I used to be a fashion designer in the garment industry.
Corporate would go to the haute couture fashion shows, make a purchase, bring back a garment and tell us to "knock it off". It was not only legal, but a huge part of their business.
  When it comes to fashion, there is very little that has not been done before. The originality comes from how the model "looks" in it, the accessories and composition of the image as artists that we create.
   I am not justifying or condoning this. I am simply pointing out how the fashion industry works and the legality of it that I have seen.
cheerio
lululee