One thing that I’ve been racking my brain about lately is the phenomenon that is Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa is a streetwear brand based out of Philadelphia, PA. The brand launched in 2020 and has taken the internet by storm since. It’s most notable for its iconic “Fun Day” beanie, which retails for $72 on the official Mea Culpa website.
As we are now in the winter months, I can say I see a couple of Mea Culpa beanies a week, whether real or fake. The kind of clout this brand possesses is truly interesting to me. It’s not every day you produce a product that almost everyone wants, even the celebrities. This beanie has been seen on James Harden, the Kardashians, and Lala Anthony, who even had a collab line with them. Over the past 3 years, I’ve seen these beanies go from just a trendy item to being one of the most sought-after articles in streetwear. The design features the brand’s name in a funky script that sits on the front side of the beanie, which comes in multiple colorways.
Now let’s discuss why we’re really here. There has been a wave of fakes like I’ve never seen before. From Amazon, AliExpress, and even TikTok Shop, you can find poorly made replicas for as little as $1.99. What is it about the Mea Culpa beanie design that has the internet in a frenzy? I guess the brand constantly selling out gave manufacturers the go-ahead to take their own piece of the pie. Honestly, that is what you call influence, but I do have a question. Does replication at this scale devalue the actual product? “Stop copying Mea Culpa, you’re not even doing it right” - a banner that goes through their website. It's unfortunate that they have to do this as it's become a huge issue. This should be a case study of how large corporations and individual sellers rip off small brands and profit from their designs.
Something also needs to be said about design biting. I’ve seen many brands try to pull off a similar design with their beanies. These brands don’t change much and end up with a product that honestly resembles the “Fun Day” beanie. It’s almost like there's a lack of creativity these days. Taking inspiration is one thing but copying an entire design is mad.
This stresses the importance of designers/ brands trademarking their designs especially when it reaches a certain level of success. Not to say it will completely prevent these things from happening, but it is a preventative measure that comes with repercussions.
Mea Culpa has stamped itself as part of a new generation of streetwear brands. This beanie design has given them such leverage in this space that they need to keep their foot on the gas. I’m interested to see how Mea Culpa matures and continues as a fashion brand.
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