B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Fashion Law
Fab Fashion Law News from 2015--
It's the time of year--and frankly the last day--do to these listicles discussing the year that was. While we've retired our weekly Tuesday Tops feature (which still has great stuff to check out), we still like the idea of compiling solid, handy lists.
Since fashion law is our specialty, and we want you to stay as up-to-date as possible on our favorite field, we're listing the Top Fashion Law Stories of 2015. Let's hit it backwards, starting with last week...
----
Fashion Law Is Back on Capitol Hill--Child Labor Laws for Fashion Shows
Blissful Ignorance: Abercrombie Can't Pretend They Didn't Know They Were Discriminating By: Dana Martin
Why You Should Care About Fashion Law By: Dana Martin
Can't wait for more fashion law news in 2016!
B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Fashion Law
Fashion Law Gets Accredited!
Ms. Susan Scaffidi has done it again! She continues to take our beloved niche to the next level, with the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham School of Law now offering an LL.M. in Fashion Law. An M.S.L. for nonlawyers will be offered as well.
Offering part-time and full-time programs, this feat is a major step for the fashion law niche. After opening the Fashion Law Institute in 2010, the notariety and reality of its need became clearer and clearer. I even had the joy of attending the annual Symposium in 2013. It was amazing! Fashion trailblazer Diane von Furstenberg will provide seed money for the program and continue as an advisor to the Institute. She's been pivitol to its success from the start.
Congrats a zillion to Fordham and the Fashion Law Institute. We're so excited about this next step!
B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Fashion Law
Fashion Law and the Local Economy--
Fashion law is in fact taking over the globe. But, its impact is local in nature, too. Despite there being an ongoing battle for protection of fashion designs at the national level in the U.S., many large cities, are doing their part to protect brands as well as their local economies.
While fashion trends change almost faster than the seasons, brands are made to last forever. Creators set out to achieve longevity. In recent years, there have been a number of efforts to curb harm to brands. Whether it be through the sale of fakes, thereby infringing on trademarks, or even penalizing the consumers of fakes, local governments are taking no prisoners in preserving the integrity of fashion.
What's been happening?!
What's set to happen next?
Local governments are pressed to keep up the services they've been able to provide. We need smooth streets and snow plowed, right? Losing out on tax revenue is no help. Locales with counterfeit districts, like Canal St. in NYC are watching for dealers who skimp residents of their service money and are issuing penalties left and right. Cities with flea markets are heavily watching the products coming through their borders, too. Many large flea markets have been the scene of busts when local or federal authorities uncover fakes sold by vendors.
Surely fashion industry leaders like Susan Scafidi and Diane von Furstenberg will continue working with the CFDA on federal legislation as well.
We'll continue watching the counterfeit scene. You should do the same. Fakes are never in fashion.
Fashion law is in fact taking over the globe. But, its impact is local in nature, too. Despite there being an ongoing battle for protection of fashion designs at the national level in the U.S., many large cities, are doing their part to protect brands as well as their local economies.
While fashion trends change almost faster than the seasons, brands are made to last forever. Creators set out to achieve longevity. In recent years, there have been a number of efforts to curb harm to brands. Whether it be through the sale of fakes, thereby infringing on trademarks, or even penalizing the consumers of fakes, local governments are taking no prisoners in preserving the integrity of fashion.
What's been happening?!
- Both coasts are equipped with amazing fashion law programs to help train upcoming lawyers in this billion-dollar industry. The Fashion Law Institute at Fordham and the Fashion Law Project at Loyola dig deeply into fashion law issues. Being in the garment districts of the nation's 2 largest cities doesn't hurt either.
- In 2011, the New York City Bar Association established a fashion law committee. Many bar associations across the country have held symposiums on the topic since then.
- In 2013, NY Councilwoman Margaret Chin introduced an ordinance to penalize counterfeit purchasers. It's not far-fetched--Italy, France, and England all penalize consumers for purchasing fakes. The NYC measure didn't pass, but it definitely got the attention of counterfeiters and the impact tax avoidance has on the local economy. She introduces a subsequent effort to prohibit the storage or sale of fake goods in any NYC building. She's not giving up on this.
