Urban Outrippers

[Frank Giaramita]

Urban Outfitters (www.urbanoutfitters.com) ripped off independent designer Johnny Cupcakes. You can read about the whole story and see pictures on Johnny Cupcakes' Myspace.com (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=172861&blogID=78233426) page.

Submitted by: foreverDOWN

[eversochili]

of course they did, they're republicans! :p

[actionandaction]

its blocked right now at school, i'll read it when i get home.

[yanggoh]

that's so brutal, fuck urban outfitters.

[TJ Wells]

Wow...I haven't seen a more blatant rip off since the whole Minor Threat fiasco.

[fallingapart101]

I just can't stand any stores in the mall anymore. I don't even buy c.d.'s from best buy anymore. I only shop at interpunk, smartpunk, mom and pop stores, and suburban home records. I really wish stores like urban outfitters, ae, a&f, and hollister shut down. People are really getting ripped off. My girlfriend bought a shirt at urban outfitters. A plan t-shirt that had wonder women on it cost $25. What the hell she doesn't like that store now. I hope these store shut down. Even Hot Topic they are expensive too.

[theOCEANFLOOR]

that's really fucked up

[ishotthepilot]

yeah i submitted it too, pretty fucked up. especially considering he sent them his samples, then decided not to work with them, and then they KEPT the samples and just copied them... ugh.

you can also see on johnnycupcakes.com

http://myspace-311.vo.llnwd.net/00430/11/34/430654311_l.jpg

[westsidas2000]

I just can't stand any stores in the mall anymore. I don't even buy c.d.'s from best buy anymore. I only shop at interpunk, smartpunk, mom and pop stores, and suburban home records. I really wish stores like urban outfitters, ae, a&f, and hollister shut down. People are really getting ripped off. My girlfriend bought a shirt at urban outfitters. A plan t-shirt that had wonder women on it cost $25. What the hell she doesn't like that store now. I hope these store shut down. Even Hot Topic they are expensive too.
how is it the store's problem if people want to buy their merchandise. You can't ask for them to shut down when you're buying their stuff. Nonetheless, i've never bought anything at AF nor urban outfitters so i should be commended in some way.

[TJ Wells]

picturess? Are you a snake, Frank? ;)

[fallingapart101]

I'm just saying the mall and the stores in it are rip offs and i rather have them shut down and places like johnny's cupcakes and american appearal take over and have store.

[siimpx]

now i feel bad for dropping a ton of money there the other day. i hate when shit like this happens.

[LeftWideOpen]

urban outfitters sells cheap material at a high price. whatever you buy there WILL fall apart ..take it from a former employee.

[tRigGerFinGeR]

Forshame on Urban Outfitters for stealing such lame designs. Steal something good.

[Frank Giaramita]

#care

Both designs suck.
"Both"? There's only one design... that's actually the basis of this entire post...

I don't like the design either, however, I think it's incredibly fucked up (on so many levels) when the big companies step on the little guys.

[ACA]

The design sucks.. I'm glad I hate fashion :) None of this bothers me, except that a hardworking indie guy got fucked. That sucks.

I'm pretty sure my entire wardrobe is band shirts, football jerseys, black button downs, and maybe like 5 other random shirts. :D

-ACA

[golly_sandra]

That sucks for Johnny Cupcakes.. but, I really love the store Urban Outfitters.
So I don't know what to say.

[Heartcore]

Fuck all these big chain stores, all they give a damn about is turning a profit. They can go to retail hell.

[jynxedheart]

damn that sucks, but i sure do love me some UO. the one in georgetown is bangin

[robdobi]

nothing a visit to urban outfitters + some sharpies wouldn't fix.

totally fucked up.

[Pat Marquez]

They ripped off a Joy Division shirt too.

[Flags of Dawn]

Fuck all these big chain stores, all they give a damn about is turning a profit. They can go to retail hell.
hi, welcome to the concept of business.

[infamous_alias]

They didn't copy the design, they copied the concept.

