After Dustin Gimbel, a California artist, called out Nordstrom for allegedly knocking off his sculptures with cardboard copies that were used in store displays, a resolution has been reached.
In an interview Thursday, he said he first learned of the situation last month, after friends mistakenly offered their congratulations for having Nordstrom feature his totems in its stores. Gimbel said he has contacted Nordstrom.
Last week he made a more public appeal by posting a video outlining his claims. Estimating that similar designs are in “hundreds” of Nordstrom stores in display windows or sales floors, Gimbel said that estimate was based on information from some of his followers, as well as his own assessment of Southern California Nordstrom stores. Had Gimbel made the three similarly sized, they would retail for $3,505, he said.
Totems designed by Dustin Gimbel.
Photo Courtesy
Reached for comment Thursday, a Nordstrom spokesperson said in a statement that “the props” are being removed. “Nordstrom has deep respect for artists and their creative work, and a long history of collaborating with independent artists. We are aware of this matter and take it seriously. We contacted the artist directly as soon as we became aware of his concern. In the meantime, we have made the decision to remove the props in question,” the spokesperson said.
Suggesting that he should be compensated by Nordstrom in some way, Gimbel speculated that the situation could hamper his fashion-related sales and may nix the prospect of having a fashion company feature his work in a national ad campaign. His pieces have been sold to Simon Properties, Trina Turk and a major hotel chain for a spa remodeling, which was a $25,000 job. Gimbel said, “If I did something similar for someone else in the fashion world, people would say, ‘Oh yeah, Nordstrom did that last season or two years ago,’” he said.
Gimbel said, “I don’t think the [Nordstrom] executives knew. I think someone else down the chain knew, who was in charge of this kind of art [and] took a shortcut instead,” he said. “I just want this to be over with.”
His art career sprang from his landscape design business, Second Nature Garden Design. After Sunset magazine shot his garden for an article, the cover image featured one of his earliest totems, which he had created as more of a hobbyist. That attracted the attention of clients and sales of his art through companies like Roger’s Garden. Gimbel subsequently has been winding down his landscape design business to focus more on art.
“My hope is that if they can find out, who did this [at Nordstrom,] and they will be reprimanded or terminated. If I didn’t have these copyrights registered, it could have put my company in jeopardy,” he said. “Why don’t they say, ‘We’re terminating this person. We found out who it was and we’re going to pay a licensing fee.’ And then we get to move on and they get to be the hero.”
Asked if Gimbel will be compensated, a Nordstrom spokesperson did not immediately respond Thursday.
