Replica furniture design is when a designers authentic piece is copied and made with cheap materials to sell it for a bargain price. The UK have recently made this a criminal offence because it has become so common and hard working designers are being ripped off. So why hasn’t Australia taken action for replica furniture design and followed in the UK’s footsteps?
Designers spend years working tirelessly, creating authentic pieces of furniture, to then have it knocked off in Asia and sold into the Australian market. The fallout from knock off furniture does in calculable damage to businesses. Why do TV decorating shows and home magazines promote knock-off or ‘Replica’ furniture and lighting? Damaging not only Australian designer’s but manufacturers and distributors.
With so many cheap copies on the market, people have the attitude of throw it out when it breaks and buy another, instead of buying the original and long lasting design at a higher price. This sort of attitude is quite damaging for the design industry as the designers are not getting the credit they deserve for their original designs which affects their businesses.
“Buy less, choose well, make it last.” – Vivienne Westwood
