A jewellery maker from York, Emma Farley, expressed her shock at discovering copies of her unique designs being sold at a fraction of the cost on major online marketplaces, Shein and AliExpress. Farley, known for her Little Silver Hedgehog brand, designs wildlife-inspired jewellery, with a portion of the proceeds supporting her hedgehog rescue efforts.
Farley, who began her jewellery-making venture in 2013, was devastated to find exact replicas of her hedgehog earrings on Shein in July 2023. The images, taken from her website, were promptly removed after a follower reported the infringement. However, the copied designs surfaced on AliExpress, with prices as low as £1.12.
Expressing her dismay, Farley highlighted the vast difference in quality between her hand-sculpted pieces using recycled silver and real gemstones and the mass-produced imitations. She emphasized that her creations, retailing at around £50, featured sterling silver ear wires more expensive than the entire fake designs.
Farley, who operates in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, discovered that the copies were made using cheap metal and gems, lacking the authenticity of her eco-friendly, individually crafted pieces.
Both Shein and AliExpress removed the copied items from their platforms. Shein acknowledged the copyright infringement, promptly removing the product, and issued an apology to Farley. The company outlined measures, including image recognition and manual review, to control infringement claims. AliExpress stated its commitment to working with intellectual property owners and providing avenues to report breaches, with potential consequences for violators, such as being banned from the platform.
Farley expressed gratitude to Shein for its swift response in addressing the issue. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by independent artists dealing with copyright infringement in the expansive landscape of global online marketplaces.
