Fashion Law Institute

Classes - teaching and research in Fashion Law is a core component of the Institute's mission. The foundational course is the original Fashion Law course, which defined the field and was created and taught by the Institute's founder, professor susan scafidi. Other courses include the Fashion Law and finance course, which explores the role of Law and lawyers in developing a global Fashion brand; Fashion modeling Law, which provides a comprehensive overview of the legal, business and societal issues faced by models and their agencies; Fashion ethics, sustainability and development, which explores the intersection of Fashion Law and social values, including such topics as green Fashion, fair trade and fashion-related social enterprise; Fashion licensing, which examines the Law and business of Fashion licensing, the anatomy of a license agreement, and current trends in the industry in the us and worldwide; Fashion Law practicum, which provides practical experience with legal drafting in the Fashion industry; Fashion retail Law, which examines the legal framework for the shopping environment, including retail stores, websites, and privacy and security issues raised by new technology; and two semesters of the capstone course for graduating students in the fordham school of Law master's degree programs in Fashion Law.

Clinics - the Fashion Law Institute also continued to conduct its pro bono Fashion Law pop-up clinic program, with seven pop-up clinics held during the 2018-2019 academic year, including special assistance provided in conjunction with the new york city economic development corporation's emerging designer program. At each pop-up clinic, students met with lawyers and designers for attorney-supervised legal training by assisting Fashion clients. Besides gaining educational experience through being involved in pro-bono consultations, students also learned about Fashion Law and the Fashion business by serving in institute-supervised internships as well as by assisting with various Institute events. In addition, the Institute continued to be active in connecting students to employment opportunities pertaining to Fashion Law.

Events - in conjunction with the Institute's classroom instruction, a related aspect of the Institute's educational mission is the advancement of understanding in Fashion Law through seminars, symposia, continuing legal education and other programs open to both students and the general public. In summer and fall 2018, the Institute's related events included an update on #metoo legal reform; a comics arts conference panel on costumes, comics, and cultural appropriation; know your faux: new tactics and techniques for fighting fakes; and re:fashion - legal issues in the circular economy. Spring 2019 programs included inside out 4: what keep's Fashion's in-house counsel up at night? And the 8th annual symposium, Fashion Law realness, which explored such topics as intellectual property and attorney advertising; street wear, street art, and hemp Fashion; effective licensing and collaborations; artificial intelligence and virtual reality; diversity and inclusion concerns; and an overview of recent developments in Fashion Law. The Institute also conducted its annual Fashion Law bootcamps in new york city and silicon valley.