/I hate johhnycupcakes almost as much as urbanoutfitters so I really don't give a shit

[a hybrid]

stealing the concept is messed up however i just want to ask.

how the fuck does this go have the balls to charge 32 dollars for an american apparel tshirt with his designs?

[thesacrament]

nothing a visit to urban outfitters + some sharpies wouldn't fix.

totally fucked up.


oh you chill out dobi.

i've sent so many fullbleed designs to urban it's not funny.

just wait till the spring line comes out biaaatch.

i got dudes hanging from powerlines, everything..

[robdobi]

you've still got it dusty!

[The Revisionist]

Well I guess if the evidence of Urban Outfitters ripping off smaller designers was that obvious and available, he should have been smarter than to even negotiate with them in the first place.

[Flags of Dawn]

and how can someone take someone with a name like johnny cupcakes seriously?

[MattyBeatz]

The bigger problem with all this is that people want to spend $25+ on crappy t-shirts. It's not the seller in this case, it's the dumbass spending their money.

[robdobi]

and how can someone take someone with a name like johnny cupcakes seriously?

dude moves a ton of units / has his own freaking store, thats how.

[JoshIsArealBoy]

What a bunch of crap! I hate that sloppy store. Screw corporate america, especially companies that screw ovver small businesses.

[MattyBeatz]

If you go to www.johnnycupcakes.com (http://www.johnnycupcakes.com) and look at more of his designs you will notice that he stole the "Wu-Tang" logo as well as "artistically" took the skull and crossbones image that's been used from everyone from Paul Frank to Pirates. Not to mention the likeness of Maryln Monroe and the NBA logo. I smell something and that smell is of a frosted hypocrite. It's okay when some art-*** schmuck rips something off in the name of their "art" but not when a faceless corporation does? They are both wrong and they are both idiots and no one should pay more then $7 for a t-shirt. I wouldn't wipe my ass with Urban Outfitters or Johnny Cupcake's t-shirts.

[avitabully]

If you go to www.johnnycupcakes.com (http://www.johnnycupcakes.com) and look at more of his designs you will notice that he stole the "Wu-Tang" logo as well as "artistically" took the skull and crossbones image that's been used from everyone from Paul Frank to Pirates. Not to mention the likeness of Maryln Monroe and the NBA logo. I smell something and that smell is of a frosted hypocrite. It's okay when some art-*** schmuck rips something off in the name of their "art" but not when a faceless corporation does? They are both wrong and they are both idiots and no one should pay more then $7 for a t-shirt. I wouldn't wipe my ass with Urban Outfitters or Johnny Cupcake's t-shirts.

you're a reason to bring back scene points haha, they may as well close the post on this one now!

also,
cupcakes: "urban outfitters is the walmart of clothing"
What? No, walmart is the walmart of clothing. Have you ever been in a walmart? It's too bad he got ripped off but I really could care less. Its a plane dropping cupcakes. What a fairy fight

[MattyBeatz]

[quote=avitabully]you're a reason to bring back scene points haha, they may as well close the post on this one now!

I don't need scene points, they are for 15 year olds that don't have jobs and live at home. I'm too busy being a grown up to worry about my credibility with them.

[March_Faster!!]

Even before this incident I would say "Fuck Urban Outfitters", but in regards to this, they can eat a big ol' heapin' pile of monkey shit.

[unwritten]

Fiddlesticks.

[Flags of Dawn]

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

-Re-post this, spread the word, tell as many people as you can. This type of thing with Urban Outfitters ripping off smaller brands, has happened ALL the time! Well, thanks to TOM - we all now have MYSPACE and can communicate.

-Stop shopping at Urban Outfitters, there are pleanty of other independant shops & online stores.

-And you can purchase shirts from http://www.johnnycupcakes.com

thank you so much for your time, start spreading the news!

love,
Johnny Cupcakes

how are buying shirts from him going to help this case? and dude needs a spellcheck.

