Inspiration vs Imitation in the Creative World

The Line Between Inspiration and Copying

In a creative industry, the line between inspiration and copying can get blurry.
But to me, it’s actually pretty clear.
I’ll be honest — I’ve definitely seen ideas online and taken inspiration from them.
But I’ve always tried to turn that inspiration into something that feels like Fleur. Something that grows from the idea, not just repeats it.

That’s the difference.
Inspiration helps you create something new. Copying is taking something as it is and calling it your own.

There are so many examples of this in the world. Taxis became Uber. PayPal became Venmo and Cash App. Those are ideas that evolved — they didn’t just copy, they improved or made something more accessible. But copying is different. Copying is taking something like our Fleur newspaper wrapping — printing your own version of it — and presenting it the exact same way. That’s not inspiration. That’s copying. And I’ve experienced that firsthand. Multiple times.

The Reality of Being Copied

The first few times it happened, it was honestly heartbreaking. Because people don’t see what goes into building something original.

When I create something for Fleur, it’s not just a quick idea. It’s months of research. Conversations with my team. Testing. Adjusting. Planning how it will be presented, how it will be explained, how it fits into the brand. Sometimes 9–12 months of work.

And then, within a month of launching it, you’ll see two or three other places doing something very similar. That part is hard.

I remember there was a time I was even afraid to post certain things because I didn’t want them to be taken again.
But over time, I had to shift my mindset.

A friend once told me, “imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” And while I don’t fully love that phrase, it helped me move on. Now, when I see something similar to what we’ve done, I acknowledge it — and then I keep creating. That’s the only way forward.

Why Originality Still Matters

I think copying happens so often because people want to be part of what’s working.
They see something that’s trending, something that looks successful, and they want to be part of it. But what many don’t realize is that people can usually tell where something originated.

If someone opened a store that looked exactly like Apple but called it “Kiwi,” with the same concept and design, people would immediately say, isn’t that just Apple? The same thing happens in smaller industries too.

That’s why originality matters.
And yes — it is possible to be inspired without losing originality.

For example, our Posy Duo experience came from a few different inspirations.
I saw a café in New York that paired drinks with flowers — but instead of copying that, we developed our own version using bud vases and shaped it into a completely different experience that felt like Fleur.
Even our coffee menu was inspired by a restaurant I visited — but we reimagined it into something that fit our brand, our aesthetic, and our customer experience.

That’s how I think about inspiration.
You take a concept, and you transform it.
You ask yourself:
Does this fit my brand?
Can I make this different?
Can I make this better, or more “me”?

If the answer is yes, then it becomes yours.
If not, it’s probably too close.

Building Something That’s Truly Yours

To me, a truly original design process takes time. It’s research. A lot of it. It’s trial and error.

When I was developing our packaging, I even traveled to different countries to understand what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved. That’s the level of effort originality requires. And that’s why it’s hard to watch it get copied.

When it comes to my team, the best way I encourage creativity is by helping them deeply understand Fleur. Once they understand the brand — the style, the standards, the feeling — their creativity starts to come naturally. Because they’re not just creating randomly. They’re creating within something they understand.

If I could give advice to young florists, it would be this:

Find your niche.
Your colors. Your textures. Your style. Your signature.
What makes your work recognizable without your name attached to it?
That’s what you build.

Social media has made this harder.
Everything can start to feel the same — same fonts, same videos, same concepts, same colors. It’s very easy to copy without even realizing it. But the people who stand out are the ones who are willing to be different.

In a world where everything starts to look the same, being original is what sets you apart. Authenticity is what makes your work yours. And I think that’s the goal.

To create something that feels like you.
And to respect the work of others enough to not take what they’ve built — but instead be inspired to build something of your own.

XoXo,
Your Fleurist,
Angelina