apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Sorry but Its not like DWR at all, because these are all unlicensed knock offs made in China

Oh My God, just when I thought maybe the whole knock-off controversy was over....now we have this. Let the games begin.

"Let Kinetic bring Asia to you!...
...This is achieved through our Guangzhou, China office..."

Great - Another resource for cheap Chinese knockoffs.

Cheap is not exactly the word that I would use; there are certainly cheaper places. We got our Knoll-a-like living room set there and are very pleased with the quality. Saving something like 15k has a way of making one overlook where it was made.

Blah Blah Blah, same old thing. If you don't have the money, buy off Craigslist. Don't try to make believe you have good taste. Let's try to move forward , not backward.

@lemoyne --

When you, a member of your family or a close friend is laid off of a job or unable to get a good paying job because someone overseas is willing to do the same job for less money and fewer benefits, please come back here and tell us how wonderful it is that we all can now get whatever goods or services it was that you or yours produced for less money.

Perhaps the sanctimonious bepsf would like to explain to us, just where the laptop was made that they used to tap-out that sermonette. Of course, one might have bought a Dell, but open it up buddy and it says Taiwan all over.

I thought people want to live in 'one world'...isn't that the cool way to think?
Then why do those same people want to be isolationists and not participate in a global marketplace?

Some people loose jobs, some places make cheaper things, we have to deal with it, it's life in the modern world.

lemoyne--

Please help me find a commercially-available Computer, TV or MP3 player that's assembled in North America with North American components - and I'll gladly put my money where my mouth is.

However, when one has an actual choice between purchasing a domestically-made product or a product imported from China, India, Pakistan or any number of other places in SE Asia, and you choose the imported product simply because it's cheaper - You're helping putting people here in our country out of work.

Looking around and start noticing the cutbacks in police and fire protection, road and infrastructure maintenance, public schools, etc. due to a diminishment of tax revenue (taxes come from jobs and working people's salaries, you know) - and you'll see that the US has been importing poverty and exporting jobs for the sake of cheap imported goods.

"One World" would be great if the economic reality was such that everyone around the world was paid equally for equal work and the environmental and workplace protections were equal as well - However when a country allows their workers to be paid under $100/month for 60-hour work-weeks with no benefits, no workplace protections, and no environmental protections - When our country is trillions of dollars in debt to the country that is the largest exporter of cheap goods on the planet with one of the most abusive environmental and human rights records - No, it's not cool.

No lab director, we don't have to deal with it. We can make a change by shunning cheap imported goods when the choice is available - and making do with fewer but better quality items (as the European's and Japanese do) or even doing without. On the other hand, if we all take your attitude and continue down the path of apathy, "More Cheap Stuff" and "Me First", then when your kids and their kids are living in 3rd World conditions in a country that's economically devastated due to the export of jobs in favor of cheap labor and cheap goods - you will always be able to look back fondly and recall the days when you enjoyed plentiful cheap furniture, electronics and clothing from China, because you and your children will no longer have the incomes to afford even that.

I admit that I do not entirely disagree with you bepsf. At any rate, I am not the most qualified to have this argument, as being Canadian, I cannot claim that the sofa I purchased, or the like, is made by any domestic fabricator. Surely you would not argue that I have to purchase a sofa from what must be the tiny hand full of niche Canadian manufacturers. Nor, I hope would you argue that I make all my purchases via countries of whose human rights record I approve. If that were the case, you might find that many Canadians, and others, would never buy and American made good again.

Nothing is ever so cut and dried as I think you have made it sound. The taxes from the sale of my sofas have gone to my federal and provincial governments (approximately 13% in sales taxes) to support services and our common welfare, and I have put money in the pocket of my domestic importer and their employees who in turn earn a living and pay income tax. Not all is lost in my equation.

...What did I tell ya...

I have no issues with reproductions, but NEVER has Apartment Therapy given such a light to a reproduction shop with NO original designs. Not good, but whatcha gonna do

@bepsf: thanks for the wake up call. you've analyzed me to the T. really impressive.

Why does it matter where something is made? If the quality & price are good, why discriminate? The days of the negative stigma attached to China manufacturing are OVER! Get with it!

I understand the people that only buy originals and lift their noses at reproductions. However those who can afford to buy originals and are able to differentiate between the two are few and far between. For everyone else, reproductions are a godsend. Get the look (and often superior comfort) for a fraction of the cost. THAT's recession-smart :-)

While I admit that many reproduction are of poor quality and workmanship, I have NEVER had a problem with Kinetic's products. They are not always the least expensive but their attention to detail is unmatched.

Check them out, their new showroom is looking better and better.

I have been burnt 2 times with funny looking stuff that doesn't last from Kinetic. I am not totally against reproductions as long as they are true to the design and built well which these pieces are not. I own a a couple of items each that I have bought from the likes of Modernica which unfortunately now closed here in Chi town or Pink & Brown another Canadian importer with great stuff and solid quality. Both of these companies have proven to have great products. If I could afford Design "not really" within reach I would consider it!