European Fashion Law

Every time you order goods from a factory or sell your products to a wholesaler, shop or end consumer, you are entering into a contract. You don't need to have anything in writing in order to create a legally binding contract but it is helpful to do so as it means that everyone is on the same page as far as the commercial deal is concerned. Pre-contractual liability Many EU Member States, such as Italy and France, have specific laws that apply even before you enter into a for

When you start a new fashion business, there are lots of competing interests for your time. You want to get finance to pay for stock and staff. But you also need to start marketing and build your social media profile. Before long, you will need to start thinking about hiring your first employee. So many things to do and so little time! Each question has legal consequences which it is good to understand in advance... One of the first things you will need to think about is wher

Lawyers help you grow your business. If you approach legal services in the right way, you can have a strong strategic alliance which grows with you. Here are some handy hints on how to instruct a lawyer: Don’t delay - burying your head in the sand leads to a more expensive legal bill. It may also mean that some legal options are lost forever. Get to know them - share your business vision and plans with your lawyer. It helps them give you the best strategic advice. Find the

Franchising, licensing, distribution or agency relationships can help you break into new markets or diversify into new products. It's common for fashion brands to diversify from clothing and footwear into perfumes, sunglasses and cosmetics but different products have different methods of manufacture and routes to market. Each of these options relies on a solid contract which is easy to understand and enforce. There are two fundamental keys to making these arrangements a succe