A Louisiana artist says a major brand left her hanging after extensive conversations about a potential collaboration, only for the company to launch its campaign without her. She said the experience was frustrating not because the company changed its plans, but because she was left without an explanation after investing time and creative energy into the project.
The artist shared the experience on her TikTok account, @artistcolette, where she explained that the brand had reached out about creating a custom hair claw for an upcoming campaign. The marketing team told her they were big fans of her work, and the two sides spent time on calls discussing ideas and brainstorming what she believed could become an exciting collaboration. The brand also offered free claws as a thank-you.
Then, the communication stopped. Colette followed up multiple times but received no response. Eventually, she saw the brand’s campaign launch without her, leaving her disappointed after the time and effort she had already put into the potential partnership.
Colette made clear that she understands businesses can change direction. Budgets can change, timelines can move, and companies can decide not to move forward with a creator. Her issue was being brought into extensive conversations, encouraged to invest creative energy and made to feel valued, only to be ignored while the campaign went ahead.
For a small artist-owned business, she said opportunities like this can be significant, especially heading into the holiday season. She described the potential collaboration as something that could have been a game changer for her business.
Rather than naming the company, she wanted to highlight a broader pattern in how brands treat independent artists. She urged companies to communicate when plans change and said creators can handle rejection, changing budgets and creative feedback. What is harder to accept, she said, is being ignored after putting real creative labor into a project.
Colette also encouraged other small creators to protect their work, know their worth, get things in writing and expect professional treatment from brands. The artist decided to turn the disappointment into something positive. She announced that customers who place an order this weekend will receive a free mystery claw, which will be automatically added to their order.
Louisiana Artist Gets Backed After Brand Drama
The comments quickly split between people asking for more context and those firmly backing the Louisiana artist. One commenter who works as a purchasing manager pointed out that businesses often contact multiple brands before choosing one based on factors such as budget and delivery time. Another commenter questioned whether the artist had actually designed anything for the company, saying that a conversation about a potential partnership does not necessarily mean the company took advantage of her.
Others were much more sympathetic. One commenter wrote, “Lawyer up girlie,” while another demanded, “Call them out!!” Multiple viewers urged her to name the company, while others speculated about which brand she was referring to. The artist did not publicly confirm the company’s identity in the video.
Several viewers said they had seen the campaign and initially assumed the artist had officially worked with the brand. Meanwhile, longtime customers used the comments to praise her work, place orders and ask about bringing back older designs.
Colette may not have gotten the collaboration she expected, but her followers were clearly willing to help her turn the disappointment into something positive.
