It started with a simple blue shirt — the kind you’d find in any corporate girlie’s closet, weekend brunch spot or even your dad’s wardrobe. But when Kmart released a $25 long-sleeve Oxford shirt bearing striking resemblance to DISSH’s $139.99 Rhea Blue Cotton Shirt, TikTok became ground zero for a heated debate about class, value, and who gets to claim aesthetic territory.
The chaos ignited when shoppers noticed DISSH’s signature piece — a 100 per cent cotton, unlined button-up with subtle branding — had an uncanny twin in Kmart. According to TikToker Emma Jane Hanson, the Kmart shirt is also 100 per cent cotton, but PEDESTRIAN.TV was unable to confirm that on the store’s website.
“I spent $130 on this shirt and now everyone thinks it’s from Kmart!” said one TikTok user.
What began as viral outrage from DISSH loyalists quickly revealed deeper tensions.
As one commenter bluntly put it: “It’s a classist issue, that’s it. Imagine being upset about dupes.”
Enter TikTok creator Kate Forster, who dissected the drama. “This oversized shirt isn’t just a fashion piece,” she observed.
“[These shirts] represent the dynamics of aspiration, class and culture that we’re seeing in fashion.”
Her analysis cut to the heart of the conflict: when DISSH (which itself draws inspiration from luxury brands) found its design replicated at a fraction of the price, it held up a mirror to fashion’s endless cycle of appropriation.
“I believe this shirt has been influenced by this shirt by AMI Paris. There is another Alexander Wang shirt, another Frankie shirt, and a Matteu shirt that is very, very similar,” said Kate.
The discourse revealed competing value systems. One DISSH customer admitted: “If I had known it at the time, I still don’t think I would have bought the Kmart shirt. It all comes down to brand and customer experience. When I bought this shirt from DISSH, I had one of the best shopping experiences ever.”
This sentiment collided head-on with practical realities voiced by others in comments: “It’s literally a blue shirt. Why does this need to cost $130?“
No, but seriously my dad’s had the some one since the 90s.
TikToker Div Yangi was bamboozled to see the amount of discourse over a shirt. “I saw a couple of people say that their shirt is now devalued. Maybe that was satire, I don’t know, but I just think the idea of that is so funny because it’s not like a bag or a jewelry or something for it to go down in value. It’s a shirt,” she said.
Dupes aren’t exactly a new thing, many companies including Kmart have walked a tightrope creating reminiscent designs while avoiding trademark infringement through altered logos and slight variations.
In fact, one TikToker cheekily reminded critics: “DISSH first duped that design from another designer. So in someone else’s story, you are the Kmart dupe. DISSH is the Kmart dupe in someone else’s story.” So why is one dupe more okay than the other?
This controversy reflects broader tensions in our consumption culture. Dupes democratise style — that $25 shirt makes runway adjacent looks accessible to minimum wage earners and in this economy I’m all for it.
But at what cost? Fast fashion’s environmental toll (think fading fabrics destined for landfill) contrasts with DISSH’s emphasis on durable natural fibers. Yet even “ethical” brands participate in fashion’s copycat ecosystem, blurring lines between inspiration and appropriation. So, ultimately is there any way to win in this dupe debacle?
Zara Duffy who is a TikToker and owner of Bloom Op Shop wants to encourage people to stop arguing over where to buy the shirt and instead visit your local op shop’s men’s section.
“So much better for the environment, so much cheaper. Stop arguing about shirts please,” she said.
The blue shirt debate ultimately asks: Is any design truly original in our remix culture? From skincare dupes to counterfeit handbags, we’re forced to reckon with whether accessibility justifies derivative creation.
“I wonder if people are actually upset about the design replication, or does their discomfort with this come from having a fashion landscape that is more democratised and where status symbols are no longer as exclusive,” said Kate.
It does bring up the question: If a style’s appeal rests purely on exclusivity, does its value diminish when everyone can access the look? Perhaps the real luxury isn’t in the logo, but in wearing whatever the fuck you want.
Lead image: @laurenla24 / @kateforsterauthor / @teresabisazza via TikTok
The post How A $25 Kmart Dupe Of DISSH’s Blue Button Up Sparked A Classism Debate On TikTok appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
