hawktrainer:

I began creating baskets, bags, and sculptural vessels from raw cotton
rope and colored sewing thread in Early 2010 in my Brooklyn apartment.
After over a year and a half of working with the technique I began
selling them on my webshop in October 2011. The pieces became popular
very quickly, receiving much online coverage in early 2012. The
coverage continued with many features of my work in magazines and
online. Over the course of 2012 I sold my works in over 30 stores in
the US and several other countries around the world. All the pieces
are made by myself and a few skilled artists that I employ in my
studio in Brooklyn. I use high-quality materials that are manufactured
in the US, and my employees, all textile artists themselves, receive a
living wage for their skills and time.

Today it has come to my attention that Target has introduced some
baskets for their “Threshold” brand, which utilize seemingly identical
materials, methods, look, and feel as my baskets - even some of the
stitching details are the same. You can see the similarities in the
images below. Target will be selling these baskets for $6.99, a tiny
fraction of the value of my own work.

Please, help me share this image. A company like Target knocking off
small, design-focused brands for the sake of ‘staying current’ and
making a quick buck goes against everything that I, and everyone in my
studio, stands for. Help us get our message to them!

Thanks!

Doug Johnston
www.dougjohnston.net