Twitter erupted after international retail brand Zara posted a pack of socks with a similar print to that of local designer MaXhosa by Laduma .
Local organisation Proudly SA also called out the international brand through an official statement, stating that the unauthorised replication by Spanish fashion retailer Zara was impeding on the local profits and support of South African fashion brands.
"Proudly South African has noted with dismay the unauthorized replication by Spanish fashion retailer Zara, of one of our brightest fashion design star’s work. Laduma Ngxokolo, whose label Maxhosa by Laduma is in the process of becoming part of the Proudly South African movement, released his Khanyisa range of cardigans and socks in 2014, but we can now find the identical items in 2018 on the shelves of local Zara outlets. (sic)"
The organisation also stated in their press release that, "Given the level of support they enjoy from local South African consumers, it is their moral obligation to return some of their profits to local clothing and textile designers and manufacturers".
While some are shocked over the Zara's act, many are referencing the "Louboutin 2012' matter, when Zara defeated Christian Louboutin in the "red sole" trademark case.
Africans cannot allow @Zara to get away with this daylight thieving.This is @MaXhosaByL https://t.co/xUckA5eTIz should discontinue this https://t.co/boUnGuF5yg will not be a pretty sight when South Africans choose to revolt.Thanks @marangdream for bring this to our attention pic.twitter.com/lWWudSuqnR
— @UncleLupi (@lupingcayisa) April 23, 2018
I’m so shook! 😳🤭😦
Zara straight up jacked MaXhosa’s signature patterns.... like... COPY AND PASTE!! Bathong - WHO DOES THAT????
Shameless!! pic.twitter.com/ul2yTM68es
— marang setshwaelo (@marangdream) April 23, 2018
They do it to everyone. Remember that faux Yeezy Season 4 Collection they had? Lol! They recreate runway looks to sell to the public. Zara won a case against Louboutin in 2012! Imagine THAT!.... Sad! Heartbreaking. 💔
— Bonang B* Matheba (@bonang_m) April 23, 2018
That’s Zara’s entire business model. Not sure why people are surprised. EVERYTHING in store is copy and paste. Of course they were going to take Asian and Africa’s best styles- google and see how frustrated European designers are with the brand. https://t.co/456Cp8Eigh
— Timothy Maurice (@timothymaurice) April 23, 2018
MaXhosa won’t win a lawsuit against Zara, gigantic brands like louboutin have tried and failed. Rihanna tried to sue H&M and Forever 21 and lost . Chain stores easily get away with replicating designs. For as long as they change the name, somehow that protects them
— Zinhle (@HazelbirdZinhle) April 23, 2018
Y'all don't realise that you can't copyright anything in fashion. Plus, Zara always makes cheaper versions of popular trends. If mo'ghel just made a subsidiary version of his brand that was affordable to South Africans then we would buy the original and not the copy. pic.twitter.com/b19MDVrEZE
— Simply Jamal (@JamalDeanG) April 24, 2018