Hong Kong way of life retailer accuses competition of copying design of his store - South China Morning submit

The owner of a Hong Kong lifestyle shop has accused garb retailer Bauhaus of copying the interior design of its Wan Chai store and incorporating it in its new Causeway Bay outlet.

Arnault Castel changed into livid when a staff member of his Kapok save confirmed him a fb publish via the Hysan region looking mall at Lee Gardens promotion Bauhaus' new shop.

In a posting on his facebook web page, Castel noted: "The quantity of what was copied is quite surprising." He highlighted the shelves, island, sun shades monitor and product description plates as examples of gadgets the essential apparel retailer apparently copied.

"i used to be in reality shocked. in case you [didn't] recognize, you could suppose it was an image of our save."

Castel worked with a local architect when he designed his keep in sun street. He contacted the architect and requested if he became privy to the Bauhaus keep and even if he had consulted the company. The architect stated he "changed into now not involved" with Bauhaus.

Bauhaus is conventional for its industrial style apparel and line of denim products and is increasing into different areas, similar to way of life, adding to its list of 70 retail outlets in Hong Kong and Macau.

In a written reply, a spokeswoman for Bauhaus mentioned it "normally used the equal vogue of thought for each save. For the Hysan one, we simply take references [from] diverse nations and add some new theory in part of the shop. So the design and decoration of Hysan is as average as commonplace".

Bauhaus declined to handle Castel's facebook submit.

I cannot have in mind how individuals come to a decision to do that and feel it's okay

Arnault Castel, Kapok proprietor

Supporters of Kapok lashed out at Bauhaus on the Hysan place fb submit for allegedly stealing the shop design, which had got usually "irritated" likes. One poster stated: "With this variety of direct plagiarism, you are making yourself appear dangerous. No admire for Bauhaus and that i won't be buying from them again."

Castel talked about he turned into now not indignant from now on however "sad about the complete lack of creativity and ambition" with the aid of Bauhaus. "I can't understand how individuals decide to do that and suppose it's ok."

He talked about he changed into already relocating on to new designs for his shops however wanted to demonstrate individuals "it's no longer right" what Bauhaus had performed, chiefly within the tough retail environment Hong Kong was facing.

this text regarded in the South China Morning submit print version as:

New store stole our seem to be, way of life shop owner claims