You're suggesting that the same trend predictions are made to multiple companies at the same time, without promising that these ideas are going exclusively to one client.
More than trend predictions I have to wonder whether it's not that the manufacturers go to cosmetic companies with new clever ideas and new technologies and that more than one company will select the same newest and greatest in a season...
You're right galenx. As with everything there are only a few companies/places you can go to for new ideas & technology. Beauty companies do the same thing and that's why you see so many brands releasing similar products in such short bursts after each other.
If they can't pay the price for these ideas they just 'borrow' them from those that can. Hence the few weeks till something similar launches from a cheaper brand.
Same thing always happens in the skincare world and it's kinda sad. So many companies jump on that 1 new ingredient/technology or whatever to cash in fast. Today some rare fruit from the amazonian forest, next up a flower from the Himalaya, then some random bird poop droppings..
It's fun to watch from a distance if you can keep it too and not get suckered into buying it all for the hype.
Had no idea it was this obvious in makeup. Thanks for the interesting read.
We've discussed these topic in some Russian beauty community in LJ few weeks ago. However the idea was that likely the floral idea was stolen. What is strange - Laura's flower is already available, while Guerlain will appear in spring collection only.
While there is no suggestion here that the flower motif was stolen, I am sensing an implication that if it had been copied then it would have been LM copying it from Guerlain (see the Guerlain comment quoted above) rather than the other way round. I find that a bit odd. While Guerlain is continuing its recent habit of naming cosmetic products after perfumes with this product, the gardenia really isn't a core Guerlain motif (Cruel Gardenia was released as a fragrance only recently - can't remember exactly when but within the last 10 years - it isn't a classic in any sense) any more than the rose is a core LM motif. Now if we'd been talking about Chanel and camelias then I could have seen where this was coming from. I'm not sure who owns LM as a brand but they have never struck me as derivative in any way. I think this is as you say the owner of the design messing up by selling it to more than one client rather than anything suspicious.
And I must say, I think the LM implementation, from the picture at least, is considerably more attractive.
Hi Great She.. there is no intentional implication about either brand. Going back to the part in the post where the brands usually plan a year ahead for collections, there's no knowing one way or the other. And I'm also not implying anything suspicious.
I thought the Laura Mercier powder was available now, it's not for the spring, so it can hardly be a copy of Guerlain surely? And I can't see Guerlain wanting to copy LM as the brand is in no way their competition. Incidentally, does anyone know where the LM powder is available from in the UK? I have not been able to find it. Also, Jane, could we have more info on the Guerlain spring collection, pretty please? :)
Anita, everything is planned very well ahead..up to a year in some cases so actual timing of launch is not so relevant. I am on it for Guerlain!! Give me a couple of days!
Many moons ago, I worked for a brand in a sales capacity. I was given the opportunity to go to the head office where pretty much the whole shebang took place, from design to marketing, sales and payroll. Only the actual manufacturing was done elsewhere, but the product designers, chemists etc had a small lab for making first ideas into prototypes.
One of the other things I was invited to see was the design process of the makeup items for the seasonal collection due out in 12 months time.
It basically started with a look book of all the forth coming fashion colours and predominant patterns (in that case it was roses).
The look book had been purchased at phenomenal expense, and was apparently the same one all the makeup brands would be using.
While this was years ago, I doubt much has changed, and as we know from the magnetic polish evidence, often only one machine is tooled, at again, great expense, and if a brand can sell on, or utilise that machine on another product, I'm sure they would.
Thank you Jane! Really loking forward to the details on the Guerlain spring collection. :) Actually I was also going to write that Dior already had a floral collection 2 years ago (remember that gorgeous powder with the colourful raised flower/bug/butterfly design?), so it seems that flowers for spring are not that unusual and they're actually copying themselves this time. :) Whether it's Guerlain copying LM or the other way, I want both products, so they won't lose out on any business from me, lol.
I guess there is only so much people can come up with so there is bound to be copying and very similar collections. BOTH rose products look stunning. That mercier blush in paticlar!!
15 comments:
Really interesting write up - thanks!
You're suggesting that the same trend predictions are made to multiple companies at the same time, without promising that these ideas are going exclusively to one client.
More than trend predictions I have to wonder whether it's not that the manufacturers go to cosmetic companies with new clever ideas and new technologies and that more than one company will select the same newest and greatest in a season...
