Zara V's Disco Pony

Obviously I cannot claim that Zara has been stealing Disco Pony designs... That would be rather ludicrous of me... BUT, I can rant about the highly annoying fact that they seem to be coming out with pieces that I had designed WELL, WELL in advance of their Zara arrivals... Perhaps I am just ahead of the game with things, but there is still a niggling feeling in the back of my mind that brings up flashes of a documentary about how the blue chip fashion houses actually hire people to scour fashion blogs in order to find the next designs. What do you think people? Am I just being crazy protective of my Disco Pony label? Or do I have a bit of a point?!

LEFT: My Black Sequin Disco Pony Mini Dress designed last year and sampled in February 2011.  RIGHT: Zara's Black Sequin Mini dress: Arrived just NOW! The shape is exact... minus a tiny button holding together the draped open back (It only takes a button folks to be a "different" design!)

LEFT: Amanda wearing my Disco Pony Silver Sequin Jacket: "Silver Surfer" Designed and Sampled in April 2011. LEFT: Zara Silver Sequin Jacket: Arrived in stores NOW! 

Either way, seeing these designs in Zara makes me want to cry/vomit everywhere! AND despite the fact that they are made in huge factories and recent claims of sweat shops in Brazil, they STILL CHARGE YOU MORE! Disco Pony is 100% hand made, and custom fitted. The amount of work that goes into making each piece is so huge, yet I refuse to over charge... I want people to actually be able to have some everyday luxe, and not pay through the nose unnecessarily for it! Saying that, in the USA people are sadly still finding my prices too high with the exchange rate... However, after months of market research into pricing of high street and designer, my prices are still some of the best around (and I'm not talking Primark or New Look here... I'm talking FCUK, Zara, Topshop end!)

I am highly aware that this could be total coincidence, but I am also highly aware of Zara's rep for poaching blog imagery for their own gain... think T-shirts here... Not that I would have much problem being on a T-shirt... But I'd still like a bit of credit/some of the profits thank you kindly dear Zara!!!

As any designer can tell you though, seeing your designs or similar ones elsewhere, is always a shitty feeling... Not just for the reason that, Disco Pony, as a sliiightly smaller company than Zara gets 100% less audience from the fashion world, and therefore, my higher quality, cheaper in price and painstakingly crafted designs fail to get donned by all the delightful fash pack out there who happened to wonder into Zara instead of Disco Pony (so well hidden within this blog- working on that peeps!) BREEEATH.... BUT ALSO for the reason that now my pieces are just a bit less special :( This is the saddest part!

I hope those of you who come across these pieces in Zara will decide that Disco Pony has in fact done a much better job of creating them, and well in advance of this too!!!
As my aunty has told me many times before... "You will always be copied, but you will always be creating something else, something better... let the bastards be the impersonators- you can be the original!"

Fuming rage, over and out! Thoughts much appriciated!!! xx

Photography by Albert Dedeu

Jungle Bum

Wearing: Fedora: Vintage, Pink shirt: Zara, DIY Shorts: Kenzo (Thrifted), Booties: Steven Madden

Erm FINALLY!!!! I actually managed to get dressed! This is a feat you probably cannot understand my triumph over, but trust me, in this heat... wearing heels and clothes and make up... pretty painful! But today, TODAY folks, I did it, and it felt....SOOOO GOOD!!! I've sincerely missed wearing heels and feeling like my legs go on and on as opposed to dramatically stopping 6 inches in advance of their destination! Oh sad face, on the subject of heels... I realised last night that a whole load of lovely things were swiped from my suitcase on the way back from Barcelona... including my favorite black peep toes... the ones I wear ALL THE TIME :( SO SAD...  my heart sinks every time I think of it... Along with some of my hats too... gah, the person looting my bag sure knew how to hit my sore spots!!! Boo! Anyway, worse things happen, so I shall shoosh about this now and discuss the classic shorts 'n shirt combo... my staple uniform for when I actually have to get dressed! I am so completely adoring over sized shirts at the moment... I have designed a bunch for Disco Pony, all in crepe silks for that extra softness and layering potential, so excited to see them... and wear them!!!
I found a proper model for Disco Pony last night! Oh yes! Rather looking forward to getting her in some pieces... I know she will rock them out to the max! :)
Currently getting ready for morning dim sum on the beach with friends, after one of the most delicious, never ending meat fest's of a BBQ last night... woah, I'm not sure I can take any more food... but I will! Yes, yes... I will find a way!!!!
Hope you are all well, and are enjoying your weekends to the fullest :) xx

Photography by Albert Dedeu