One of the largest retailers in America is trying to silence me

One of the largest corporations and retailers in America is not only selling a dupe of my patented Pirouette Skort design, but they also threatened to SUE ME for speaking up about it. Yeah. When I sent a cease and desist to stop selling the dupe, that’s the response I received from their legal team. On my birthday, btw.

Here’s the dupe, the “Tutu Skort” by a brand called Gottex.

nordstrom stealing popflex pirouette skort design dupe gottex

I mean, they even had ZERO SHAME making the exact same color as my lilac Pirouette that went viral after Taylor Swift wore it. The other two color options are also exact copies of POPFLEX colors. Did they not think anyone would notice? Or do they just know they’re the big fish and bet on me doing nothing about it? Prob the latter.

Nordstrom is worth 4 billion dollars. They have 54,000 employees and 351 stores in the US. But they chose to infringe on my patent instead of oh…idk… WORK WITH ME?!

taylor swift wearing popflex pirouette skort digital lavender

SHOP PIROUETTE SKORT

Fun fact: I was granted the patent for this skort (my very first design patent!) on my birthday last year! The application process takes a lot of time and effort, which is one reason why they are not always an option for small businesses. And as you can see, a patent doesn’t always deter a big corporation from stealing a design.

popflex pirouette skort design patent

Sadly, my story is nothing new. Corporate America is full of twisted greed, where big corporations steal an independent designer’s creation and make money off of the product while the original designer goes unpaid. Instead, they pay their lawyers to gaslight and threaten to sue anyone who tries to fight back.

But nah.

That’s not how I do business.

 

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A post shared by Cassey Ho (@blogilates)

 

Nordstrom and Gottex Studio are treating me like an annoying little insect they can squash at any moment with their big bully corporate dollars. Well guess what? Corporations are run on money from the consumer – YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS. Without your money, they have nothing. I can’t believe they don’t understand that??

WELL LET’S MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND.

I need your help to share this video and EXPOSE Nordstrom and Gottex Studio. It’s time we all stand up to the big corporations that walk all over small businesses like mine. This is happening too often to people who pour their souls into their creations but cannot afford the money, energy, and time it takes to fight back.

I tried to keep this classy and private but unfortunately their behavior left me with no choice but to make this a very public matter.

36 thoughts on “One of the largest retailers in America is trying to silence me”

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  1. Hatty says:

    That’s awful – sorry this is happening to you! 🙁 💛

  2. Kathleen says:

    Omg! I “served time” at Nordstrom & they are total bullies. When I had knee surgery & had to come back to work before I was ready, btw, I worked 3 days a week & they expected me to sell the same amount as I did when I worked 5 days a week & I could barely walk & I was constantly having water on my knee. They told me my working only 3 days & recovering from surgery was no excuse for my lacking sales. When my mom broke her back and was paralyzed & we learned she also had skin cancer, I went to HR to asked if I could move to a support role like a cashier or stock person & the HR manager told me “I think you may have exhausted your options at Nordstrom” & basically gave me the option of quit or get fired. Imagine getting written up for not sending out enough thank you cards every day & that’s on top of trying to sell a minimum of $2k/day. I’m sure the sales goal is probably triple since I left, but my word, it’s stressful. I would happily help you bring down Nordstom! I blame them for the reason why there are so many “Karens” in the wild.

    My fingers are crossed you are able to sue them to the point it hurts them financially & will never do this to another business again.

  3. Sophie says:

    PLEASE get a good lawyer Cassie! Shein which is the brand I think you are talking about has absolutely NO right to copy your design which is literally patented. They didn’t even bother to change anything and literally threatened you so I think that if you take them to court, however good of a lawyer they have you will DEF win. And also I absolutely LOVEE ur other designs especially the BABYDOLL DRESSS don’t even get me started. Anyways good luck Cassie . Don’t let them bring you down!

  4. Popstar123 says:

    Please get a good lawyer and sue them, you have a strong case. I wish there was more I could do to help but the only thing I can think of is maybe try to let Taylor Swift know what happened, she has a huge following and holds a lot of sway, or maybe ask government I don’t know what they would do but they are more conservative now and Nordstrom is based in Seattle that is in Washington the state.

    I will be honest with you since you shared all this. I live near Seattle and Washington is an extremely beautiful but highly corrupt state. One of the reasons Washington state gets away with so much criminal activity is because unlike most states in US Washington pays into the federal government and as a result they can get away with a lot of things and fly under the radar that other states like California cannot get away with, that might be part of the reason why Nordstrom feels like they can do whatever they want with impunity and I think if there was more oversight and accountability in that state they could not do things like this.

  5. Kmac says:

    I am so confused, Nordstrom is suing you or Gottex?

  6. Janay says:

    This truly angers me and I am so sorry! Millions of people have seen your original design and we stand with you!

  7. Amelia Marsh says:

    I agree! I’m so sorry this is happening to you, and they think they can just steal your designs and make a profit thinking you won’t fight back that’s so twisted. Your designs are amazing and one of a kind! You have made womens clothing comfortable and stylish, all with a reasonable
    price. I really hope they take that down! It’s crazy what they will do to make money!! You show have people sign a petition!

