TEXTILE USER GUIDE A MANUAL TO IDENTIFY AUTHENTIC

TEXTILE USER GUIDE A MANUAL TO IDENTIFY AUTHENTIC TEXTILES FROM PIRATED ONES 1

Table of content §Introduction §Textiles in Ghana §Textile piracy 2

Introduction 3 This is an electronic user guide containing samples of original and pirated African textile prints and the corresponding logos and trademarks of the Ghana textile print(GTP) and Akosombo textiles Limited(ATL). There are different forms of piracy, there is the pirating of the African print(colour, motifs, wax effects and motif arrangements) and there is the pirating of the textile company’s trademarks, logos, registration numbers among others. This guide seeks , to serve as one among the numerous frame work of procedures through which unfair trade practices including evasion of the imported duties, pirating of patent and trademarks, smuggling among others could be limited and also guide in the reconsidering of the general public’s textiles choice of purchase.

Ghana textile Industries § Textile manufacturing in Ghana is an industry consisting of ginneries and textile mills producing batiks, wax cloth, fancy printed cloth and kente cloth. § Firms were located in Ghana to serve local and regional markets with printed African patterned fabrics which showed signs of significant growth in recent years and promoted highquality traditionally designed fabrics to niche markets, especially the U. S and it contributed significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, (GDP). 4

5 Textile piracy § Piracy as it exists refers to the unauthorized duplication of copyright content that is sold at a lower price, over the years piracy has become more rampant and affecting the country’s economy. The chief commissioning officer of the Ministry of Trade and Industry tariff Advisory Board, indicated that over 6, 000 pieces of the pirated fabrics have so far being destroyed nationwide

CONFISICATED IMPORTED PRINTS 6

CONFISICATED IMPORTED PRINTS 7

8 AKOSOMBO TEXTILES LIMITED

Ø PIRATED Ø ORIGINAL 9

GURANTEE ABC WAX A. WITH THE ORIGINAL ABC WAX THE LABEL IS GOLD IN COLOUR WHILES IN THE PIRATED THE LABEL IS YELLOWISH GOLD. B. IN THE ORIGINAL THERE IS NO WRITING IN THE WHITE AREA OF THE LABEL, THE YARNS ARE NEVER STATED NOR THE NUMBER BUT SOMETIMES ALL YOU WILL HAVE ON IT IS THE BARCODE OTHER TIMES NOTHING AT ALL IN THIS CASE BUT IS OTHERWISE WITH THE IMITATED GURANTEED WAX 10

Ø ORIGINAL Ø PIRATED 11

ABC BLOCK PRINT SUPER WAX A. As at present the original super wax has a significant label where on the original label the writings are in gold of which it can not wash off unlike the imitated labels B. The green outline around the writing ‘Super wax’ is very thin as to the imitated where it is a little thicker. C. In the white area of the original label there are few or no writings at all. Even if there is it will be the kind of effect in the fabric example wax, spoon etc meaning in the fabric there should be pictures of spoon or wax in the fabric where in the pirated print that is not the case the effects are mostly not in the cloth. D. From the feel of the label to the original label is soft while the imitated feels hard 12

Ø PIRATED Ø ORIGINAL 13

ORIGINAL AKOSOMBO STYLE 14 A. THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS BY WHICH ORIGINAL AKOSOBO STILL IS IMITATED BUT FROM MY FINDING ONE WAY IS WITH THE IMITATED THE LOGO IS WRONGLY DESIGNEDFRON THE ABRREVIATION TO THE LOGO OF THE STOOL. B. INSIDE THE LABEL OF THE ORIGINAL THERE IS A PLAIN RECTANGULAR SHAPE AT THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER BUT IN THE IMITATED INSIDE THE WHITE RECTANGULAR SHAPE IS THE BARCODE. C. IN THE ORIGNAL LABEL IT IS SPECIFIED THE USE OF THIS PARTICULAR LABEL WHICH IS FOR BLACK AND WHITE PRINTS BUT IN THE IMITATED IT IS NOT SPECIFED.

ORIGINAL(REAL WAX PRINTS) 15

16 § WITH GURANTEED AND FINEST REAL WAX PRINTS IT COMES IN FOUR VARYING FORMS. Ø CREAM WITH BLACK BOARDER LINES. Ø GOLD WITH DARK GREEN BOARDER LINES. Ø GOLD WITH GREEN BOARDER LINES. Ø GOLD WITH DARK RED BOARDER LINES. § ASIDE THESE FEATURES ARE OTHER SUCH AS INSIDE THE WHITE RECTANGULAR AREA THE FABRIC YARDS IS STATED , THE FABRIC DESGIN IS STATED AND WITHNTHIS WHAT EVERY FABRIC EFFECT THAT IS INSCRIPTED SHOULD BE VISIBLE IN THE PRINT.

ORIGINAL LABELS FOR FANCY PRINTS THE LABEL FOR FANCY PRINT IS NOW REPLACED WITH ATL PREMIUM 17

18 New label for all fancy prints § This new replacement for fancy print is not yet very much discovered by the piraters, so if as at present any print is producted with the old fancy print label then it is imitated.

Prestige Damask. Bazin original pirated 19

20 A. From observersation with the original prestige label the colour of the label is gold and black whiles with the imitated is yellowish gold in colour. B. Further observation shows that the imitated label replaced with a squared label with information and the original label has a circular label with designed edges which simply has a central design of the prestige motif of two fishes.

21 DA VIVA PRINTS

Imitated daviva prints by inscriptions 22

23 In Da Viva prints there is never a print produced by MARI TEX. VARUN or GIVO. They are all forged brands. So when purchasing a Da Viva print and u notice these names and more they are all imitated. v NOTE : that every Da. Viva brand has a special label colour it comes in.

Original Da Vi. VA labels 24

ORIGINAL DA VIVA LABELS Retro by Da Viva is black and cream with no added information on the label 25 Gold by Da Viva is used for Da Viva prints with gold colour in them and the label is dark brown and gold in colour.

ORIGINAL DA VIVA LABELS Ultimate by Da Viva only comes in black and white with a registered trademark at the top right corner. 26 Skin by Da Viva only comes in cream and black if anything aside that is seen on the market note that it is imitated

IMITATED DA VIVA IN BATIK It should be noted that Da Viva doesn't produce batik print and notice that the label of ultimate by Da Viva has no registered trademark. 27 In theres of feel the fabric feels stiff and like that of a wall paper rather than a cloth. It has not the least feel of cotton.

IMITATED DA VIVA IN BATIK The brand name says it all there is no original Da Viva called ‘Viva Wax”. 28 It should be noted that Da Viva doesn't produce batik print and notice that the label of ultimate by Da Viva has no registered trademark.

IMITATED DA VIVA PRINT IN BATIK 29