Almost two decades ago, before he left the brand that bears his name, Calvin Klein (the man) appeared on “Larry King Live” and discussed, among other topics, the prevalence of copying in fashion.

“Oh, I think that’s flattering if we are,” he said. “It’s when they stop copying, that’s when we’re really in trouble.”

It’s hard to imagine a brand these days having the same response. Call-out culture has become one of the defining parts of our online life, whether it’s identifying mass market brands producing clothes that look suspiciously similar to high-fashion runway looks, or high- fashion brands making clothes that seem closely akin to others. The result is a toxic and unregulated situation in which accusations fly fast and furious, often coming with little or no real consideration or attempt to wrestle with what original design really means.

Indeed, the angry crying of “copy” has become so ubiquitous that it is almost startling when a brand chooses to use a different approach in the court of public opinion.