Same here ... have the Imperial edition, made a Dark elf, can only craft Dark Elf gear. This is not how I read it should be like when I paid for the Imperial edition ...
It seems to me that the only characters that can directly craft Imperial are those of the Imperial race. If you want Imperial gear on non-Imperials you must first craft it in that character's own style (or any style they're capable of crafting) then right-click on the gear and select Convert to Imperial.
Umm you guys do realize only imperials can craft imperial gear without a motif right? Any character can transform gear to look imperial (and it's no longer tradeable) but can't craft without the motif.
In BETA, I was able to craft Imperial without the motif. that is why I posted.
Possibly because you rolled an Imperial? The last beta test Imperials were offered as a race & we were asked to play them to help test before the game went live. I know I rolled one & surprisingly I was also able to craft Imperial gear for her.