Authentic Design Alliance: Protecting Original Furniture Design Authentic Design Alliance

HELP STOP DESIGN THEFT.

What We Make, Buy and Value Shapes Our World!

Authentic Design Alliance® (ADA) leads Australia’s fight against furniture design theft.

The ADA is a purpose-driven industry association working to protect creators, brands, and manufacturers from replica and counterfeit furniture.
We advocate for authenticity, originality, and innovation, supporting the people who design, make, and sell genuine products.

Our mission is simple: strengthen intellectual-property (IP) protection and shift buyer behaviour towards durable, ethical furniture that supports a circular economy.

OUR MISSION.

Protecting Original Design and Sustainable Practice

The ADA advocates for authenticity, originality, and innovation.

We defend designers, makers, and brands from replica and counterfeit products and champion a sustainable, circular Australian design economy.

Why Authentic Design Matters

Every replica product undermines creativity and floods landfills with cheap furniture with a short life span.

Choosing authentic, well-made designs protects original thinkers and reduces waste.

Lets Get Real.

6 Facts About Design Theft.

1.

THE WORD ‘REPLICA’ MISLEADS CONSUMERS

Replicas are stolen designs not connected to the designer or brand authorised to make or sell the genuine product. These cheap copies are short-lifespan, manufactured and sold without permission from the creator.
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‘Replica’ is not a trend like ‘vintage’ or ‘industrial’ - replica is fake!

2.

DESIGNERS EARN THEIR INCOME FROM SALES ROYALTIES

Industrial and furniture designers work in small studios or as designer-makers. Design theft robs them of a rightful income from royalties - a small percentage of net sales.
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Design brands can’t afford expensive legal battles; our industry is plagued by ‘David vs Goliath’ attempts to recoup rightful income.

3.

DESIGN THEFT DAMAGES THE ENTIRE DESIGN ECONOMY

Buying knock-offs hurts more than the designer. The entire design economy is affected – fake designer furnishings also hurt retailers, manufacturers and importers, that make and sell authentic design.
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The counterfeit design industry threatens the future growth of Australia’s furnishing sector.

4.

MOST CONSUMERS DON’T KNOW WHAT’S REAL (OR FAKE)

Compared to Europe, Australia lacks an embedded design culture. Education is critical to understand the value and history of how original designs are created and made.
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If we eat organic and know our food sources, similarly, we must care about how we furnish our spaces.

5.

‘DISPOSABLE DECORATING’ FEEDS LANDFILL; IT’S UNSUSTAINABLE!

Two million Sydney households discard an estimated 50,000 tonnes of furniture on pavements every year
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That’s around 800,000 three-seater sofas, 1.7 million dining tables, 3.5 million coffee tables or 7 million chairs! Like ‘fast fashion,’ ‘fast furniture’ is also killing the planet.

6.

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ARE A HUGE PART OF THE PROBLEM

Many interior design and building professionals don’t know or (worse) don’t care about authentic products!
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Australian businesses profit by knocking-off furnishings. Design theft by industry professionals devalues their projects. And shows total disregard for the people who invest, live in or use the spaces they build.