
17 comments:
Interesting!!
Hmmm.....
Reproductions are just that, it seems odd someone would copy something then put their own name to it. Will we pick up a copy of Anne of Green Gables & see it written by Mary Smith one day? Just my opinion. :-)
Interesting. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it. Maybe if the original was more of an inspiration, instead of identical. Funny how 30's prints don't sell that well in our local shops, but put a designer name on it and the popularity soars.
Regardless it's beautiful fabric, have fun with it!
Interesting thread you found on this (no pun intended). I guess if the design no longer carries a copyright, it's OK, but I do wish she would acknowledge it on her website. Thanks for bringing this to light, Stephanie!
Cheers!
How nice of you to bring this to our attention. It's an interesting topic... and there's always the other side of the story too, heh?
It‘s interesting. I had read the discussion thread on flickr some time ago and what surprised me most was the remarks that most people who dislike 30’s print do love the Denyse Smidt fabrics, just for the sake of her name.
I love to keep up with current thoughts and views, it's good for debate. Lovely fabric.
lots of time the designers buy the same antique fabric/ or a quilt or quilt block with the fabric in it and then reproduce it....
I have seen this MANY times with 1800's reproduction fabrics, in one way it is great for the consumer cause there is always hope the fabric will be reprinted again and we can replenish our stash!
I really appreciate when a "designer" admits/states that this is a reproduction of an antique fabric though...
There are many designers that don't!
I went thru the MOMA a few years ago and was looking at the furniture and the chairs from the 1800's were upholstered in fabric that was very popular at the moment by a very famous modern fabric designer and she never said she was inspired by antique fabric either...just sad in my book.
The website does state " Denyse's designs are inspired by the vintage charm of some of her favorite flea market finds" Its possible she found some old garment or quilt, used that fabric as the basis to build a collection. Its odd that i don't like 30's fabric at all, but i do like the graphic prints that are a spin off the larger florals in her collections,especially the stronger colours that are used
that is so cool that you might have the original designed fabric. Interesting link, I went and looked at the comments.
One of the reasons I got in to fabric design was that because of my vast fabric collection, I KNEW that many designers were reproducing vintage designs but not marketing them as such. It's happened forever. I felt that a fabric collection being sold as feedsack repros (30s had been done for awhile) would be well received, and thankfully it was. I can guarantee you that much if not most of the designs on the market today are vintage inspired. Thanks for the chance to visit the subject!
Intersting topic, and I have read many discussions similar to the one you linked to.
I have mixed opinions.
Obviously since I sell the original vintage fabrics, I'm a little disheartened that replicas can be found in such quantity, and I'm sure they cut into my 'bottom line' to some extent.
But the reason I got into selling vintage fabrics in the first place was because I LOVED the designs! So, I guess I'm also happy to see that so many others can enjoy these "vintage inspired designs" that might not otherwise have access to or be able to afford the original vintage versions.
Kimberly :)
Copy, copy, copy! That one is really blatant. I saw the same with an Amy Butler print years back....I think they should own up to it and put out a statement instead of the flowery wordy ones they do. There is no shame in copies, but they should up to it. If I were a designer of fabric, I certainly would.
Not the first time this designer has done this! A quick search for "Denyse Schmidt feedsack" on Flickr brings up two from FMF and one from KJR with remarkably uncanny, errr..."inspiration", and I'm pretty sure there are other examples around. As far as yours goes, I prefer the original; the copy really suffers from the loss of the orange, IMO.
Well it looks the same to me! At least with William Morris re-prints they have acknowledged his authorship. It is good that so many old fabrics are being re-printed in different colourways so a new generation can appreciate them. However, to not own up to them being "re-creations" and to take them as your own intellectual property to earn money from, seems a bit cheeky to say the least. What happens to the original designer, or if very old, their estate?
Yes lots of questions to ponder Stephanie.
Interesting...and disappointing.
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