Privilege wears designer sunglasses and steals dreams with a smile. In LA’s cut-throat fashion scene, I watched my designs get ripped off by Miguel Rivera, a man who’s never heard the word “no” in his life. He wears his entitlement like a badge, charming his way into every opportunity, taking without hesitation, and spinning my originality into his own.
They say success is the best revenge, but they don’t tell you how many knives you’ll pull from your back on the way up. This isn’t just another story about making it in fashion; it’s about the gritty reality of facing off with old money as it tries to snatch new vision. Because sometimes, the only way to see the truth is through frames you designed yourself.
The price tag on my sunglasses is high, sure. But the cost of letting someone steal your dreams? That’s something Miguel learned, painfully, in the end.
Source : https://www.instagram.com/spektresunglasses/
The Dream in the Shadows
Dreams start in funny places. Mine began in a worn velvet box filled with vintage sunglasses, each pair telling stories of who I could become.
The Mother’s Collection
I remember the first time I slipped on Mom’s cat-eye frames, watching the world turn amber through their tinted lenses. The cramped apartment suddenly felt like a scene from an old Hollywood movie.
Mom had this amazing collection of vintage sunglasses stored in a worn velvet box under her bed. Each pair told a different story.
The oversized Jackie O’s made me feel like royalty, while the round John Lennon-style ones transformed me into a peace-loving hippie. “These aren’t just accessories, Lia,” Mom would say, adjusting the frames on my tiny face. Every time I tried on a new pair, I wasn’t just seeing things differently – I was becoming someone new.
Strapped for Style
“Get me those samples NOW!” Jessica’s voice crackled through my phone for the fifth time today. Being a stylist’s assistant meant running around LA like a headless chicken.
The pay was decent, but my soul was dying a little each time I had to arrange someone else’s vision. During lunch breaks, I’d watch people walking down Rodeo Drive, sporting the same cookie-cutter designer shades.
Where’s the creativity? The uniqueness? My fingers itched to sketch something different, something bold.
Here I was, stuck in the hamster wheel of someone else’s fashion empire. My own dreams were gathering dust in the corner of my mind.
Sketches and Secrets
At 2 AM, my tiny studio apartment becomes my sanctuary. The city lights peek through my window as I spread my sketches across the floor.
Each design flows from my pencil like water – cat-eye frames with metallic inlays, oversized squares with hand-painted edges, vintage-inspired pieces with modern twists. My fingers are stained with graphite, but I can’t stop.
These aren’t just sunglasses; they’re pieces of my soul transferred onto paper. Nobody knows about these late-night sessions except my sketchbook and the half-empty coffee mug beside me.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m crazy, pursuing this dream while everyone else is sleeping.
Source : https://www.instagram.com/spektresunglasses/
Enter Kai: The Loyal Confidante
“Girl, these are fire!” Kai exclaims, flipping through my sketchbook during our weekly coffee meet-up. His eyes sparkle with genuine excitement behind his thrifted frames.
As a sustainable fashion designer, Kai gets it – the passion, the drive, the fear. “But you know this industry’s gonna eat you alive if you’re not ready,” he warns, stirring his oat milk latte.
There’s something different in his voice today – not just warning, but encouragement. “Maybe it’s time to stop hiding,” he suggests, and for once, I don’t immediately dismiss the idea.
His own battle with fast fashion copycats is still fresh, but he hasn’t lost his spark.
Exposure and Exploitation
Success tastes sweet until someone tries to steal it from your mouth. I learned that lesson the hard way at LA’s Sunset Market, where my dreams caught the wrong person’s eye.
Launch at Sunset Market
The evening sun cast long shadows across my booth at the LA Sunset Market. My hands trembled as I arranged the display of handcrafted sunglasses.
The first customer approached, trying on a pair of my pearl-inlaid frames. Her face lit up as she caught her reflection, and my heart soared.
By sunset, a small crowd had gathered around my booth. Their excitement felt electric, validating months of late-night work sessions.
A fashion blogger snapped photos while wearing my signature butterfly frames. “These are absolutely incredible,” she gushed, sharing my Instagram handle with her followers.
The Charm of Miguel
Miguel Rivera swept into my booth like a summer storm, all designer suits and practiced charm. His reputation as LA’s sunglasses king preceded him.
