What do fast fashion and high end designer brands have in common?
– apart from the majority being produced unethically –
They both have such little imagination that they resort to stealing original traditional designs from all over the world and present them as the newest trend in their collections.
In their fall 2017 couture collection Dior included a “boho jacket” the design of which was identical to the traditinal Romanian vests from Bihor. And sold it for €30,000.
In Romania, the very first steps are being taken to change the status quo and hold brands accountable for their actions. Discover more below and find out how you can Support Bihor Couture – Authentic Romanian Design:
While it’s perfectly acceptable to be inspired by other artists, it’s completely ridiculous that these multi-billion dollar brands produce copies of culturally specific clothing designs yet provide the original communities struggling to keep the traditions alive with no monetary compensation or even credit. Sadly, as a result of this unethical practice, these beautiful traditions and skills are dying.
Beau Monde, a fashion magazine with 100% original Romanian content, has stepped in to support authentic Romanian design.
Bihor Couture is an authentic Romanian brand with local artisans as designers. It was created to help local creators sell their clothes and continue their craft.
Take a look at some of the stunning (& affordable!) pieces from Bihor. As each garment and accessory is completely handmade to the buyers measurements and specifications the majority of them take a lot of time to make thus they are only available for pre-order.
Visit Bihor Couture and support authentic traditional fashion.
A close-up of a Bihor print ad revealed that I am already the proud owner of traditional Romanian embroidery:
