San Francisco - October 27, 2009
Dick Chainy
Dame Jewelry Launches
Aside from a certain SoMa street fair, the harness doesn’t get much love.
Just-launched jewelry line Dame, from local designer Nazy Wadia, supplies a more demure public display of bondage. Her collection of mixed metal pieces is deliciously bold, yet pretty enough to please even the most prudish of torsos.
The Bullet Proof, Lombana, and Sphinx styles painlessly transform plain tops and dresses with body-wrapping gold-tone and silver chains meant to drape around the neck, chest, and waist.
Not quite ready to submit? Subtler options come in the form of multilayer necklaces, headpieces made with vintage chains, and jewelry “sleeves” designed to dress up bare arms.
Or you can ask Wadia to custom design a piece.
She’ll happily whip one up.
Available online at damesf.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Dame
Posted by suckafree on Nov 2, 2009 1:20:34 PM
really - this is what people have time to complain about. no one is the first or last to do anything. maybe you should all take yourselves a little less seriously, none of you are saving lives here. get over it.
Posted by shaniatwain on Nov 1, 2009 12:30:43 PM
Daily Candy....I was dead wrong about Rachel Lena Esterline... and I love this city.... sometimes we trust...and we put our heart in the wrong hands no hate just hurt feelings... please listen to Julia Murney express my feelings on the matter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaVrWiJ1GpE
Posted by ommgrl on Oct 31, 2009 1:53:53 AM
Hey all. Disclaimer: I have no relation to either party, and felt the need to shed some light. I've owned a boutique for the last 5 yrs, and featured just local sf designers. Not claiming to be the all-knowing, but I'm pretty dialed into what's happening in the industry, given the history. That said, I must tell you, I've actually never heard of Litter (well or dame but that's new). Not trying at all, to take away from their accomplishments, etc... The point is, although SF is small, it is SO easy to be 'ships passing in the night.' There are so many pockets of people/demographic/personality in this city! So, ya have to realize that things/trends may not be as 'common knowledge' as you'd like to think they are. You need to step outside of your immediate bubble of friends/network. Regarding similarity in work: yes, both are using mainly chain pieces, etc. But the hair pieces (which we ALL know is nothing new...a la Nicole Richie, or even Venus Superstar locally) are the only similar designs. What I see is one line has bolder pieces, more prominent detail, shoe pieces, single-shoulder pieces. While the other has more neck, arm pieces, and is more refined/finer detail. BOTH equally beautiful work in their own way! That's the bottom line! The websites are both super straightforward. As the other person noted earlier, the sites are your standard DIY e-commerce site. I can rattle of dozens of sites in this city alone that have the same boxy/black-n-white, plain feel/non-flashy! And to the dude who went off about someone taking Litter's concept and 'bastardizing it' - seriously? Let's be real - they are NOT the first to make jewelry that's NOT mass produced! That's what EVERY designer does in the beginning. And, hate to burst your bubble, but there are also other WELL KNOWN fashion/jewelry designers (locally) that take old pieces and re purpose them, as I think Litter is doing! It's all great! But, you don't hear these other designers freaking out and saying Litter 'stole' their idea. Bottom line: both are producing beautiful work, and will probably do so within different demographics. And both will probably evolve their art into something completely different in 1-2-3 years from now. So, no need to be bratty, or catty, or b*tchy. It's allll good!
Posted by dailycandyeditor on Oct 30, 2009 5:29:55 PM
Hi all. DailyCandy here. You may have noticed that some of the comments on this story were removed. While we maintain that our website is an open forum for readers to post comments about our stories (and please do!), some were deemed inflammatory and offensive. If you'd like, you can read more about Community Policy here: http://www.dailycandy.com/community.jsp.
Posted by shaniatwain on Oct 29, 2009 2:43:24 PM
and Daily Candy...my favorite candy is GOOD AND PLENTY
Posted by tweet on Oct 28, 2009 7:48:44 PM
i can't believe i'm replying to another post. a freakin' millenium and you pull anne boleyn out of your hat.
Posted by tweet on Oct 28, 2009 7:13:45 PM
seriously? how did you think this would all go down? no offense ladies, but you went about this all wrong. instead of handling your own business - you called, emailed, fowarded this DC post to everyone and their mother. guess what. dame has a website; you saw it. guess what. there's a contact button; click on it. your friends are offensive, and ironically, while i'm sure the goal was to make dame look lame, the only ones you've actually made look lame is litter. i can't even focus on the fact that dame's site resembles yours because i'm so repulsed by the comments that were made on here. you should've stepped in a long time ago, and your stylist friend who doesn't even have the common descency to refer to dame's founder by her name, who instead resorted to elementary behavior. where did his posts go? i imagine you had a little sit down and were like, uhhhh, dude. seriously? delete your posts. how old are you guys? it's great that your friends support you - that's why we have 'em. and that your fans have your back - you deserve it, but show some class. ...and if i have to hear about sf's fashion scene one more time i'm seriously going to slit my wrists. you really don't have one, and with behavior like this, sf never will. done and done.