“Such unique designs, darling,” he purred, examining my display with manicured hands. Something in his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
He handed me his business card, promising collaboration opportunities. The gold-embossed lettering felt heavy in my palm.
The Social Media Trap
The Instagram notification made my heart stop. There, on Miguel’s page, was my butterfly design concept, slightly modified but unmistakably mine.
His caption read “Sneak peek of our upcoming collection #Inspired.” The post already had thousands of likes.
My phone buzzed with messages from Kai and other friends who recognized my work. Their outrage matched the sick feeling in my stomach.
Olivia’s Influence
Olivia Chen, with her million followers, walked into my studio like a ray of hope. Her genuine interest in my story felt like a lifeline.
She tried on every piece, asking about my inspiration and process. The next day, her Instagram story featuring my designs crashed my website.
“This is just the beginning,” she said, adjusting my latest creation in front of her camera. Her support felt like armor against Miguel’s shadows.
The Weight of Entitlement
The fashion industry runs on unwritten rules about who gets to create and who gets to take. I wasn’t born into privilege, but I sure got a crash course in how it works against you.
Success at a Price
Orders flooded my inbox, but each celebration felt hollow with Miguel’s shadow looming. His “inspired” pieces were everywhere.
The fashion blogs couldn’t get enough of his collection, praising his “innovative take” on designs that came from my sketchbook. My stomach churned every time I saw them.
I stayed up late filling orders, torn between pride in my growing success and rage at his theft. The weight of it all pressed down like a physical thing.
Mira, the Mentor
“You’ve got fire, kid, but you need teeth,” Mira declared, her silver hair gleaming under the studio lights. The legendary designer had reached out after seeing my work at a local showcase.
She pulled out contracts from her previous legal battles, spreading them across my workbench. “The industry respects strength, not talent alone.”
Her lessons came between cups of strong coffee and stronger words of wisdom. “Document everything,” she insisted, her eyes fierce with protective determination.
Miguel’s Ruthless Claim
The magazine spread hit like a punch to the gut. Miguel posed with my designs, claiming them as his “breakthrough collection.”
Legal letters started arriving at my studio, demanding I cease production of “his” designs. The irony felt like acid in my throat.
My social media filled with confused customers asking about the “original” designer. Each message felt like another crack in my foundation.
Kai’s Rally
Kai burst into my studio, laptop open to a draft of his Instagram expose. “We’re not letting him get away with this,” he declared, already typing.
Other designers started sharing their own Miguel stories, a dam of silence finally breaking. The hashtag #StandWithLia started trending in LA’s fashion circles.
Olivia joined the campaign, her influence drawing mainstream attention to Miguel’s pattern of theft. The tide was finally turning.
Clarity Through the Lens
They say karma comes for everyone eventually. In my case, it arrived wearing a pair of butterfly frames that I designed, carrying proof of every sketch Miguel stole.
Battle in the Spotlight
The Fashion Week event buzzed with anticipation as I approached the microphone. My original sketches projected behind me told their own story.
Miguel’s face turned ashen as I presented proof after proof, date-stamped designs, and witness testimonies. The room fell silent.
Cameras flashed as I held up my original butterfly frames next to his copy. The evidence was undeniable.
Truth and Triumph
Major retailers began pulling Miguel’s collection, reaching out to me instead. Justice felt sweet and terrifying all at once.
Collaboration offers poured in from designers I’d admired for years. Each email felt like validation of my original vision.
The industry magazine’s headline read: “Emerging Designer Exposes Fashion’s Entitlement Problem.” My phone wouldn’t stop ringing.
Closing the Chapter
Mira hosted a celebration dinner, raising her glass to “authenticity in an industry of copies.” Her pride felt like a warm embrace.
The settlement required Miguel to publicly acknowledge my designs and pay damages. His empire began crumbling under scrutiny.
I hung my mother’s vintage sunglasses in my new studio, a reminder of where the dream began. They still showed me different worlds.
Through the Shades
My first official collection launched to a packed showroom. Each piece carried a small butterfly symbol, my victory mark.
Customers shared stories of how wearing my designs made them feel powerful, unique. Their words echoed my childhood feelings trying on Mom’s collection.
I stood at my studio window, watching the sunset through my latest creation. The world looked different now – clearer, brighter, more mine than ever before.