I’d die the day I copy someone else’s work: Feeha Jamshed

‘Bob Squad’ designer Feeha Jamshed responds to plagiarism allegations

LAHORE:

PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week (PSFW) 2016 wrapped up on Sunday with some collections emerging stronger than others. Feeha Jamshed showcased her ‘Bob Squad’ collection on the first day and set the bar high for those who followed. ‘Bob Squad’ itself was special for Jamshed who was returning to the ramp after a two-year hiatus. In these 24 months she not only designed for the Mahira Khan of Ho Mann Jahaan and Bin Roye, but also proved that instead of turning up at every second fashion event, producing original works consistently is all that’s needed.

Oddly enough, her PSFW ‘16 collection has come under fire for being “too inspired”. Karachista, a fashion and lifestyle blog shared a post accrediting @mclothingm for pointing out that “Alice and Olivia’s Stace Face seems to be the inspiration for Feeha Jamshed’s Bob Squad”.

Alice and Olivia’s design

Alice and Olivia is an American fashion label which has to its credit the image of a woman with round glasses and red lips, inspired by the label’s own designer Stacey Bendet. The image became an iconic part of the brand and was popularised after her collaboration with Starbucks. ‘Bob Squad’ also had a similar standout print; a repetitive image of a woman with glasses and red lips and a short black bob instead of the topknot that the woman in Alica and Olivia’s print sported. This may seem like a trivial dissimilarity, but it forms the basis of Jamshed’s idea behind the entire collection.

Talking to The Express Tribune, she said, “Anyone who knows us, knows that we don’t even look at magazines. ‘Bob Squad’ is not merely about the print. It is about pointing out stereotypes we have in Pakistan – long hair and fair skin are signs of beauty. The girls [models] were the ‘Bob Squad’ and to me, individuality is beautiful ... not stereotypes.” Jamshed, hence, insisted Nabila cut her extensions for the showcase. The styling reflected this idea as models glided down the runway, in black bobs held back by wide headbands and round sunglasses that resonated with the 1960s. “The collection was about defying norms and wearing your individuality, I always have a thought process behind my collections,” she adds.





Policing via the social media really is a double-edged sword. On one hand it gives everyone a chance to voice their views but on the other, it makes the spreading of misinformation uncontrollable. In the instant case, a layperson may assume that Jamshed has indeed plagiarised. While facts are seldom verified and such cases are never brought in the court of law, the harm caused to the designer’s public image becomes irreversible. “We are so used to plagiarism even with big designers, so people assume the worst. I, as a designer, would die the day I copy someone else’s work,” Jamshed maintained. Therefore, in a situation where it all boils down to perception alone, fashion policing, especially Instagram witch-hunting, needs to be dealt with care.

In its entirety, Jamshed’s collection of 16 pieces had three that had the face image on them; a billowing silk dress, a sheer organza jacket and a much shorter jacket. The other thirteen pieces were signature 60s designs, inspired by big daisy prints, bell bottoms and embellishment in psychedelic swirls. “The three designs were part of a larger whole that was based on a specific idea,” she argued.

Feeha Jamshed’s sketch

According to Jamshed, the face image was adapted from a sketch she made, inspired by Anna Wintour’s haircut. “This is a declaration. I have nothing to clarify. It came from my head and it just happened to be similar to someone else’s work. Before I was tagged on that post, I had no idea who she was.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2016.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.