Costume Design | Jade Belly Dance

Copyright and Costumes. Do you own that look? Can you be sued?

28 Aug 2014 2 Comments

by jadebellydance in Belly Dance, Costume Design, Tribal Belly Dance Tags: Australia, Belly Dance, bellydancing, copyright, Costume, Costume design, Dance, Jade Belly Dance, law, sue, Tribal, Wings

As artists it is always one of those perplexing questions – how much of what I create do I own?

WARNING!! An Australian belly dancer just told me via facebook of her intention of getting rich by suing other dancers if they copied a costume element she recently performed with!!! She wrote that she had the ‘copywrite’ (sic) for it.

OUCH! So much for the sisterhood.

In this piece I will let you know what is the copyright standard for costumes in Australia. It may vary for other countries and is not to be taken as legal advice just a guideline. For more details see http://www.copyright.org.au/find-an-answer/browse-by-what-you-do/fashion-costume-designers/

This post is inspired by the most bizarre exchange a few days ago where the afore mentioned comment was made. I was shocked to say the least and it made me wonder – Mine

Exactly how much of your home made costume do you own? Can you protect it?

“Key points

• One-off fashion garments, costumes and jewellery pieces are likely to be protected by copyright.

• You will generally only be able to rely on copyright protection if what you want to protect is a “work of artistic craftsmanship” (such as a one-off garment or necklace) or a design for an item you have not yet started to exploit commercially.

• If you intend to make multiple copies of items you have designed (such as a design for readyto-wear clothes), you will need to look at your options under design law, not copyright law, and you will need to do this before you start marketing or manufacturing the items.” (Australian Copyright Council, 2012, p1)

“Copyright is free and applies automatically: there is no registration system for copyright and no fees to pay.” (Australian Copyright Council, 2012, p3)

If you make something inspired by something you see in a show or online – can someone sue you?

Copyright does not protect styles, techniques, information or ideas or concepts.

Eg. “A particular style of clothing such as peasant-inspired clothing would not be protected by copyright, although a particular item of clothing in that style may be.” (Australian Copyright Council, 2012, p3)

So over all it seems – don’t copy anyone’s costumes exactly or without their permission – which is just common sense really. The copyright information sheet goes on to recommend getting someones permission in writing. (Australian Copyright Council, 2012, p4). If you really like something, either buy it from the original designer or put your own unique twist on it.

It is OK to publish photos of copyright protected works if it was the purpose of making a critique, review or reporting news (Australian Copyright Council, 2012, p5).

I fully support the rights of designers and artists in all genres, and have never attempted to make a copy of anyones costume. However, I never thought we would get to the point of people wanting to sue each other over costume elements in Belly dance that have been available in various styles for years. It made me very sad indeed.

How do you feel about your costumes? Would you try and sue someone if they made something similar? Where do you think the line of ownership should be drawn? Comment below.

(For those enjoying the hints on costume shopping in Cairo, the continuing parts of it are still coming. I posted this piece in between as it is quite topical.)

Reference

Australian Copyright Council (2012). Fashion & Costume Designers Information Sheet. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.org.au/find-an-answer/browse-by-what-you-do/fashion-costume-designers/

Egyptian costume shopping in Cairo (part 2)

21 Aug 2014 2 Comments

by jadebellydance in Belly Dance, Costume Design, Travel Tags: Belly Dance, bellydancing, Cairo, Costumes, Dance, Egypt, Jade, Khan el khalili

Costume shopping in Khan el Khalili, Cairo Egypt.

The famous Yassers

This is a shop I had heard about many times and only managed to find on this trip to Cairo.

Yassers is a behind the main street and runs parallel to it. Probably best found if you look from El Fishaweys. Fishaweys is known to everyone in the khan and according to urban legend, has been open continuously for 600 years!

El Fishaweys – Khan El Khalili (I hope I spelt that write!) A fun place to rest from your shopping and to orient yourself.

Yassers has a big sign above the door and is a tiny shop, upstairs you will find the costumes packaged and organised on shelves according to price. I think costumes were from 500 to 1500LE (I am just guessing on the starting price, I can’t quite remember – I went to a lot of shops!!).

This seems to be a no bargain zone too. Costume adjustment did not seem to be easily arranged here either, so make sure it fits well or be prepared to sew it or alter it when you get home.

