Cape Town designer Anna Rosholt has found herself in a contentious dispute with the well-known retailer Poetry, who has been accused of replicating her jewellery designs not once, but twice.
Rosholt, the creative force behind the Baobab Hoop Charm, claims that her original designs have been compromised by a brand that espouses support for local artisans.
Rosholt launched the Baobab Hoop Charm in 2023, a piece deeply inspired by the natural colours and forms surrounding her. Designed to honour organic materials and promote the philosophies of slow jewellery craft, the charm was a reflection of her artistic vision.
However, concerns arose when one of her clients alerted her to identical pieces spotted in Poetry stores. ‘The proportions, the placement, the colour palette everything matched,’ Rosholt noted, underscoring her astonishment.
Upon reaching out to Poetry, Rosholt spoke with Simone, a legal representative at the brand, who acknowledged the troubling situation. ‘It had been a mistake,’ she stated, explaining that an interim buyer made the decision in the absence of a maternity-leave colleague.
Rosholt granted Poetry leniency, allowing the issue to settle without public unrest as the replicas were promptly removed from shelves. ‘We let it go,’ she said, hoping it was an unfortunate oversight.
However, the relief was short-lived. Just three months later, to her disbelief, another client contacted Rosholt to inform her that the same charm designs had reappeared at Poetry.
The message came with a photograph showcasing not one but three additional charms: the Bushbaby Stack Charm, the Juicy Gem (Rhodolite Garnet) Charm, and the Tiny Bee Charm.
‘We know that bees and gemstones are widely used in jewellery. We don’t believe we own these themes. But this wasn’t just a theme. This was a copy,’ Rosholt expressed, indignantly pointing out how closely the details matched her own creations, from proportions to colour specificity.
Determined to stand up for herself and other local businesses, Rosholt recognised the need for transparency, stating, ‘When it happened the first time, we handled it privately, respectfully, and directly. But silence wouldn’t protect our work.’
She decided it was time to share her plight with the public, putting a spotlight on the vulnerability of small designers and the importance of protecting original work.
In an official response, Poetry expressed their deep regret, reaffirming their mission to celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship of the local design community.
They acknowledged the error, admitting to a breakdown in internal processes that led to the reintroduction of Rosholt’s designs into their stores.
‘As soon as this was brought to our attention in January, we took immediate steps… regrettably, due to a breakdown in our internal processes, one of the previously cancelled orders was mistakenly reintroduced to stores,’ Poetry stated, emphasising accountability and their commitment to rectifying such issues.
They are now reviewing their internal systems to ensure respect for originality in a marketplace often overshadowed by larger entities.
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Picture: Anna Rosholt