[jynxedheart]

What a fairy fight

heh

[wesgemm08]

Fuck all these big chain stores, all they give a damn about is turning a profit. They can go to retail hell.

yea, I know if i owned a small store I wouldnt care about turning a profit at all.. this has to be one of the dumbest things I have read thus far this year

[Flags of Dawn]

If you go to www.johnnycupcakes.com (http://www.johnnycupcakes.com) and look at more of his designs you will notice that he stole the "Wu-Tang" logo as well as "artistically" took the skull and crossbones image that's been used from everyone from Paul Frank to Pirates. Not to mention the likeness of Maryln Monroe and the NBA logo. I smell something and that smell is of a frosted hypocrite. It's okay when some art-*** schmuck rips something off in the name of their "art" but not when a faceless corporation does? They are both wrong and they are both idiots and no one should pay more then $7 for a t-shirt. I wouldn't wipe my ass with Urban Outfitters or Johnny Cupcake's t-shirts.
and $31 for a t-shirt? thats fucking ridiculous.

[nicolerork]

Johnny Cupcakes? $31.99 a shirt? Who honestly buy shirts for $32? I can find one cheaper at Hollister!

I don't know what I think. But after taking a look at his site, I'm not a fan of his designs at all. Nothing stands out. I'd probably get my ass beat in a mosh pit if I wore a shirt with a cupcake on it.

[whipcream4teen]

they didnt steal the DESIGN, just the IDEA
and if people buy either of those ugly shirts... shame on them

[el_flasho]

so to summarize:

urban outfitters ripped off his design, but he rips off anybody that buys his stuff.

they both suck.

[Kif]

"Well, thanks to TOM - we all now have MYSPACE and can communicate."

I love that part. As if before we were struggling with the telephone, email, fax, instant messengers and text messaging?

[Jonathan Lally]

eh.

[Blake Solomon]

Thats really unfair of them to do, i was never a customer and now I never will be. The dude compared them to wal-mart and i think thats the best analogy ive heard. They had to start somewhere, why cant Urban remember what it was liek to struggle and help beggineers out.

[Manbotisdead]

Urban Outfitters (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com) ripped off independent designer Johnny Cupcakes. You can read about the whole story and see pictures on Johnny Cupcakes' Myspace.com (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=172861&blogID=78233426) page.

Submitted by: foreverDOWN

Thats pretty bad.

[closerthankyle]

If you go to www.johnnycupcakes.com (http://www.johnnycupcakes.com) and look at more of his designs you will notice that he stole the "Wu-Tang" logo as well as "artistically" took the skull and crossbones image that's been used from everyone from Paul Frank to Pirates. Not to mention the likeness of Maryln Monroe and the NBA logo. I smell something and that smell is of a frosted hypocrite. It's okay when some art-*** schmuck rips something off in the name of their "art" but not when a faceless corporation does? They are both wrong and they are both idiots and no one should pay more then $7 for a t-shirt. I wouldn't wipe my ass with Urban Outfitters or Johnny Cupcake's t-shirts.


the maryln monroe shirt is ripped from andy warhol

they also stole a death cab for cutie tshirt concept, the umbrella shirt.

[loveofliberty]

While Johnny Cupcakes has the right to be slightly pissed off about this incident, I can't help but feel like this is being blown out of proportion as a publicity stunt for their shirt company.

Also, someone else said that stores like Johnny Cupcakes and American Apparel should replace all the major clothing retailers...but I don't recall American Apparel ever having a "good" deal on their clothing prices. In fact their stuff is almost ridiculously expensive for solid colored tees. Also, as everyone else has mentioned...32 friggin' dollars for a Johnny Cupcakes shirt. So...please...before you sound like an idiot, consider the fact that these stores are no cheaper. All these stores cater the needs of arrogant self-declared "bohemians" who refuse to shop at Old Navy because it would ruin their pretentious attitudes. Just an opinion.

[jnkbondtrader]

taking back sunday stole a death cab for cutie concept. stuff like this happens often i'm sure, we just dont always hear about it.

[runninshit]

Johnny Cupcakes sucks, his designs are boring anyway.

