Guess Stops Sale Of Handbag After Telfar Shoppers Accuse Brand Of Stealing Design

Fashion retailer Guess Inc. announced on Monday that it will no longer sell its G-Embossed Magnetic Snap Tote Bag following backlash on social media, which pointed out that the design was similar to Telfar handbags. The decision renewed a long debate in the fashion industry about product plagiarism.

“Some on social media have compared the totes to Telfar’s Global shopping bags,” Guess said in a statement. “Signal Brands (who license the handbags) does not want to create any impediments to Telfar Global’s success and, as such, has independently decided to stop selling the G-logo totes.”

Protests on social media surfaced last week that criticized the Los Angeles-based clothing brand for seemingly replicating a popular shopping bag produced by Telfar Clemens, a Black fashion designer from New York City.

The Guess tote features a rectangular shape similar to the Telfar bag along with a G-logo similar to the TC logo found on Clemens’ products. Telfar bags feature vegan leather and double strap handles and cross-body straps.

Then there is the matter of price. The Telfar shopping bag price ranges from $150 to $257, while the Guess bag retails between $78 to $95.

While Guess has ended the sale of the tote bag, the item remains available for purchase at Dillard’s and Hudson’s Bay.

Telfar shopping bags typically sell out in a matter of minutes, which prompted the company to launch a Bag Security Program in 2020. The program gave customers a limited time frame to pre-order as many bags as they wanted in any size and color.

Although customers had to wait a few months before their purchases were delivered, the program guaranteed shoppers would receive the exclusive handbag.

Starting March 30 at 9 a.m. until March 31 at 9 p.m., Telfar will hold its second Bag Security Program featuring the same perks. Customers can expect to receive their orders between July 15 through Sept. 15.