Tanzanian renowned fashion designer Sheria Ngowi whose work has set a high benchmark in fashion designing in the country released a statement today to address the ongoing allegations circulating on social media regarding a counterfeit of one of his 2011 creations.
Sheria Ngowi confirms that the design in question is his own creation and was created in his current workshop located in China in 2011 while working on the Miss Tanzania 2011 Collection. The workshop is shared by different designers and buyers from across the world.
“The business of counterfeit goods is the largest underground industry in the world. Fashion design is huge business in Asia and is a booming industry globally but sadly so is the fake designer garment industry .
Fashion designers in various countries are struggling to keep up with their clothes being copied and are facing a losing battle in many cases.” Said Mr. Ngowi when addressing the matter. “Seeing people selling imitations of your clothes is not easy to swallow since it means financial loss for your business".
One of the issues contributing to high piracy of designer clothes is the dramatic rise in fashion industry and the internet. The more fashion designers get exposure, the more the chances are of their designs being copied.
There are so many fashion events these days, and with the rise of social media most high-end designs are available online within moments of the garments being worn. Buyers from around the world seize these opportunities to make copies and sometimes unfortunately from the same workshops that the designers use to produce their work.
“Some designers have been quoted saying that fashion imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. When one’s designs are copied it goes to show that they have really made an impact in the industry. But I say, it is really when the imitation is so blatant that you can’t tell a difference between the imitated and the imitator that flattery becomes mockery” said Mr. Ngowi .
Any type of infringement is serious and spells financial disaster for the business involved. In the world of fashion, however, the existence of copycats is ten-folds than anywhere else. Some of the most recent copyright designer battles involved mega brands like Gucci vs Guess, Prada vs Zara, and DVF vs Forever 21 where the small retailers were sued by the big designer houses for taking “designer inspiration” too far till one cannot tell the difference.
Mr. Ngowi wishes to assure his loyal customers, friends and supporters that the allegations of him copying a dress by another designer are completely false and inaccurate. He confirms to be the creator of the alleged dress. He has further information of the dress being copied in other countries apart from China and he is working with his Legal Advisors to take the necessary legal steps against the perpetrators.
ABOUT SHERIA NGOWI
Walter Thomas Ngowi is a lawyer by profession, who became a fashion designer known as Sheria Ngowi because his passion for fashion turned into a real business and the label preferred by many African and Arab executives.
In 2008 he launched his first capsule collection under the name of Sheria Na Mavazi in Mysore. And in 2009 it was the year of change when he launched: Year of the Gentleman, the very first men's collection inspired by and dedicated to his late father, the man "responsible" for his passion for men's fashion.
Sheria went on to successfully design the collection for Miss Tanzania 2011 which skyrocketed him to the top when in the same year he was named menswear designer of the year.
Later that same year he was featured in the GQ Italia, one of the most premier men’s fashion magazines worldwide where he was compared to the likes of Tom Ford.
Sheria is currently working to launch his store in a few months to come that will include both men and women designs.
FOR MORE ON SHERIA NGOWI:
TWITTER: @SheriaNgowi
no mater what you do to defend your self what a coincident to happen in a big China as you indicate the perpetrator to use the same workshop Haahhaaaaa'''''' what a joke and as to your profession as a Lawyer it trigger something Janja ishagundulika
ReplyDeletekwikwikwikkwi si mmesikia Kanye West Kaiba wimbo wa FM academia, that is exactly how you sound like dude, hii writing aliyotumia hapa pia umecopy kutoka kwa madesigner wakubwa, man u r such a big joke, just go sit down somewhere for a minute with your designer sorry behind
ReplyDeletehuu umekuwa mchezo wa madesigner bongo miaka nenda rudi, kaka yake alisema fundi kaiba huko bongo, mara project imefanyika China, can you guys I mean two of you between you and Haki sit down come up with one consistence story before you do all this nonsense here, aibu tupu, and I bet Mwamvita payed u 10 times more than jackie.
