By Paul Pannone
eWedNewz coverage of a fight against Chinese websites has taken an unforeseen twist, possibly hampering efforts and causing further confusion in a very difficult situation. So far Steve Lang of Mon Cheri has taken a leadership role to fight pirating by the Chinese and received pledges from major manufacturers resulting from pleas for help in the fight. Lang has already collected tens of thousands of dollars and met with key sources in shipping and politics, laying out a succinct plan supported by many wedding industry sources. Still the fight ahead of the group is not an easy task.
“I wonder how much attention this can really get when you hear about problems like counterfeit drugs infiltrating our society. Who really cares about fake wedding dresses bought by greedy little spoiled brides?” said sources within the wedding dress business. Regardless of what they personally think these skeptical sources say they support Lang and wish him well.
In what’s turning into a political cat and mouse game, Larry Warshaw says Steve Lang is a loose cannon.
eWedNewz has learned of a relative unknown in the wedding dress business compared to Lang named Larry Warshaw. Warshaw of Justin Alexander dresses has badgered Lang and his efforts in meaningless attacks over the past few weeks, splintering off on his own covert actions. eWedNewz watched Lang reach out to all members of the wedding community including Warshaw only to be criticized and even attacked over the weekend.
According to Warshaw he’s been in contact with sources he feels can help stop some of the piracy and now claims Lang’s efforts are jeopardizing his efforts. In communications with Warshaw he rejects the open approach by Lang to inform and update supporting contributors of the campaign calling Lang a loose cannon.
In an email to Lang Warshaw says:
Hi Steve,
Exactly what I asked you not to do. We have people walking into these places. The White Knight Strikes again. You are damaging the efforts and research we are doing overseas. Honesty, you are a loose cannon.
If anyone on my team walking in and doing research gets hurt because of the random alerts you send to factories and subcontractors you will be held personally responsible. Why don’t you walk in yourself on your next visits, and do the dirty hard work.
You react, with callous disregard for people trying to service the industry, and help all of us. Perhaps your litigators should contact me. They need to be put on notice.
Larry
When eWedNewz Twittered about the exchange supporters of Lang were stunned and wondered how anyone could oppose the hard work he’s doing.
Khalilah Olokunola responded to the attack saying, ”How arrogant and narrow minded of this guy to make an entire industry about him and his staff…Doesn’t he understand Steve is frying larger fish to unify the industry and create accountability among vendors. If there is danger …he just quadrupled it by putting everyone on panic mode with his “If something happens” – I know for a fact Steve is on top of things and sincerely cares about the industry and is willing to help those apart of it!! I sent him an email last week and he responded immediately and connected me ….Thank You Steve ….”
Overwhelming support of Lang’s efforts are heard in every Social Media channel, as major manufacturers pony up hard dollars to back him up, while Warshaw and the IBMA board continue on their own agenda.
No one disagrees Lang’s lust for the spotlight but also, no one can contest his knack for doing business and success.
Wedding analyst, Christine Boulton, said, “ Steve, you tend to ruffle the feathers of those that would rather maintain the status quo so they have something to whine about. In other words, you take action and get things done. BRAVO.
Has this person been open about what ever it is you are “damaging his efforts and research” on? Because, frankly I see what your plan is but I am clueless on his.”
In response to Warshaw’s inflammatory remarks Bob Cahoon of Maggie Sottero urged harmony and the hope of all sides working together:
Larry,
With all due respect, I’ve been emphasizing and re-emphasizing this issue with our factories and their responsibility in this regard for three and a half years. We’ve had to take very decisive action on account of failure on the part of a factory to adequately protect and police our IP internally and externally. We can’t afford to diminish our efforts in this regard in any way….they are responsible (and accountable) to ensure that our designs and our products (and potentially yours, Steve’s or any other legitimate manufacturers’) are protected. The more they do their due diligence to ensure that their sub-factories aren’t compromising our IP and shipping things out the back door, the better we all are.
I very much appreciate your zeal, your passion and your efforts on this issue. I likewise very much appreciate Steve’s efforts and trust that all parties that have come together to wage this battle (here and abroad) will work cooperatively and respectfully.
Unless I’m missing something in the translation, the tone of this and some previous emails don’t build my confidence, particularly when it’s broadcast to such a large distribution list. We’ve got plenty to tackle and have to work it around the globe collaboratively, cooperatively and constructively.
Thanks and kudos for what you’re doing.
All the best,
Bob Cahoon
Maggie Sottero
The call to work together in a more unified way is heard from other sources in the dress business. eWedNewz continues our coverage and welcomes your thoughts.
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