Mom claims Target ‘stole’ her American flag shirt design

Credit: Melissa Lay

MILWAUKIE, Ore. — An Oregon mom is taking on one of the biggest retailers in the world after she discovered Target was selling a shirt that copied her original design.

Melissa Lay, who started SandiLake Designs in 2014, prints and sells her own shirts from her garage. One of her most popular shirts is a black-and-white #MERICA tank top. However, earlier this month, several customers said they found Lay’s design in several Target stores.

Lay went to her local Target and found the shirt for sale. Target’s version of the shirt had a distressed flag and was printed on a lower quality material.

The Target shirt retails for $12.99. Lay’s shirt sells for $25.

Lay reached out to Target and was told they have pulled the shirt from their store shelves.

“Thankfully, they took out all the shirts at their stores,” Lay told The TODAY Show. “Even if you try to bring the shirt to the counter, they won’t sell it to you.”

Lay said it was a separate vendor that created the shirt. Target and Lay are now communicating with the vendor who created the shirt.

The meaning and importance of #shopsmall has never really hit my heart until today when it hit my home and my livelihood. #MERICA is one of our original 5 designs. We opened April 1st, 2014 + this tank launched us to levels we didn't know we're possible. This photo is me in @target wearing MY #sandilakeclothing original design and holding up the tank they made using the same one. They are identical. And I'm not alone with my story. Small businesses are being copied everywhere with no leg to stand on. I contacted Target Corporate and they gave me an address to mail a letter to! That's it!!? Please share this story and others you hear of. We work incredibly hard to provide for our families, and dress you and your littles in a rad way that large companies can't. Know what you are buying and where it came from. I am going to think a lot harder about every purchase I make… @targetdoesitagain #stolen #plagiarism #dontsteal #comeupwithyourowndesigns

A post shared by SandiLake Clothing ™ (@sandilakeclothing) on May 11, 2015 at 10:09am PDT