ReplyDeletemdomo uliponza kichwa tulisoma darasa la tatu nadhani, mngenyamaza tusingejua, nilikuwa nimefirikia nikupe dili langu la harusi baada ya kuona nguo ya jaki, I was dude this guys is getting so great in designing, I gave u all the credit so as everybody thought it was yours and jaki didn't say a word until mlivyoweka mambo hadharani, pole weeeeeee, mchana kweupe, kamata mwizi
ReplyDeletetalking about kuiba designing za watu, matter of fact hili koti jeupe pia hapa sio lako, maybe talk about a little bit modification like u always do, hii style has been in USA for awhile now udesigner bongo kazi kweli kweli
ReplyDeleteso why do we need to know about your carrier, when did you launched and start it, Gucci vs guess, prada vs zara, dvf vs forever 21, to me all this sound like someone it trying co convince somebody here, all you could say is, that was my designer, and these are the prove, put picture maybe videos of the dress when it was created for the first time, the model who tied it before the first customer and the place where it was created, am sure for a big designer like this u will have those staff, and also you could put other line of work which you have created better than these and if something like this ever happen before so you can truly convince us but this card of giving us all unwanted information its not doing it at all, PROVE please, like she proved and show the picture,
ReplyDeletealafu kuna like gauni la kidoti kuna mtu alivaa big brother ni copy ya Atria or insipation? just wondering
ReplyDeleteAh, we sheria hebu tupishe hapa... as your fellow "designer" I'm very much dissapointed in you... whatever you say now will not "clean up" for what youve done... stick to your Tom Ford inspired ideas, magauni waachie wanawake wakayachukue wenyewe uchina...
ReplyDeleteholly toledooooooo kumbe na haya makoti pia huwa anaiga kwa Tom Ford,ooh sorry kumbe na Tom Ford anakuibia design ya makoti yako, u need a change of career asap please and thank you
ReplyDeleteMi naamini kama angekua amekopi asingelalamika. Ingawa alipokosea ni kitendo cha kumdhalilisha dada wa watu wakati wachina wanaexist na wanajulikana kwa kukopi. Im sure wote tumelearn something out of this…so let’s move on. Sheria ananguo nzuri na jina lake linakua so let’s face it and tuache kumdiscourage kuendelea kujaribu…But now we should all know China ni soooo. Steve Jobs mwenyewe alikuta maduka ya apple in China ambayo hayabelong to apple sembuse Sheria…nyie vaeni and life goes on au sio
ReplyDeletena hii statement imetoka kwenye same workshop?
ReplyDeletekina mama wakigombana wenyewe kwa wenyewe poa ukiingilia utaumbuliwa hadharani walewale wenye ugomvi wanaungana linakua kundi moja nawajua hawa Sheria ishia hapo hapo
ReplyDeletenavyoelewa mimi bongo kuna mafundi cherehani wanashona nguo kwa kuiga kwenye catalog hao madesigner dotikom mhhh
ReplyDeletehuu waraka angemtumia huyo mtuhumiwa wake VERA WANG!!(anayedai kamuibia) kwa mtazamo wangu hii sisi hatuielewi na hayatuhusu.je angefanya hivi fundi JUMA angeandika waraka au angemfuata wayamalize???
ReplyDeleteDesigner njaa tu huyu. Acha miyeyusho.
ReplyDeleteWhat Sheria said is very true. Nimenunua gauni mwaka jana kwa bei ghali sana duka moja hapa mjini. Mwanzoni mwaka huu, naenda walmalt kununua cleaning things, nikaona gauni kama hilo langu kabisa kwa bei ndogo sana, utofauti ulikua madoti ya ile ya walmart yalikua makubwa kidogo, laini kila kitu ni sawa.
ReplyDeletePia ukienda Dillards, JCpenny, Marcys utaona nguo nyingi za designers zimefanana kabisa style. saanyingine hata vitamba kwa umbali.
Kwa hiyo nyie ambao hamkai nchi za nje, msifanye haraka kusema watu. He is a good designer na time will tell.
Na wewe kama kweli umekaa njee ungejua kwamba maduka Kama Macy's Dillard's ect are hugeeeee stores with lost of advitisment therefore it's easy to "copy" designs...so u r saying mchina alikaaa chini akangalia blogs za kiTZ then aka copy design?!!?!!?! Msonyooooo
Deletekwa mzee obama wameshonesha olympic uniform uchina hakuna ubaya mjini shule
ReplyDeleteSheria rudi Mahakamani!
ReplyDeleteKama jina lako linavyojieleza imeekuwa ni mantiki haswaa ukabaki kukabiliana na majoto ya madai na kesi badala ya kuuvaa mkenge wa Kitaaluma kama unavyoona sasa yanayokufika.
Toka lini Fundi Baiskeli akawa Fundi saa?
Si inaeleweka kutokana na majaaliwa kila mtu na kazi yake?
pungaaaaaa!
ReplyDeleteWatanzania Bwana....ndio maana siku zote hatuendelei. Kutokuwa na exposure kunasababisha siku zote kutokujiamini. Kwani kipi cha ajabu huyo Sheria Ngowi asichoweza kukifanya kama Designers wa Ulaya ama Marekani ? Talking of koti..kwani kuna Koti linalovaliwa mabegani ? Watu Bwana ? Hii tabia ya kutokujiamini ni ugonjwa mkubwa sana na ndio unaotufanya tuendelee kuwa Masikini. Kwamba Wachina wamekopi design yake cha kushangaza ni kipi ? acheni ujinga na ushamba bwana.
