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Abhishek Dutta has recently opened 'Monopoly', a designer store. And that is where the discontent lies...it apparently sounds very similar to Monopali's brand name!
Ace designers Mona Lamba and Pali Sachdev, of 'Monapali', have accused designer Abhishek Dutta of not just stealing their brand name but also the idea behind doing the interiors of his store.
Names do matter, we can't really go saying "what's in a name"; atleast, so it seems if one were to refer to the recent name-game being played by city designers Monapali and Abhishek Dutta. Well, the duo feels the name sounds very similar to their brand name.
Talking about the issue to Mona Lamba, she says, "It is truly distressing to hear about a store named 'Monopoly' that sounds so much like Monapali. Since 1987, we are registered as Monapali. The theme of our store is an ode to Kolkata, and that made us use an ancient touch in the interiors. We have wrought iron furniture, broken tiles, old hand-held fan, wooden flooring etc. All of these help in recreating the old-world charm of this city. I’m told Abhishek has done similar interiors in his store."
She further adds, "What is more annoying is that we've been flooded with calls from clients and buyers congratulating on our new store and some asking if we have opened a new store! Well, Abhishek is a good talented designer and doesn't need to lean on others' shoulders to cash-in on the brand name. He surely could have sensibly thought of a different name, there are thousands and more prospective names in the multi designer store list. Monapali is our tagline and hence we are the designers of the store. We coming up with such name made sense. On the contrary, Monopoly for a multi-designer store it completely off-track and doesn’t make sense!"
"Since the day we launched our store and also our tagline, we say to our customers its Monapali's monopoly,” says the designer who is all set to showcase their stuff in the second day of Gitanjali Lifestyle Chennai International Fashion Week.
Speaking about the confusion, Abhishek says, "Yes, I received a call from the designer duo, accusing me for stealing their brand name. The theme might be similar, since I have captured the old-world charm of Kolkata, I thought of this name. I got the name form erstwhile East India Company, 'Monopoly'. Since this is a multi-designer store so, the concept is entirely different. The similarity with 'Monapali' never struck me. I also had no intentions of hurting the sentiments of such senior designers."
He also says, "I have high regards for them since they were part of the jury at my designing college where I won, 'Most Creative Designer' award. I wanted to clarify many things but then can't help it more if things have to be as they are. I don't think it should bother them."
He signs off saying, "My brand is established now. There are three more stores coming up lined for this September."
So, what's in a name, do we say again?
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