Designer Accuses "Second Brother" of Cashing In on Cai Agong's Fame, States "Made in Taiwan" is Different from Copying Designs

A designer with years of experience in the industry has publicly criticized "Second Brother" (Er Bo), the wife of popular Taiwanese YouTuber Cai Agong, over her children's brand, HAHABABY. The designer alleges that Er Bo has heavily relied on her husband's immense online popularity to promote her brand, benefiting from his established influence and resources. The core of the controversy lies in accusations that HAHABABY's product designs are strikingly similar to those of the Japanese brand SOU・SOU. While initial concerns focused on comparable patterns and motifs, the designer points out that even clothing silhouettes are allegedly being copied. The designer expressed frustration after Er Bo's recent livestream, where she tearfully discussed the challenges of creating and manufacturing products in Taiwan, without directly confronting the allegations of design similarity. This approach, the designer stated, was "utterly speechless."

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She has already started her business on the shoulders of a giant.

The designer emphasized that Er Bo's brand launched when Cai Agong was already a well-established YouTuber with millions of subscribers. This provided HAHABABY with a significant advantage in terms of brand exposure and consumer purchasing power, far exceeding that of typical startups. While not dismissing Er Bo's efforts entirely, the designer argued that she "started on the shoulders of a giant," implying a vastly different and easier starting point compared to most entrepreneurs. The designer further contended that Er Bo's level of effort is likely "much less than that of a typical brand startup."

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Her effort is definitely less than that of a typical brand startup.

Furthermore, the designer argued that the "Made in Taiwan" aspect is a branding choice by HAHABABY, not a demand from consumers, and is unrelated to the accusations of design imitation. Using the manufacturing origin as a deflection tactic from the design controversy was deemed inappropriate. The designer lamented that a brand with such significant advantages in traffic and resources is now being questioned for allegedly operating through "copy-paste" methods. This situation is particularly disheartening for those working in the design profession. As of now, Er Bo has not directly addressed the specific claims of design similarities between HAHABABY and SOU・SOU products.

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Made in Taiwan is a positioning chosen by the brand, not a requirement from consumers, and it is two different things from the external questioning of design similarity.