32.00 is not alot for a t-shirt. I have paid upwards of 80.00 for a t-shirt. The design and quality are what you pay for. If you want to wear ill fitting Hanes be my guest, and American Apparel blank is fitted and the cotton is of a better quality. Dov is a creep, and im sure his "sweatshop free" business model is a little embellished, but ill take it.

[foreverDOWN]

You guys are missing the point of his wu-tang shirt. That is a spoof of the wu-tang logo design. It'd be one thing if UO spoofed on Johnny Cupcakes (assuming that cupcakes was as famous as wu-tang), but for UO to take his concept for a shirt and do their own version of it. It'd be like U2 covering a song by one of your favorite local bands without acknowledging your fav local band as being the creator of the original songs.

As for the prices of his shirts. The reason you pay the price is because the shirts are limited quantities. I guess its the price to be original. Regardless of whether you like his designs or not, some people do and they pay those prices knowing that they won't see their shirt on every person in town.

[thewebguy]

this just got posted on boingboing: http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/17/did_urban_outfitters.html

expect some sort of backlash, urbn will feel this. also, message them at the least: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/custserv/customerservicemain.jsp?cid=7

[psykosteve]

As a fellow small designer, i can feel this guys pain. That sucks.


But that isn't the same design, its just the same idea. I am sure they took it from him, but I also know enough copyright law to know that they did nothing ilegal at all. Every designer I know borows from other people. Normaly they is more variation, but not always.

How many kids on here one the "Mae Is For Lovers" Shirt? They "Stole" that idea. Or the "fall out boy is for scenseters." Thats "steeling" from the same idea.

[runninshit]

you mean - "stealing"

[a hybrid]

Johnny Cupcakes sucks, his designs are boring anyway.

32.00 is not alot for a t-shirt. I have paid upwards of 80.00 for a t-shirt. The design and quality are what you pay for. If you want to wear ill fitting Hanes be my guest, and American Apparel blank is fitted and the cotton is of a better quality. Dov is a creep, and im sure his "sweatshop free" business model is a little embellished, but ill take it.

really you are ignorant. do you realize how much it makes to produce plain t-shirts regardless if its AA or hanes? it is ridculoulsly cheap to make and for people to use to screenprint their shirts on when bought in bulk. the 15 dollars aa charges at their chain stores and online is wholesale and hiked up because they can. however when these shirts are bought in bulk the profit on selling a tshirt for only 18 dollars is tremendous, forget about how crazy the turn around is on a rediculously overpriced 32 dollar tee. Case in point i can go to to the aa outlet store where they sell the exact same clothing and buy any tshirt for 7 bucks. aa is still making profit from selling it at 7 bucks too.

[runninshit]

I understand that American Apparel is making a profit, they are a functioning business, its a neccesity. For better quality you pay more money, its how the system operates. I could go buy a 15.00 belt at Old Navy or i could go buy a 250.00 belt at Gucci - they both serve the same purpose - but one actually looks good and one doesnt.

If you want to spend your time scouring through products at an American Apparel Outlet Store be my guest, i dont have the time nor patience for that bullshit.

[nerogtr]

if you have the money for a $80 shirt, spend it i suppose, but a $10 fruit of the loom tshirt is pretty damn comfy. to each their own.

[a hybrid]

its not quite scouring but whatever. the point is paying 32 dollars for an american apparel based tshirt regardless of what is screenprinted on it is fucking crazy. i dont even think i would buy a rob dobi shirt for that much and ive pretty much bought every single thing he has put out in the last couple of months.

[runninshit]

Ill spend money on what i deem neccesary, and you can do the same. Rob Dobis shit is pretty dope, but nothing groudbreaking.

[a hybrid]

fair enough.

but i still think for whats being offered this guy is way overcharging.

[runninshit]

I agree - Johnny Cupcakes is GARBAGE.

[tRigGerFinGeR]

"Both"? There's only one design... that's actually the basis of this entire post...

I don't like the design either, however, I think it's incredibly fucked up (on so many levels) when the big companies step on the little guys.

