When Gucci’s Princetown slippers launched, they instantly became a thing of cult fashion footwear. The silhouette, characterised by a sleek, slightly masculine loafer-like front and an open, backless slip-on rear, naturally “inspired” many other brands and high-street stores to come up with their own versions. Some even went as far as to exactly copy the fur-lined Princetown slippers. But the majority of brands, such as Topshop, Mango and Zara, only aped the overall shape, putting their own touches to the trend, such as offering fully gold or silver versions, or with a different print or embellishment.
Being a sucker for anything Gucci, I also bought into the trend – and even though I rarely splurge on shoes, I purchased the black Gucci Princetown shoes topped with rose appliqués. I was happily satisfied with my spend, and get a lot of wear out of the shoes. So, when I saw that some high-street labels were copying this exact Gucci design, floral appliqués and all, they immediately caught my eye.
Case in point: Steve Madden. This was a big disappointment, as I’ve bought shoes from the brand before: a pair of bedazzled heels that I wore at one of my wedding functions, to be exact. Steve Madden’s design features some slight variations from the original floral-appliquéd Princetown slipper from Gucci, but some other websites – many with headquarters in South East Asia – are producing literal copies of the design.
Be wary of buying straight-up knock-offs. Even if you don’t have the budget to buy the original, and don’t care what other people think, just think about it ethically. Would you find it appropriate if someone copied and profited off of one of your exact designs, ideas or artworks?
If you’re a fan of the slipper trend, spearheaded by Gucci, but can’t afford the Dh2,400-plus Princetowns, simply buy a similar style instead of a cheaper-made replica.
hlodi@thenational.ae