As a coffee lover, one of my favourite hobbies is to try new coffee places in the city. With a new café opening every other day in Karachi, I’m always in luck. Recently, I came across this very lush, exquisite-looking coffee and tea bar in Phase 8, DHA, called MONDO. While I didn’t get a chance to visit it, from the looks of it, the place screamed high-end luxury. With a beautiful interior, coffee cups unlike any other and an ambiance to die for, MONDO looked like everything you look for in a coffee place.
Imitation or Inspiration?
Little did I know that’s not where the story ends. Recently, MONDO, Phuket, Thailand, took to social media, stating that they only have one branch, which is located in Phuket Old Town. Any other new cafes with the same name abroad or in Pakistan, with the same logo or design, have no association with the original café. Thus, it’s nothing but plagiarism and unethical business practice.
For the coffee community in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, this came as a shock. Knowing that the interior and design that many were swooning over was far from an original idea made people furious. On top of that, the mention of Pakistan in MONDO’s post was more embarrassing as it damaged the reputation of the entire business sector in Pakistan, portraying them as con artists.
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An Ongoing Trend
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time such a thing has happened. When, recently June, another coffee place opened in Karachi, many claimed that it was inspired by September Coffee on the East Coast. From the place’s vibes to the coffee blends and even aesthetics, June looks quite similar to September Coffee, yet not copied.
In MONDO’s case, the logo to the design and the aesthetic were entirely the same as the café of the same name in Phuket. It was hardly a case of inspiration.
Despite plagiarism being a common practice in Pakistan, the fact still remains: actions like these only show a lack of creativity and confidence, especially when done on such a wide scale.
Is it okay to make a profit out of it? Is it really fair?
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