How very very pedantic of you. Clearly I mean both outcomes suck, they are basically the same deaign yes, slightly different, but the result is still two crappy t-shirts.

[gengen]

so to summarize:

urban outfitters ripped off his design, but he rips off anybody that buys his stuff.

they both suck.

exactly.

he sells his designs for $32 on the same shirts i sell mine on for $18 INCLUDING shipping.

[tRigGerFinGeR]

exactly.

he sells his designs for $32 on the same shirts i sell mine on for $18 INCLUDING shipping.
I am going to steal that white text on cardboard design you have in your signature, it looks good.

[gengen]

I am going to steal that white text on cardboard design you have in your signature, it looks good.

lol

[robdobi]

he sells his designs for $32 on the same shirts i sell mine on for $18 INCLUDING shipping.

ps. nice job on pretty much copying the way i did my merchboss site.

i think what people are failing to realize is johnny cupcakes caters to a different market than most "punk rock" clothing companies, it is almost in the same league as like a paul frank (well, not quite there but sorta) for high fashion scenester kids.

if people want to pay 32$ for a shirt that he pays 6-7$ for, good for him! i could easily raise the price of my shirts but that would eliminate probably 3/4 of my sales, if i was a kid 15-20 there is no way i would pay over $20 for a shirt. kids like this are another story altogether though...

http://myspace-356.vo.llnwd.net/00205/65/38/205948356_l.jpg

also, i made this for less than jake two years ago, oops!

http://dobi.nu/2004/clothing/ltj/1.gif

[a hybrid]

and amazingly your design kicks ass and doesnt suck.

[thesacrament]

My wife is a designer for UO, and she just laughed at the whole situation. She's an actual designer though...for like women's knits. She's got nothing to do w/ Urban Renewal. All they do is get old stuff like a blazer, from thrift stores, put a harley patch on it, and sell it for 60 bucks. It's pretty ridiculous. Easy job though.
Cupcakes has been doing his thing for a while now...it just sucks that this happened. I'd hate to be a designer and have that happen.
I personally like UO...I didn't shop there much before I got a discount...but I'd rather go in there than most places in the mall.

[thesacrament]

also, i made this for less than jake two years ago, oops!

http://dobi.nu/2004/clothing/ltj/1.gif


word.


and this too:

http://www.dobi.nu/illustration/beloved/1.jpg

[Imtheotherguy]

oh ok? So are the producers of Say Anything and the Partridge Family gonna post a MySpace blog now about how Johnny gay-ass Cupgays ripped off their logos?

[gengen]

there isnt much to the merchboss store except the color, header, and description, none of which are anything like yours. we all need to get the same point across. if it looks similar it isnt by choice since there isnt much you can do to change it. unfortunately all of our stores need to look similar right now. but yeah, i didnt "copy" yours or did you trademark the "merchboss" template?

either way i guess johnny is catering to the high fashion scenster kids as rob said. maybe he is trying to be next paul frank. either way, paul frank still sells his tee shirts for $18-$22 just like johnny did when he started. i hope it doesnt end up backfiring on him. i havent bought one of his shirts because i wouldnt pay $32 for it.

on the other hand, i did buy Dead Weight from you Mr. Dobi and i love it. $18 is just right.



ps. nice job on pretty much copying the way i did my merchboss site.

i think what people are failing to realize is johnny cupcakes caters to a different market than most "punk rock" clothing companies, it is almost in the same league as like a paul frank (well, not quite there but sorta) for high fashion scenester kids.

if people want to pay 32$ for a shirt that he pays 6-7$ for, good for him! i could easily raise the price of my shirts but that would eliminate probably 3/4 of my sales, if i was a kid 15-20 there is no way i would pay over $20 for a shirt. kids like this are another story altogether though...

http://myspace-356.vo.llnwd.net/00205/65/38/205948356_l.jpg

also, i made this for less than jake two years ago, oops!

http://dobi.nu/2004/clothing/ltj/1.gif

[Go Analog Baby]

I love Johnny Cupcakes...it sucks when shit happens to good people.

