Have you heard about The Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act? It is a bill that is pending that is supposed to protect fashion designers from knockoffs. Sounds good, right? Fashion has not ever been protected by copyright law due to its utilitarian nature. A sculpture is protected. If you add wire and a light bulb to the sculpture, it isn’t because it is then deemed a functional lamp. It is time for fashion designers to be protected. The question is, who will decide? Isaac or Tim? There is a fine line between drawing inspiration from the past and copying a design. We all know that “there isn’t anything new under the sun”, or so King Solomon said. The challenge is to find a new slant on the best work of the past. It isn’t to blatantly rip off the work of other designers.
In this difficult economy it is desirable to spend less on gifts for the holidays. Of course, a coupon is nice here and there, as is a big sale. The big “box” stores are offering lots of sales and promotions. Some were even open at 3AM on Black Friday. What I ask you to consider this year is for you to try to give a few gifts that come from artists and designers who are selling their own truly original art. Either shop at one of the many locally owned boutiques (The Fig Leaf, Indigenous, The Century House) or attend an art show like Final Friday at the Pendleton. Buy real art from the artists who created it. Say no to knockoffs and yes to creativity. SHOP LOCAL! 