Posted by QueTeJordan on Oct 28, 2009 6:03:03 PM
SF Fashion scene ... we look like fools. Straight up fools. Sucks that Rachel is on top of the heap here, sucks that she's prettier than you, and it sucks that you've chosen such a childish platform to try and take away some truth from what she's saying ... but the truth of the matter is: Dame stole from Litter. Dame is not Forever21. Dame is not Zara. Dame is a knock off. Legally, companies like Guess have to maintain a "creativity permit" in order to stay out of the courtroom with companies like Gucci who have a G-print already patented. The difference is Guess mocks Gucci, makes a cheaper version of it, selling a similar product at a cheaper price. Dame took the essence of what Litter is -- a small, SF-based company, that avoids mass production by maintaining their artistic integrity -- and bastard it. Armani didn't like it when Domenico and Stefano ripped off his quilted trousers last winter ... designers need to have eachothers back. Or keep their artistic integrity at the very least. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/lawsuits-you-sir-armani-accuses-dolce--gabbana-of-copying-design-1451388.html Real talk ... the girls of Litter created a company that they have thrown themselves in to, and have found success doing so. To blatantly knock them off is not only insulting to them, but to this small fashion community of San Francisco as well. Lets wish Nazy Wadia the best of luck on her future endeavors. Lets hope Wadia brings something to the table that shows her personal and original artistic abilities she is capable of. We know you can do something else, Nazy. DO IT! Can't wait. mmmbye
Posted by LitterSF on Oct 28, 2009 5:58:54 PM
Litter here! We are totally blown away by the way this commentary went. We are happy to see that there are people standing behind our brand and supporting us... BUT... we never thought it would go to this point! Personal attacks have nothing to do with Litter! Feeling like someone is trying to steal what we worked so hard for really sucks... especially by someone else in our own city. We aren't saying that her designs are EXACTLY like ours... but its creepy how similar her product, website, and brand are to what we have worked so hard to create in our company. Good things come to those who are honest and original.... AND WE WERE ON RACHEL ZOE TODAY! :) Again, we appreciate people out there for Litter... but please don't speak hate! -LITTER
Posted by seatedbather on Oct 28, 2009 3:41:42 PM
hahawow- such hash and jealous words. Rachel is amazing and showing support like a true friend would....and is far from fugly. You clearly do not know Rachel Lena Esterline and her impact on the Fashion community. Overall damesf's dead-on resemblance to Litter is intentional, uncreative and blatantly creepy.
Posted by shoogrl on Oct 28, 2009 12:30:55 PM
i love that some people went back and deleted their comments from this thread. someone struck a cord.
Posted by AmandaH on Oct 28, 2009 2:01:33 AM
Lack of professionalism...seriously? This is a PUBLIC/COMMUNITY based forum set up by DC's truly. While I understand your point that the SF fashion industry, and how you present yourself may even more important for another only that artist or others, it simply BAD form to do something such as this on more than just one level and this is the forum for anyone and their mother to express it. You simply cannot control this part by others. Also, I am quite certain that 'Dame' did not have the word tact on the brain when they decided to go forth with this new venture of theirs and to subsequently garner the interests of DC. And while I may have mistakenly associated with you as the editor of the article - my thoughts still stand as what they are and are just redirected to the person(s) that enabled this to happen. As they would be if I was a supporter or fan of anyone else's work, regardless of industry or vocation, and the same situation occurred.
Posted by GODDESSSHAKTI on Oct 28, 2009 1:52:54 AM
Thought the the headlines were PERFECT for this fake puppet jewelry line....DICK CHAINY....I swear no one has anything nice to say about him either. He has made all our lives miserable! So glad he is out of the picture...one down...one to go.....
