It's been a rough few weeks out there for poor, poor corporate fashion giants: first Urban Outfitters is accused of ripping off an independent jewelry designer, and now "ditsy floral bubble hem romper"-shilling behemoth Forever 21 is suing the blogger behind www.WTForever21.com, a rather amusing website that pokes fun at some of 21's more egregious fashion errors.
Apparently the suits behind 21, which has been sued by designers in the past for copyright infringement, are not taking kindly to WTForever creator Rachel Kane ribbing the store. They sent Kane a Cease and Desist letter in April accusing her of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unfair competition and dilution, and another note last week with a "firm threat to sue" if Kane doesn't take down her site. The Village Voice got a copy of the letter, which states that "Your website's name refers to an abbreviation for colloquial expression that the general public may find offensive."
Kane, whose site states "Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Forever 21..but every now and then, something goes horribly awry," says she'll probably be forced to take the site down, because "I don't have the resources (financial or otherwise) to take on a behemoth like Forever 21 over a little satire blog I love. Their pockets are just too deep...The only thing I have to console myself with in this defeat is the hope that consumers at large will know just how humorless the people are who make the day glow pink panties they have buy in bulk."
