READ THIS: Fashion Law by Guillermo C. Jimenez and Barbara Kolsun; Fairchild Books Publish Fashion Law - the First Official Book on the Subject of Fashion Law-
Previously undisclosed on Whom You Know:
Peachy Deegan once was on the fast track to being a lawyer!
She was actually Pre-Law at Boston College. As a teenager she worked at a law firm in Hartford for many, many summers on a class-action case, but of course spent her lunchtimes shopping and checking out fashion, so this is a very welcome book to Whom You Know, and a much needed book in the industry.
Never have we seen such an exquisite cover on a book of law! It is more than just a stunning cover though, of course. Fashion Law addresses the substance behind the styles that we see on a daily basis, and it speaks to the complex business of fashion, which is not understood by all in the industry so we highly recommend everyone in fashion begin reading this immediately!
At Whom You Know, on a general basis across all disciplines, we advocate going beyond the surface to an understanding and critique necessary to achieve a high level of knowledge of whatever the subject matter is at hand. In our many posts on fashion, we are not sure we have posted on anything as worthwhile as this.
Brands we cover such as Lacoste and Nike (however we must say in this great work we did find ONE mistake: Lacoste has a crocodile as a logo, not an alligator as stated on page 26) make appearances in the text, and everyday recognition of topics adds value to the complex business nature discussed by Jimenez and Kolson.
Major discussion of intellectual property are brought to the forefront right off the bat in the work, followed by commercial operation, expansion of fashion businesses, and international aspects of the fashion industry. We particularly like the case profiles interspersed and profiled throughout the text, giving real meaning to the laws themselves.
Other interesting points include the real time IT technology behind Zara's sales and stocking systems, the realities of counterfeiting and the "war" against it (see page 109 for complete info and how New York City in November 2004 lost $380 million in sales taxes, $290 million in lost business income taxes and $360 million in lost personal income taxes according to Comptroller Thompson), and copyrighting, trademarking, and other legal jargon that are so important to the fashion business. Legal structures, real estate components such as leases, and even how a designer's name impacts branding and the legality of that are addressed in a thought-provoking detailed manner. From negotiating a license to ensuring quality control, no matter what your role is in the industry you will add to your own personal knowledge and in doing so, add value to the brand you support by being that much more worldly about the important nature of business law in the Fashion Industry. Peachy Deegan love love loves this book and read it cover to cover. It is much more riveting than it may appear at first look!
Thank you Stuart Weitzman!
Whom You Know highly recommends Fashion Law!
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Following the lead of entertainment and sports law, fashion has created its own set of state, federal and international laws to govern its business within the last few decades. Fashion Law is the first book ever published to explore the various legal areas of this emerging field. This ground-breaking new book will be a useful navigation guide for designers, fashion executives and attorneys.
The book, published by Fairchild Books, a Division of Condé Nast Publications, Inc, was conceived, edited and co-authored by Guillermo C. Jimenez, professor of fashion law at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Barbara Kolsun, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Stuart Weitzman LLC. Attorneys practicing in the legal specialty of fashion law contributed to the chapters within the book.
Fashion Law explores such vital issues as copyright, patent, trademark and trade dress protection; licensing agreements, selling and marketing fashion goods domestically and abroad; and laws affecting treatment of employees, leasing of retail property and international trade. Each subject within the book features example summaries of court cases, practice tips, form agreements and sample clauses.
The book also addresses current news-worthy fashion legal issues such as counterfeiting, the design piracy protection bill and import/customs issues. It serves as an instructional tool as well with legal advice on how to start a business, launch a line and develop new business in international markets.
“We noticed that there was a unique demand in the market for a book of this caliber on fashion law. It will serve as a great legal ‘how to book’ for anyone in the fashion business who wants to successfully run a mass-market brand,” said Barbara Kolsun, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Stuart Weitzman LLC. Kolsun was formerly General Counsel of Kate Spade and Seven for All Mankind and Assistant General Counsel at Westpoint Stevens and Calvin Klein Jeans