Posted by inoutandaround on Oct 27, 2009 11:27:45 PM
Well, I thought I would not have to post on here again, but my integrity is important to me and so I must address the above comment. I am NOT the editor that wrote this post on Daily Candy, I do not work for or have any association to Daily Candy or any of its affiliates. Believe me as an editor, Amanda H, I know that to comment on the response and controversy around ones own piece would be violating my duties as a journalist. As an outside party myself, I was simply commenting on the lack of professionalism that is being expressed by all parties in this situation, and expressing my disappointment in Litter and the people they have come to associate themselves with, as I have been a big supporter of their line. You may want to take your blinders off next time when reading commentary and then making your own, it is obvious in your naivete that you did not read the following in my previous post, "While it is upsetting that someone would create a line that is in essence a copy of what they are doing, they should have taken a more tactful approach then this. If you are going to be in fashion, you have to realize that it is a difficult business full of untrustworthy people, the classy thing to do in this situation would be to copyright their designs and take this designer to court, write Daily Candy a poignant letter expressing their concerns, and move on from this." You might find some interesting insight (that expresses many of your same concerns) in the preceding quote. And since you have demonstrated that quoting people is something you like to employ in your arsenal of slandering, I'd like to FINALLY end with the following, I think you'll enjoy it, "So please, think before you write, the way you present yourself as a San Francisco designer IS important and reflects on the small industry that exists there."
Posted by AmandaH on Oct 27, 2009 11:22:42 PM
As an editor, I believe you allowed it to be said best in your opening line "Aside from a certain SoMa street fair, the harness doesn�?�¢??t get much love." Well, you got that right..because the product is a) a knockoff that is of poor taste and quality that no-one WILL LIKE and want to buy!! And as an editor - you could have done a much better write-up to show that you are bringing something NEW to the table. Do you go to Nine West and talk about their Gucci knockoffs too? Or what about Forever 21? Is this the future of quality write-ups that one can expect from DC? And again your own words "In the end if no one wants to work with someone with a poor attitude, untrustworthy tactics, and a lack of respect for the overall fashion community, than one may find themselves high and dry with no one to turn to." Go ahead and keep up the genuine reporting of obvious plagiary of product and writing here, I really don't see how anyone with proper vision and the ability to read cannot see how these items are EXACTLY similar coupled with the fact that DC already covered the real artists to start with. This isn't trash talking, this is stating the obvious. Unbelievably tacky.. And for the record, I am a fan of Litter, but have absolutely no idea who these other people are. I just know it is wrong to replicate someone's work that blood, sweat, and tears probably went into just so you can make a buck.. even it's only going to be at a SoMa street fair of course.
Posted by mouth on Oct 27, 2009 11:20:57 PM
an old song comes to mind.........chay chay chainsssssssssssssss chain of fools
Posted by tweet on Oct 27, 2009 9:57:41 PM
I remember when DC featured Litter and I was quite taken with their line, as well as the lovely duo. Their work is truly amazing. It would appear that Dame's site is definitely similar to Litter's, but come on, they're both Yahoo templates. There is nothing groundbreaking about either one of their sites. Polaroids? Film Grain filter? About us? I feel sorry for Dame. Litter's posse has rained on Dame's parade. I frequent 20-30 fashion blogs a week, and guess what, they are all the same; white with big, black handles. Originality flew out the window once social networking started booming. Almost all blogs, Myspace pages, and online boutiques look alike. The people on here are being a bit harsh. "Cheesy and crap" "Litter's buyers are savvy" "Get your own style" "Zero creativiy", and last, but certainly not least . . . LameSF (which cracked my a$$ up by the way). Relax. Litter still rocks. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Dame's Pharoah piece is kick ass. Love and light, kids.
Posted by inoutandaround on Oct 27, 2009 9:29:33 PM
What's both funny and sad is how badly both sides look after this 25 comment tirade. If Litter's Rachael Mann and Mackenzie Burdick were true class act professionals, they would not have created such a stir about this knock off line, commenting and bullying with their closest friends, because in the end it doesn't change anything and it definitely does not look cute. While it is upsetting that someone would create a line that is in essence a copy of what they are doing, they should have taken a more tactful approach then this. If you are going to be in fashion, you have to realize that it is a difficult business full of untrustworthy people, the classy thing to do in this situation would be to copyright their designs and take this designer to court, write Daily Candy a poignant letter expressing their concerns, and move on from this. It's sad because as someone who was from San Francisco and moved to New York, I had higher expectations for Litter than this. It is this silly unnecessary drama that will keep the stigma of San Francisco fashion alive and will destroy lines such as Dame, Litter, and others. So please, think before you write, the way you present yourself as a San Francisco designer IS important and reflects on the small industry that exists there. Thank you.
Posted by Applebee on Oct 27, 2009 8:54:32 PM
Yes, you are totally correct that Bliss Lau was the first to do body jewelry. I'm not aware of Litter SF ever saying that they were the first to do body jewelry in the fashion forum. I think the issue here is not that the pieces are 'similar' or that it is the 'same trend', but a complete and blatant rip off of the entire aesthetic and business model that Litter's created. Everything, from the individual pieces, to the website design is the same. It's all there for everyone to see. Check it out and figure out what the conflict is about and then make an educated and informed contribution to this discussion.
