When I saw a notification pop-up from Instagram Monday afternoon, I didn't think much of it. Then there was another, and another. I opened the app and was shocked to see The TaTa Top being tagged in the comments of a Kylie Jenner post, and when I saw the photo I couldn't believe my eyes: She was in a bikini top with nipples on it — just like ours. Only, it wasn't our classic Light Tone top, which has been around since our company was founded in 2014. The top Jenner was wearing was instead a $150 knock-off from renown designer Jean Paul Gaultier. For reference, our top is $34.99, and $3 from each top sold is donated to our charity parters at Keep A Breast Foundation or the Chicago Women's Health Center (customer's choice!). Since 2014, we've donated over $46,000 from our small business, and since 2018 I have not paid myself a penny from the business. And, being a queer-owned company, OF COURSE they chose Pride Month to reveal this spectacular rip-off.
Ironically, in 2018, Jean Paul Gaultier criticized Kylie's own sister Kim Kardashian for allegedly ripping off a JPG perfume bottle design. Of course Kylie herself has become notorious for supposedly stealing ideas throughout her career — most recently being called out for striking similarities to Trixie Mattel's lipstick line. Rich people, am I right? LMAO
In case you didn't see it, here are the KJ and JPG posts:
And here is our top...
Is this any surprise? Well, like I said, YES. MAJORLY. You do kind of expect this sort of thing to a degree — with great ideas come knock-offs (that's why we worked so hard to patent our design back in 2014). But when someone with such a massive audience and name recognition rips-off the small guy (or gal in this case), it's hard to not feel defeated.
But then we remember:
- Our tops are inclusive, coming in 3 different "skin tones"
- Our customers are the fucking BEST on the planet
- Our top is AFFORDABLE to the regular people of the world
- We DONATE TO CHARITY and that makes a real difference to our partners
- We're ORIGINAL and CREATIVE
- We're a SMALL BUSINESS — our "profits" (which are few...) actually go back into the local economy
- OUR TOPS ARE BUTTERY SMOOTH
- Did we mention OUR DESIGN IS PATENTED?
So! If you'd like to look like Kylie, but at an affordable price, while also supporting an original idea and giving back to charity, check out The TaTa Top.
Our advice to KJ and JPG is, in the words of Kylie's famous sis: "Get your fucking ass up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days." LMAO
SHOP NOW: https://www.thetatatop.com/collections/shop-all