[resUrectMe617]

wow that really sucks. i can totally see how they can rip off small independent designers, by looking at some of the design tshirts they have. i used to shop at urban somewhat often, but nowadays its pretty rare. the last thing i got there was this hat but that was back in october i think. the prices are outrageous in that store.

[thedolphinsound]

.... WHOEVER THOUGHT UP THE AMAZING DESIGNS THAT INCLUDE PUTTING BUTTERFLIES ... OR BLEEDING HEARTS ON SHIRTS SHOULD BE PISSED!!!...

EVERYONE IS "RIPPING THEM OFF" ..


cmon people . anyone ever think 2 of the same ideas could of came from 2 differant minds...

thats shirt is cliche as every other hipster shirt ..

jonny cupcakes is just looking for some nice ol publicity ..

.. its working . i know who they are now.. /:

[notetoxself]

that sucks what happen to that dude. I only got one thing from Urban and that is a shirt that my ex girlfriend bought me and I wore it only maybe twice

[1.8Nate]

.... WHOEVER THOUGHT UP THE AMAZING DESIGNS THAT INCLUDE PUTTING BUTTERFLIES ... OR BLEEDING HEARTS ON SHIRTS SHOULD BE PISSED!!!...

EVERYONE IS "RIPPING THEM OFF" ..


cmon people . anyone ever think 2 of the same ideas could of came from 2 differant minds...

thats shirt is cliche as every other hipster shirt ..

jonny cupcakes is just looking for some nice ol publicity ..

.. its working . i know who they are now.. /:

Well, I'd agree if he hadn't sent that shirt design into them, it's a pretty blatant and obvious rip-off.

And to the dude running down AE, Hollister, A&F, etc..., I work at Hollister and we have like 2 tables in our back room that are piled high with $5-10 t-shirts. I wouldn't call that a rip-off, actually...that's a really good deal. :)

[gregplaysdrums]

You guys are missing the point of his wu-tang shirt. That is a spoof of the wu-tang logo design. It'd be one thing if UO spoofed on Johnny Cupcakes (assuming that cupcakes was as famous as wu-tang), but for UO to take his concept for a shirt and do their own version of it. It'd be like U2 covering a song by one of your favorite local bands without acknowledging your fav local band as being the creator of the original songs.

As for the prices of his shirts. The reason you pay the price is because the shirts are limited quantities. I guess its the price to be original. Regardless of whether you like his designs or not, some people do and they pay those prices knowing that they won't see their shirt on every person in town.

I completely agree here. People dont seem to realize the differences between a spoof of partridge family, wu tang, say anything, etc and copying a design...
"maybe next the zoo will get mad at johnny cupcakes because he has animals in his designs!"
... idiots

[dretti]

this is a lame argument, who gives a shit.

[Flags of Dawn]

I completely agree here. People dont seem to realize the differences between a spoof of partridge family, wu tang, say anything, etc and copying a design...
"maybe next the zoo will get mad at johnny cupcakes because he has animals in his designs!"
... idiots
the wu tang symbol is most likely copyrighted. the zoo is not.

dumbass.

[ishotthepilot]

nothing a visit to urban outfitters + some sharpies wouldn't fix.

totally fucked up.

ha. stop giving the scene kids ideas....

[s.deel.besonym]

If you spend 25+ on a fucking TSHIRT.. you're an idiot.

I think anything at or above 16 is RIDICULOUS.

*glares at some indie stores*

I know what screen printing costs are, trust me. You can turn profit off $10.

[Frequency]

urban outfitters sells cheap material at a high price. whatever you buy there WILL fall apart ..take it from a former employee.

I'd take the advice.

[feigningapology]

Heard about this through a Chariot myspace post...interesting. Reminds me of the Major/Minor Threat involving Nike and the Franz Ferdinand/Take Action Tour cd cover stuff....creative property rights are never respected.

[celebrate ashes]

the bastards at that store fired me. after 2 weeks. before the store was even open. so i say FUCK THEM. TAKE EM DOWN JOHNNY!@$*%&$#)%