  8. Emma Folck says:

    Bro who would do that it makes me so sad to see people this selfish and disrespectful in the world😭😭😭

  9. Lauren says:

    I hate seeing these big wigs push down small businesses! You don’t deserve that, and yet they keep on doing it. I found another dupe of the pirouette skort on SHEIN today 😭 European And American Women’s High Waist Tie Pleated Pocket Solid Color Mini Skirt, Spring/Summer
    I discovered amazing products on SHEIN.com, come check them out!
    http://api-shein.shein.com/h5/sharejump/appjump?link=lifRx5tj93R_8&localcountry=US&url_from=GM74291724638

  10. Sly says:

    I won’t shop at Companies that have zero Integrity! I shop at Nordstrom’s regularly, but after reading this’ count me out! I pray you get justice!

  11. Sarah says:

    I’m gonna stop shoppping from them until they learn their lesson 🤦‍♀️

  12. Sunflower Snowball says:

    a well written message

  13. Claire says:

    This is crazy! They’re still shown on the website, but they say not in stock! How could they sue you for telling them to stop infringing your patent? Big corporations seem to think that they can push around smaller businesses, but they’ve never met Cassey.🩷👍

  14. Eve🩷 (from Hungary&Spain) says:

    I’m really sorry for this situacion, i reporter all these copyators in all My Devices for scamming and copying, i wish one Day, YOU the designer of blogilates woud read this, and all you Need to know is im a Big fan and i really want to support you, btw i know it was a while ago, but Happy Birthday, i still didnt order any of your designs, but just bc i have enough clothes, now I’m planning a closet-recheck and I’m gonna order some clothes from your vebsite, byeeee🩷🩷🩷🩷

  15. Lynn says:

    That is insane how can you steal someone else’s design call it you own and live with that’s then try to sue them for their own design??? That is mind boggling for me. Thats sad that people will go this far for money when they could ask to work together it really isn’t that hard.

  16. Maddie Beth says:

    Don’t listen to what other people say, this is your life’s work! You have wanted this for years and worked so hard to get where you are. I’m rooting for you. Don’t give up keep on fighting for what’s right. Hopefully they realize their wrong doing and ask for forgiveness. Praying for you!✨🌸🩷

  17. Ava Davis says:

    Cassey, I hope you win this battle, you deserve it so much and it is horrible that big shops like Nordstrom think they can step all over you! I love you designs, I am saving up to finally buy my first outfit from you and I have been following you for a long time! Don’t stop what you are doing and fight back!😘

  18. Vampla says:

    I support you girl!

  19. Ivy says:

    It’s sad that these large companies are using there power to steal designs

  20. Beth says:

    Cassey, people are dying. Be outraged about things that matter. Thanx 🫶

    1. Entropy says:

      both things are allowed to be true, Beth🤙

      1. Lynn says:

        She is allowed to have her own feelings. So why are you going to get at her for this i would be upset too if this happened to me .As the saying goes put your self in someone else’s 🤩

        1. Lovely says:

          Y’all I almost died about a month ago in a shooting, but just because one terrible thing has happened, it doesn’t mean that something like stealing others ideas and personal creations isn’t ok. Just imagine if you were in cassy’s shoes, you’ve worked so hard on this company and small business, and than a large corporation tries to shut you up. Like be a fudgin’ woman and support.

          Ok what I was really trying to say is that; through everything, women stick together. no negetivity, just gentle suggestions

    2. Ash says:

      Yea no, this is super important and an entirely different matter so don’t compare the two. Multiple things can happen in this big world and can all be important and noteworthy, people dying doesnt mean that everything else is automatically not important and it doesnt mean that its unreasonable to be upset about other things, her outrage and her being upset are incredibly valid but your attitude is not.

    3. Emmy says:

      Beth, can you specify where? And who? And what Cassey can do specifically to help those people? Thanx 🫶

  21. Karla Kershaw says:

    Babe! You are absolutely the first one to ever make this design and we are behind you! I went to Nordstroms website to see if they took it down and I don’t see it anymore. I wonder how many other designers did they rip off trying to stay relevant? I used to shop their website often 10 years ago but definitely slowed down because I just wasn’t seeing what I wanted and now I have a reason not to go to their website at all!
    When I stumbled upon your gorgeous weights in target nearly 5 years ago, I’ve been a super fan ever since. Your designs are chef’s kiss. Pllease don’t be discouraged. We are proud of you.

  22. Amy says:

    You are the best! I always see you stuff and I‘m like… How does she solve my problems ALL AT ONCE?!

  23. Skyler says:

    That’s so so unfair!! I hate this for you. Sharing to my family gc. They can’t do this!! However,
    I would love to work with you. Two small businesses can make a big difference.

  24. Jackie says:

    Im so sorry this is happening to you. You will beat them! I have faith

  25. Nattie says:

    Hi I’m Natalie and I’m in 7th grade…how can I help lol! Lots of Love ❤️

  26. 🫀 says:

    I will no longer shop there and I will spread the word. I’m getting more and more disgusted every day by all the shady things businesses do.

  27. Anna says:

    Keep going. You worked hard on your design and getting a patent to protect it!

  28. Beng Pauls says:

    About time someone go against this giant corporation. Shame on them!!!

  29. J.j. Molstad says:

    I wanted to see the product and went to their website. Couldn’t find it. I did a google search and found the item that way. It says they are “sold out.” What I would like to believe is that they are getting the message.

  30. Ellie says:

    Ugh–that is so messed up!! I’m glad you’re not letting them push you around, Cassey! Hopefully, Nordstrom chooses to act ethically and work with you!

  31. ❤️ says:

    This is so bad!! 😢 They’re the problem not Cassey!!!