On the up side, the designs were more varied and if you after something a bit different, it is worth looking around here. Just be sure to take only 1 or 2 friends with you. If you are in a bigger group you will have to split up as it is not physically possible to have many people in that store.

I found that the designs seemed to be better suited to a hip size smaller than myself or the 2 ladies i was shopping with possessed.

I think it is more of a small to medium height- bust – hip shop. (That’s not to say there is nothing for you if you are busty or tall – just less of it. If you are 5’6 ish, take a C-cup, like to make a statement with your costumes and have never owned a size 12 pair of pants then you might have found heaven!)

I am 176cm tall with hips that were built for child bearing and I had a few of those embarrassing – ‘No I can’t show you what it looks like because I can’t get it on!’ moments.

I found a crazy green outfit, i loved the skirt but it was a touch too small and the top wasn’t that flattering but it was so amazing, I was still tempted.

Selfie in the change room in the green outfit mentioned. Inexpertly photoshopped to obscure my friend and the fact she is holding her dress on!

Larger ladies read my last review about Mahmoud Abdel Ghaffar ‘s shop. I have several more shops to mention yet, so if you haven’t read about one you like yet – don’t give up! Subscribe so you don’t miss the next post. Posts are a little erratic right now as I am neck deep in University assignments for my Master of Teaching. Expect more frequent posts in October.

Have you shopped in Cario? Where did you find your costumes? – please comment below.

Egyptian costume shopping – with tips for a solo female traveller (part 1)

10 Jul 2014 1 Comment

by jadebellydance in Belly Dance, Costume Design Tags: Belly Dance, bellydancing, Cairo, Costume, Egypt, shopping, Solo female, Travel tips

Egyptian costume shopping in Khan el Khalili

With tips for a solo female traveller (part 1)

Wow, times have changed in the ‘Khan’ since i was there last. It was a bustling place with many tourists and happy shop owners with hilarious one liners, trotting them out in a dozen languages. Now, it is more a case of spot the tourist. Luckily there are still locals visiting.

The one liners are still there, but the hustle and bustle is gone. It makes it way easier to move through it but I couldn’t help but feel sad for those trying to make a living. If it wasn’t for the locals shopping there, then I am not sure what would happen to the place.

Cafe’s at the entrance to Khan El Khalili

The good news is – the belly dance shops are still there and seem to be doing OK. it seems dancers are ignoring the over zealous safety warnings for travel to Egypt and are still coming, albeit in lesser numbers.

Ok, on to actually shopping information. Mahmoud Abdel ghaffar ‘s shop is a great place to use as a base and to orient yourself. It is down the main street of the khan and reached down a short alley between 2 shops that also sell some belly dance gear. It is 3 levels of belly dance bliss. 4 years ago it was great. This trip it was tricky as they were renovating and a lot of stuff was covered plastic to try and protect it from the dust of construction, but it will be even better when its finished. At the start of April Mahmoud said it would be done in only a few weeks. I think it may be a few months by the time it is done but costumes and belts are still available. You don ‘t negotiate here, the price is named and that is it. (this is in contrast to most of your other dealings in Egypt). Prices are not cheap but neither are they rip offs, so if you like something here, buy it! He has the most stunning array of belts / hip-scarves I have seen. As a price indicator, earrings are around 10LE belts between 60 and 80 LE. If you need costume adjustments or help, a woman is brought in to assist. There is a variety of sizes here. I bought a costume from this shop on my first trip, it was a little large and I adjusted it at home ( as i didn’t have time for the seamstress to do it for me on site) and I noticed that while it does have some smaller stuff, it has a decent range for ladies with fuller figures. If you are really busty or above a size 12 (Australian) then this is a particularly good place to have a thorough look through.

Costume I bought at Mahmoud’s

You can send large boxes of shopping back home through him at the cost of approx $300 AUD per box to get to Australia. I don’t know if its cheaper to send to Europe. The box can contain around the 20-25kg of awesomeness and is big enough to fit 2 drums inside plus a lot of extra things packed in and around them. You can buy things from other shops and deposit them in your box while you are in Egypt and then stop by on your last day in Cairo and pay the shipping. It will be at your house in about a week, which is pretty good going.

(I keep running out of time to edit my 1700 word epic on costumes in Cairo so I decided to post it in shorter parts, I still didn’t have time to edit this much but hopefully it make sense – stay tuned for more soon)

Have you travelled Egypt on your own? What were your experiences? Please comment below.