Everyone in the local streetwear scene have been raving about this one Instagram account called @brandwashed_ . The account has garnered quite a following in a pretty short amount of time ( More than 1000 followers in a week plus) and the numbers continue to increase daily.

What is this account about? Don’t let us spoil it for you and check it out for yourself.

 We then realize how big an impact this Instagram account had made on the local streetwear scene and decided to get some views from different individuals who are indirectly or directly effected by this. So for PART 1 of our #PARODYorPIRACY feature, we asked someone who is from an established brand in our industry, been in the local streetwear game long enough and of course someone who is a designer himself, Shen from The Swagger Salon.

Although he and his brand have not been featured on the “@brandwashed_ Hall of Shame”, we thought it would be nice to get some NEUTRAL opinions on this matter.

Parody or piracy?

That has undoubtedly been the most controversial question of the week ever since “Apa lagi Cina mau?” – thanks to the anonymous Malaysian streetwear vigilante on Instagram called @brandwashed_.

(I beg to rephrase that question, though. The more appropriate P-word to use would be “plagiarism”, not “piracy”. Having to deal with counterfeit and bootlegged LANSI caps everywhere from Taiping to Taipei , I think I know “piracy” pretty well.)

Nevertheless, that doesn’t change my view on this whole #ParodyOrPiracy fracas – I think it’s a brilliant campaign, one of the very few things that made me go, “I wish I’d thought of that!”.

While it’s a shame to see fellow local clothing entrepreneurs being publicised in such a negative light, I must say that it was eye-opening for me as well, to learn of local brands that had blatantly ripped off other clothing brands’ designs. From a clothing brand and designer’s perspective and understanding, I do disagree with some of the comparisons in which the brands have been accused of plagiarism.

However, for others who simply ripped off designs from well-known clothing brands, they have no one to blame for this shaming but themselves. Maybe they’re new in the whole clothing industry. Maybe they’re young and naïve. But these cannot be used as excuses when it comes to running a clothing business. Business is ruthless. Business is brutal. Business means business.

In fact, compared to receiving cease and desist orders or slapped with trademark infringement suits, only being “exposed” on an Instagram account barely makes it feel like a punishment at all.

But judging from the response and comments made by supporters and owners of the “featured” brands, I can’t help but to ask: What constitutes a rip-off that deserves to be shamed, and one that’s done with a story or meaning behind it from the brand’s perspective?

As someone who runs and designs a clothing line myself, no doubt I have a couple of designs that might raise the red flag or be considered for a feature on this notorious Instagram page.

For example, The Swagger Salon’s Tiger Style snapback. While it was most certainly inspired by the Harimau Malaya national football team, does it fall under the “plagiarism” category? Ironically, the widely-used Harimau Malaya “design” is a blatant rip-off from the Gloucester City AFC logo, whereas the Tiger Style snapback design was created from scratch. And the idea behind creating this cap was to hopefully turn it into the “new” face of the Harimau Malaya fan logo — an original one, at least.

So, parody or piracy?

That’s open for judgement, yes. Then again, by who? Sure, I and the other thousand followers of @brandwashed_ are grateful and appreciative of his/her exposés on all these brands. But they should remain as just that – exposés. Enlightening the public on copycat and unoriginal brands, and the ones they ripped-off; letting the public make their own judgement.

In no way should the exposer (or whistle-blower) start bashing or criticising the brands he/she exposed, because by doing so, it would make it seem as though this whole @brandwashed_ thing is done with a vengeance. As though someone is out there to discredit, bring down, and bring hate to the local clothing scene – and that is something we do not need, given how much everyone has put in, been through, and built, in just these couple of years – both brands and fans alike.

Perhaps this whole experience will shake up all existing brands, and make them strive for the better. Better designs, better ideas, and better value for the whole industry. Then again, maybe some of them will remain defiant, living in their own world, and continue to make a quick buck the unethical way.

It’s great to have your own clothing brand. Just remember, the keyword here is “brand”. Your brand. Your concept. Your identity. And that’s something that you’ll never be able to have if you rely on the designs and concepts of other existing brands to build your own clothing line. You’ll never have an identity of your own; only the faint shadows of others you’ve mimicked.

That said, I still don’t know why y’all are so hung up on t-shirt designs. After all, there’s more to a t-shirt than what’s being printed on it. But that’s a lesson for another time.

May the local clothing scene live long and prosper, and may your brand never be featured in the @brandwashed_ hall of shame.

Sincerely,

Shen The Taikor