Posted by shoogrl on Oct 27, 2009 8:16:05 PM
hmmm... i wonder if bliss lau was pissed when litter and erin wasson ripped off their stuff. open a fashion magazine for the love of god. body jewelry is everywhere. nicole richie was rockin' head pieces long before.
Posted by Applebee on Oct 27, 2009 7:25:00 PM
This is a sad display of an idiot with the time and money on her hands to make an ass out of herself in front of her family and friends...they aught to be ashamed of her. Here's an idea Nazy Wadia: Come up with your own good idea, that way people will celebrate you instead of laugh at you. The righteous indignation you are hearing from a thousand voices is of your own making. YOU ARE A FRAUD.
Posted by AmandaH on Oct 27, 2009 7:24:43 PM
Perhaps DC is not to blame, but I am sure their is some sort of person that would say 'Hey guys, we already wrote an article about something almost identically similar, and this would not be up to par with our readers.' I don't mean to be anti-dc, but honestly - this is not quality work here whatsoever.
Posted by jones on Oct 27, 2009 7:21:49 PM
btw. there was a different writer on board when LITTER launched. Daily Candy..not to blame.
Posted by AmandaH on Oct 27, 2009 7:09:07 PM
Main Entry: knock�·off Pronunciation: \�?n�¤k-�?o�?f\ Function: noun Date: 1966 : a copy that sells for less than the original; broadly : a copy or imitation of someone or something popular.. By the looks of the website 'DAMESF' - which as someone above so eloquently put, should read as 'LAMESF,' knockoff is an understatement. Most knockoffs look far less superior in style, quality, and substance of the original - and this one takes the cake. To the writer of the above DailyCandy article, I could say the same for you since you are obviously referencing what another writer at DC has already done. There you go, another case of water finding its own level..
Posted by itsFLETCHman on Oct 27, 2009 6:54:46 PM
amen, bumming for litter right now. LAMESF why would you take an original idea and try to make it your own? you did the same website, wrote the same things, photographed them the same way and all the while the people you tried to steal the ideas from are in the same city, cant wait to see where this all goes!
Posted by rawspace on Oct 27, 2009 6:51:24 PM
As an outside opinion, this is in fact far too close to LITTER. For jewelry shot the same way, nearly exactly imitating it is SERIOUS case of copying another's work. I suggest that the woman behind dame. stop this blatant copying a resume work in an area more original.
Posted by mouth on Oct 27, 2009 6:38:47 PM
oops sorry that was LIKE not likr...or well if the shoe fits!
Posted by mouth on Oct 27, 2009 6:37:31 PM
geez.......those Litter people are just what their name says..........and with a "B" 'too...which spells BITTER..(just incase you guys can't spell.) Your business must not be doing very well if you have to be on the net dissing competition!!..and especially acting likr you are your clients??? hahhahhahahah
Posted by ilovecandy on Oct 27, 2009 3:29:29 PM
San Francisco is a little small for ANOTHER Litter. Really? REALLY?
Posted by machodin on Oct 27, 2009 3:23:40 PM
You guys already ran the story on the real designers of LITTER... why would you do the same story about a knock off artist? Dame is pathetic... so unoriginal, sad.
Posted by Litterlover on Oct 27, 2009 1:41:21 PM
Wait- This is a joke right? That website should be called "Lamesf" or "Samesf" due to the blatent copy of www.littersf.com Even the logo she uses is practically the same!! Her photos are even shot the same way. That is just plain sad that she has zero creativity to come up with her own style.
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Posted by sarahredmond on Nov 6, 2009 7:51:06 PM
Ladies - LITTER ladies more specifically - why don't you take the fighting gloves off and relax on the bitchy comments - That is not how you run a successful business. You are not inventors, merely designers who have a great jewelry line - Be proud of it. But don't be too proud, for you are not the first - You will not be the last . Take note of other designers who make pieces similar to yours but have been around a LOT longer than Litter - Venus Superstar, Dylon White, Lady Serena (to mention but a few) and many designers on Etsy who have many similar pieces to you all. Are they all over you like a bad rash trying to claim you stole their ideas- nope i think not.....D.A.M.E Jewelry is beautiful and creative and should be celebrated - anyone who feels different is bitter and unkind......Sarah Redmond - happy to put my name on my words unlike those who feel the need to hide in the shadows - maybe you are ashamed of your mean/bitchy comments . MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE.... Nuff said