2014 Fashion Law Bootcamp @ the Fashion Institute at Fordham Law School

Andre Castaybert recently completed the 2014 Fashion Law Bootcamp at the Fashion Institute at Fordham Law School. The seminar reviewed key aspects and applications of intellectual property in the in the world of fashion, including trademark, copyright, international standards for fashion design protection, and the proposed Innovative Design Protection Act. The seminar provided detailed review of licensing, manufacturing and distribution issues in the fashion industry. The participants reviewed standards in the fashion industry for executive non-competition agreements, as well as fair labor workplace codes of conduct and principles of monitoring, and the recent New York legislation governing the hiring and workplace standards for models under the age of 18. The course provided an introduction to the basics of fashion financing and factoring and the legal and financial challenges faced by fashion start-ups, and the practice and potential legal consequences of charge-backs and markdowns. The course provided in-depth information regarding import/export controls, the law and industry practices to reduce counterfeits, safety issues in fashion regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the regulatory limitations on advertising and labeling making claims of environmental benefit. The course also reviewed the special legal issues and considerations that arise in the jewelry segment and in the use of diamonds and other precious stones.