- Chicago makes necessary use of its Trademark Violation Ordinance, which revokes the business licenses of retailers possessing and selling counterfeits. O'Hare Airport, recently named the busiest in the U.S. has uncovered millions in fakes at their international gates as well.
- North Carolina isn't playing any games either. The Secretary of State's office led police throughout NC on Operation Faux Pas, seizing more than $12million in fakes across the state.
What's set to happen next?
Local governments are pressed to keep up the services they've been able to provide. We need smooth streets and snow plowed, right? Losing out on tax revenue is no help. Locales with counterfeit districts, like Canal St. in NYC are watching for dealers who skimp residents of their service money and are issuing penalties left and right. Cities with flea markets are heavily watching the products coming through their borders, too. Many large flea markets have been the scene of busts when local or federal authorities uncover fakes sold by vendors.
Surely fashion industry leaders like Susan Scafidi and Diane von Furstenberg will continue working with the CFDA on federal legislation as well.
We'll continue watching the counterfeit scene. You should do the same. Fakes are never in fashion.
B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Fashion Law
The Movement Continues!
It wasn't all that long ago our Fashion Law Friend Staci Riordan wrote about The Movement that is Fashion Law. She noted how the niche is growing and something to be taken quite seriously. Literally following in the heels of Susan Scafidi, who is beyond major in putting our niche on the map, the reality of fashion law is continuing to make waves.
At the hands of Staci, Loyola Law School in California will be launching the Fashion Law Project--a department in the law school dedicated to this stylishly growing field of law. We are so excited for Staci, and the many law students who will get the chance to study Fashion Law at Loyola.
The Fashion Law Project, like its big sister in NYC, the Fashion Law Institute, will include classes like Fashion Law Business Transactions, Fashion Modeling Law, and even a Fashion Law Clinic.
As you all know, Fashion Law is really the reason this blog exists. Seeing this niche grow the way it has and continues to, will keep us bringing you all the Fashion Law news, updates, and runway shows you need to stay in the know.
Can't wait to see where the next Fashion Law program will pop up!!
B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Fashion Law
Happy Birthday Fordham Fashion Law Institute!!
Not too long ago, fashion law was a twinkle in our eye. And now the Fashion Law Institute, a landmark fixture in the industry, is turning 2 years old! We are so excited about this feat. For those of us who love fashion law, we know how important this is.
Our fashionable trailblazer in fashion law, Susan Scafidi, set out to make this Institute her baby, and has taken it all the way down the catwalk. I got the privilege of visiting and was beyond amazed at what she has put her stiletto print into. Glamorous kudos to her!
In addition to being the author of Counterfeit Chic, she is also the brains and fashionable attorney/Academic Director behind the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School. For years, so many of us just wanted a class on fashion in law school--now, we have an entire Institute. The Institute offers a clinic, bootcamp, and help to the fashion district, and seminars for practicing attorneys living and loving the field. It also happens to be located right in the Fashion District. How perfect!
Happy Birthday!!
Not too long ago, fashion law was a twinkle in our eye. And now the Fashion Law Institute, a landmark fixture in the industry, is turning 2 years old! We are so excited about this feat. For those of us who love fashion law, we know how important this is.
Our fashionable trailblazer in fashion law, Susan Scafidi, set out to make this Institute her baby, and has taken it all the way down the catwalk. I got the privilege of visiting and was beyond amazed at what she has put her stiletto print into. Glamorous kudos to her! In addition to being the author of Counterfeit Chic, she is also the brains and fashionable attorney/Academic Director behind the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School. For years, so many of us just wanted a class on fashion in law school--now, we have an entire Institute. The Institute offers a clinic, bootcamp, and help to the fashion district, and seminars for practicing attorneys living and loving the field. It also happens to be located right in the Fashion District. How perfect!
Happy Birthday!!