Chapter 1 3 5
In the exhibition hall, the audience’s emotions could not be suppressed.
“We need a reasonable explanation!” someone shouted.
“Yes! Why is the costume from Starlight Design Studio the same as Dream Design Studio?” another questioned.
“I can’t believe plagiarism happened in an international competition. Disgusting!” someone else remarked.
“I think it’s Starlight Design Studio that plagiarized. Didn’t Stephanie’s work look a lot like Star’s?” someone said.
“Right, Stephanie needs to explain! Starlight Design Studio needs to explain!” the other said.
“Star, we need your explanation, too. Did you sell your rough sketches to Stephanie? Did her fiancé pay you off to make you step back from the scene?” they questioned.
All kinds of questions and accusations grew louder and more intense.
The four judges turned to Stephanie, who calmly said, “Let’s wait until all the models from Starlight Design Studio have finished their showcases.”
Amidst the clamor and insults, the models from Starlight Design Studio finished their presentation.
The host looked uncomfortable. He had hosted many fashion competitions and encountered plagiarism before, but it was usually just some similarities, never an exact copy. It was outrageous.
It was clear to him that the audiences were accusing Starlight Design Studio.
He asked, “What do the five judges think about this?”
Stephanie spoke into the microphone. “Let’sinvite the person in charge and designers from both design studios to the stage.”
Soon, Julianna, Lisa, Flora, and Alicia stepped onto the stage.
Many of the audience grew angrier when they didn’t see Stephanie. They believed that her absence confirmed the plagiarism as if she were too guilty to show up.
The host said, “Since the works from both design studios are identical, one must have plagiarized. I never expected such an issue at an international competition. This has turned into a plagiarism investigation. I want to ask the person in charge and designers from both studios, what was your design inspiration?
Julianna took the microphone. “Our design was inspired by the dress from the movie “Dark War. For this competition, we incorporated classical and dress elements, which gave off a soft, beautiful feeling. The rough sketches were created by Stephanie, our S-class designer, from Starlight Design Studio After she drew the initial drafts, we made revisions together. Following a full team meeting, we were all satisfied with the sketches, so we finalized them and began the detailed work of producing the garments. We are the original creators, and we did not plagiarize. The reason why Stephie isn’t on stage is because she’s busy”
After Julianna had finished her speech, the audience remained unswayed, and their grumbling continued.
The host turned to Lisa. “Can you tell us about the inspiration and concept behind Dream Design Studio’s designs?”
Lisa smiled. “Our designer for this round is my colleague here, Flora. I’ll let her do the explanation.”
Flora looked at the audience and the lights, momentarily lost in the adulation. She loved being the center of attention.
Therefore, she reminded herself she had to appear flawless, convincing herself that she was the original creator.
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Taking the microphone, she said, “Hello, everyone. I’m Flora, the designer from Dream Design Studio. My inspiration came from my mother, a graceful. woman. She loved wearing dresses, but sadly, she passed away this year. To honor her memory, I incorporated the dress elements into my designs for
this competition,”
The audience, feeling her emotional story, began to calm down, finding her explanation more acceptable.
The stage had always been Alicia’s dream, and she was greedy for such a feeling
She knew her talent alone wouldn’t have brought her there, so when Ivy found her, her dormant ambition reignited. That was her chance to reclaim her status as a designer, so she contacted Flora
Not only did she ear a hefty sum of 200 thousand dollars, but she also had that opportunity.
Throughout the production process, she had come to regard those designs as her own creations, firmly believing they were co-designed by her and
Flora
There was no doubt!
Holding the rough sketches, Alicia appeared quite emotional and burst into tears. “I can’t believe this is happening. Flora and I worked tirelessly on these designs, and seeing them plagiarized is an insult to our hard work.”
But Julianna interjected, “This is laughable. Have you forgotten the past, or do you think the internet has no memory? Everyone remembers what happened at the product launch back in our country. Alicia was the design director of Fantasy Boutique at that time, and she knew Florence’s capabilities well. She’s just turning a blind eye now. She made a bold bet and ended up getting humiliated!”
Alicia loathed Julianna for mentioning that on the most important day of her life.
But she couldn’t afford to show her anger. She sobbed, “I understand many kept the impression of me at the product launch. In fact, I was implicated because I trusted Florence too much. I wasn’t involved in the design of those rough sketches. I know how it feels to have your work stolen, and my team and I would never do such a thing. We have proof.”
Stephanie then asked, “What evidence do you have? Please present it.”
“We applied for design protection from the Fashion Designer Association,” Alicia said.
She had contacted the Fashion Designer Association and went through to Newton.
When Newton heard that Alicia wanted to see the proof of the design protection, Newton was a little worried, knowing that Stephanie hadn’t applied for
such protection.
Such a move was sure to bring heavy y criticism to Stephanie and Starlight Design Studio.
But he couldn’t show favoritism and had to make the protection proof public.
Newton said, “Dream Design 5
entries.”
Studio indeed applied for design protection. The sketches are on file with our association, and our staff found no duplicate
Alicia looked at Julianna. “What does your design studio have to say? Shouldn’t you give the public an explanation? Where is Stephanie? Why is she hiding and not facing us? Is she feeling guilty? Stephanie is a habitual plagiarist! Her sketches look a lot like Star’s! Star, you are my idol. Were you threatened by Stephanie’s fiancé, Vincent? Did they kick you out of Starlight Design Studio? Can you give the public a real explanation today!”
Alicia’s emotions were running high as if the one who had plagiarized was Stephanie.
The audience, stirred by her fervor, began to chant in unison, “Stephanie, come out! Stephanie, come out!”
Meanwhile, the judges remained remarkably calm.
Dressed in a white gown and wearing a feathered mask, Star slowly stood up. With a graceful movement, she removed her mask.