You're right galenx. As with everything there are only a few companies/places you can go to for new ideas & technology. Beauty companies do the same thing and that's why you see so many brands releasing similar products in such short bursts after each other.
If they can't pay the price for these ideas they just 'borrow' them from those that can. Hence the few weeks till something similar launches from a cheaper brand.
Same thing always happens in the skincare world and it's kinda sad. So many companies jump on that 1 new ingredient/technology or whatever to cash in fast. Today some rare fruit from the amazonian forest, next up a flower from the Himalaya, then some random bird poop droppings..
It's fun to watch from a distance if you can keep it too and not get suckered into buying it all for the hype.
Had no idea it was this obvious in makeup. Thanks for the interesting read.
We've discussed these topic in some Russian beauty community in LJ few weeks ago. However the idea was that likely the floral idea was stolen. What is strange - Laura's flower is already available, while Guerlain will appear in spring collection only.
While there is no suggestion here that the flower motif was stolen, I am sensing an implication that if it had been copied then it would have been LM copying it from Guerlain (see the Guerlain comment quoted above) rather than the other way round. I find that a bit odd. While Guerlain is continuing its recent habit of naming cosmetic products after perfumes with this product, the gardenia really isn't a core Guerlain motif (Cruel Gardenia was released as a fragrance only recently - can't remember exactly when but within the last 10 years - it isn't a classic in any sense) any more than the rose is a core LM motif. Now if we'd been talking about Chanel and camelias then I could have seen where this was coming from. I'm not sure who owns LM as a brand but they have never struck me as derivative in any way. I think this is as you say the owner of the design messing up by selling it to more than one client rather than anything suspicious.
And I must say, I think the LM implementation, from the picture at least, is considerably more attractive.
Hi Great She.. there is no intentional implication about either brand. Going back to the part in the post where the brands usually plan a year ahead for collections, there's no knowing one way or the other. And I'm also not implying anything suspicious.
I thought the Laura Mercier powder was available now, it's not for the spring, so it can hardly be a copy of Guerlain surely? And I can't see Guerlain wanting to copy LM as the brand is in no way their competition. Incidentally, does anyone know where the LM powder is available from in the UK? I have not been able to find it. Also, Jane, could we have more info on the Guerlain spring collection, pretty please? :)
Anita, everything is planned very well ahead..up to a year in some cases so actual timing of launch is not so relevant. I am on it for Guerlain!! Give me a couple of days!
All very fascinating! And while Guerlain may claim coincidence, I can't help wonder if there is some interrogation going on behind the scenes?!
I can't actually decide which I think is more beautiful, but the similarity is incredible.
Nic
Many moons ago, I worked for a brand in a sales capacity. I was given the opportunity to go to the head office where pretty much the whole shebang took place, from design to marketing, sales and payroll. Only the actual manufacturing was done elsewhere, but the product designers, chemists etc had a small lab for making first ideas into prototypes.
One of the other things I was invited to see was the design process of the makeup items for the seasonal collection due out in 12 months time.
It basically started with a look book of all the forth coming fashion colours and predominant patterns (in that case it was roses).
The look book had been purchased at phenomenal expense, and was apparently the same one all the makeup brands would be using.
While this was years ago, I doubt much has changed, and as we know from the magnetic polish evidence, often only one machine is tooled, at again, great expense, and if a brand can sell on, or utilise that machine on another product, I'm sure they would.
Ah no, I didn't mean you. I meant the fact that Guerlain felt compelled to put out a statement.
So, Great She - it was me that didn't make it clear.. I asked them to comment on the similarity. I didn't ask Laura Mercier for a comment. x
Thank you Jane! Really loking forward to the details on the Guerlain spring collection. :) Actually I was also going to write that Dior already had a floral collection 2 years ago (remember that gorgeous powder with the colourful raised flower/bug/butterfly design?), so it seems that flowers for spring are not that unusual and they're actually copying themselves this time. :) Whether it's Guerlain copying LM or the other way, I want both products, so they won't lose out on any business from me, lol.
I guess there is only so much people can come up with so there is bound to be copying and very similar collections. BOTH rose products look stunning. That mercier blush in paticlar!!
As i pushed 'comment' i saw my atrocious spelling! Sorry! In my defense I am foreign!!
As Miranda Priestly says in The Devil Wears Prada, "Florals? For spring? Ground breaking."
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