ReplyDeleteThe problem of many people commenting of this have no knowledge on how the design industry work and/or operates. So better you shut up and keep your ideas to yourself instead of coming with unwanted comments just because you hate the person ! Pheeew !
ReplyDeleteWabongo wacheni wivu wenu!!!! Ngowi is one of the best African designers who's internationally recognised. Nyinyi wote mlioandika comments za kejeli ni ma-big losers who have nothing to offer to anyone! pPeriod.
ReplyDeleteKind of huyo aliyetoa maoni yoote hapo juu ni mtu mmoja ila anajaribu kubadilibadili lugha tu.Michuzi,hawa watu wana mambo yao,usijiingize.On another note,mbona anamkandia sana designer huyu mmbongo?nadhani hawa ni business rivals.
ReplyDeletedeng he cute....halafu me penda mwanaume anayejitetea
ReplyDeleteSheria hadi Mitindo:
ReplyDeleteKuhama kwako Kitaaluma ni kutokana na kupenda kwako Usharobaro na Ubraza meni hakuna kingine!
Usichukulie kigezi ati wazungu huchagua ile fani mtu uipendayo zaidi.
Ndio maana umehama kutoka kwenye Taaluma yako ya Sheria uliyosomeshwa na wazazi wako wa fedha nyingi tu.
Ungeweza Brazameni wewe mshike mshike wa presha za Mahakamani?
Tatizo wewe unapenda Ubrazamen kuliko fani ngumu kama Sheria!
ReplyDeleteMbongo kwa copying hana mpinzani!
ReplyDeleteNdio kipaji chake, ngalieni hawa watoto wa Muziki wa Kizazi Kipya ukiwaangalia kila kitu wana kopi waonekane kama Wamarekani.
Akitokea Mmarekani yeyote apate umaarufu kwa kujisaidia hadharani watoto wa Ki-Bongo wameshapata wanaona ndio Fesheni!,,,utaona nao wameachia mizigo barabarani mchana kweupeeee...(Asalalee afadhali huko wataachia miziogo ya makeki makeki,,,sisi ni mizigo ya ugali kwa mbaazi , au dona kwa matembele!),,,patakalika hapo?
Tazameni wimbo wa World cup 2010 umetolewa kopi yake Kibongo bongo.
Angalieni vitu mfano 'Hakunaga' ndio mule mule!
Basi jamani mwacheni sheria enough is enough
ReplyDeleteChina inaongoza kwa piracy, kuna duka kubwa tu huko limefunguliwa exactly kama maduka ya Ulaya, wenyewe wazungu hata habari hana, kuja kuzinduka wanakuta mapicha tu ya duka kubwa, likafungwa.
ReplyDeleteMbaya zaidi wabongo wengi wenye mabotique mtakuwa mmeumbuka sasa maana ni mchezo wenu kununua pirate products na kuja kuwauzia watu. Yaani ukienda madukani huwezi nunua hata kitenge cha Wax labda ukakinunulie Kongo au Belgium au Netherland lakini Bongo ni China.
Sheria mimi nakuamini na nimeamini maneno yako maana kwanza hao wadada wanaokwambia umecopy wenyewe kazi yao kila siku kwenda China kutengenezewa copy na kuja kuuza Dar. Naweza kuwataja majina humu lakini ninawastiri tu. Kazi kupeleka makatalogi huko na kufyatua mapochi viatu mashati etc.
Keep it up brother!!!!
ReplyDeleteMost of the comments in here appear to me as something very close to being personal...GO FOR IT
Kubadili taaluma sio issue kabisaaaaaa!
Ubrazameni si wa kwake???
Jamani mimi ni mafnyi biashara wachina sasa mwaka 2007 nilipeleka dizain yangu ya wed dress kwa fundi china ambayo niliiba toka kwa madizainaz wakubwa tofauti ili nipate kitu changu cha pekee nikafanikiwa kwelii nikabeba mpk kwa fundi tukaelekezana kazi ikafanyika ya ukwelii gauni lilikuwa zurii hasaa......ninarudi china baada ya miezi minne kwa yule fundi ili anitengenezee tena gauni karibu mtaa mzima naona lile gauni nililoiba ideas limetapakaaa same materials nilizozichagua mimi maua yale yale niliochangua mimi.....wachina waacheni kabisa inawezekanaa kbs bwana ngowi alikaachini akatengeza idea yake na fundi aliempa ashone akatooa na zingine zaidi na mungine akaiga mpk likasambaaa.....kip going sheria utafika kazi zako zinaonekana kaka
ReplyDelete