Jewelry designer Shruti Kumar’s brand, The Rover, has accused retail giant Westside of plagiarizing its designs. The accusations were made public on Instagram on April 25, when The Rover claimed that Westside had copied their ‘Vishwa’ collection and sold it at a significantly lower price.
Following the claim, The Rover updated their followers on April 26, stating that Westside had removed the jewelry from its website, calling it “a fairly quick fix.” The brand expressed curiosity about whether the jewelry would still be available at physical stores.
What Did The Rover Say?
The Rover shared images and videos of their original jewelry alongside Westside’s alleged copies. The post included a picture of actor Dia Mirza wearing earrings and a necklace from The Rover’s ‘Vishwa’ collection. These pieces feature ivory enamel and faux pearls. The Rover’s earrings are priced at ₹4,400, and the choker costs ₹3,400 on their website. In contrast, Westside was reportedly selling similar earrings for ₹399 and the necklace for ₹299.
The Rover’s Instagram post called out Westside, stating: “It has come to our attention that Westside Stores has brazenly plagiarized the entire ‘Vishwa’ collection created by The Rover.” The brand added that, as an independent designer, it invests months into developing and creating each piece, and they felt it was unacceptable for a large retailer to “carelessly steal” their work.
The Rover demanded that Westside immediately remove the designs from both its stores and website.
Social Media Reactions
On social media, The Rover’s post received support from many users. One Instagram user commented, “I recently visited their store, and although I love Westside, I noticed the ‘Nicobar’ influence. It’s so sad to see this happening. I hope your efforts don’t go unnoticed.” Another user shared, “This is not the first time they’ve copied a brand. Many of their prints are ‘inspired’ by others like Cord and Kharakapas. It’s really disappointing.”
Actor Dia Mirza also voiced her support, reposting The Rover’s message on Instagram Stories. She wrote, “Westside, this is unacceptable. Please ensure The Rover is given due credit and compensation. Remove all their designs from your stores and online presence.”
Westside’s Response
In an Instagram update on April 26, The Rover confirmed that Westside had removed the jewelry from its website, calling it “a fairly quick fix.” However, The Rover remained uncertain about the status of the jewelry at physical stores.
The post also reflected The Rover’s surprise at how common design theft seems to be. “Having grown up shopping at Westside, I had a different opinion of the brand until now,” The Rover wrote. “I switched to smaller, homegrown brands to support our community, and I completely missed identifying my jewelry on their shelves until a fellow designer pointed it out.” The Rover thanked its supporters for their response to the issue.
The situation has sparked wider conversations about design theft and the impact of large retailers copying independent creators’ work.
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