Capstones
Graduation Date
Winter 12-16-2016
Grading Professor
Margot Mifflin
Subject Concentration
Arts & Culture
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
“How I Made an $880 Jacket for $37”
Author: Hayley Lind, B.S. Fashion Industry Management, Philadelphia University, M.A. CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Abstract:
Fashion counterfeiting takes away more than 750 million jobs and more than $1 billion from the U.S. economy each year. Knock-offs can be found anywhere from Canal Street in New York City to the shelves of fast-fashion retailers like Forever 21. Trademark and counterfeiting laws, which seek to prevent and seize copied products, have complications and loopholes that allow fakes to continue to be produced. If you recreate a designer item yourself, it is both legal and ethical—and in successful cases—fools others that it is an original. I took an $880 jacket by Japanese brand, Sacai, and replicated it by repurposing a denim jacket and replacing the sleeves with polyester fabric. I then went shopping at Bergdorf Goodman to see if I could get service. The goal was to see if craft could replace couture.
Recommended Citation
Lind, Hayley, "How I Made an $880 Jacket for $37" (2016). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/128
The wall of embellishments at M&J Trimming.
Ribbons.jpg (129 kB)
A small selection of colorful ribbons at M&J Trimming.
LPphoto3.jpeg (324 kB)
Pifer (left) and her sister at their junior prom. Pifer DIY’ed her dress out of denim and chiffon. (Laura Pifer)
LPphoto2.jpg (100 kB)
Pifer last Halloween in her Chanel-inspired costume (left). Coco Chanel (right) in one of her signature designs. (Laura Pifer)
jacket.jpg (134 kB)
The original Cat & Jack jacket, purchased from Target.
vest.jpg (107 kB)
The denim jacket, after I cut off the sleeves.
bomber pattern.jpg (111 kB)
The old bomber jacket, which I traced to create a pattern.
pinned jacket.jpg (106 kB)
The jacket, pinned with the rayon fabric inserted into the back.
sleeve pattern.jpg (73 kB)
The rayon sleeve patterns, traced and cut from the bomber jacket’s sleeves.
Sacai jacket.jpg (207 kB)
Sacai’s $880 jacket. (FarFetch)
my head .JPG (144 kB)
I model my Sacai-inspired jacket. (Doha Madani)
jacket top.JPG (171 kB)
I model my Sacai-inspired jacket. (Doha Madani)
jacket shoulder.JPG (198 kB)
I model my Sacai-inspired jacket. (Doha Madani)
jacket sleeve.JPG (166 kB)
I model my Sacai-inspired jacket. (Doha Madani)
msgm jeans.jpg (119 kB)
The feather-trimmed MSGM jeans (FarFetch)
feather jeans.jpg (138 kB)
I model my MSGM-inspired jeans. (Zachary Williams)
feather shoes.jpg (48 kB)
I model my MSGM-inspired jeans. (Zachary Williams)
Dolce top.jpg (80 kB)
The star-embellished Dolce & Gabbana t-shirt. (FarFetch)
stars body.jpg (118 kB)
I model my Dolce & Gabbana-inspired t-shirt. (Zachary Williams)
Stars face.jpg (49 kB)
I model my Dolce & Gabbana-inspired t-shirt. (Zachary Williams)