Por: Paola Lambert
Intellectual property rights are a keystone in fashion development, which has had great progress from new technologies, digital marketing, and social networks, creating a greater need for consumption and acquisition, so it is relevant to have adequate protection on the industry creations.
It is undeniable to mention that women have a great influence in the fashion world, both as consumers and creators. We can be directly or indirectly responsible for its consumption, but also for its designs and innovation. We work, buy, wear, and create fashion and for that reason, our opinion and influence are passed from generation to generation, so much so that the fashion industry has been largely led by important women, such as Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, Gabrielle Chanel or better known as Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan and Chiara Ferragni.
Salvadoran women entrepreneurs have been fashion references, nationally and internationally, such as Eva Innocenti, Margarita Cornejo, Andrea Ayala, Raquel Arana, and Violeta Martinez, recognized for their great talent and for being an empowering inspiration for other women. Women also play an important role in the economy and product exportation that generate a large amount of income for the country and generating jobs.
In this way, Intellectual Property takes a fundamental role in the industry, allowing us to protect our creative work, either as a trademark, patent, utility models, or industrial design, but also involving different areas of law, such as corporate law with licensing or franchising or litigation that protect us and grant us exclusive control of intellectual property rights on products and monetize them, which is of great importance in a world where there is often a gender difference; also, avoiding unauthorized copying and imitation.
Intellectual property in fashion involves not only the designs and patterns of garments, but also trademarks, labels, materials, technologies, techniques used in the manufacture of a product, and even sustainability that minimizes environmental and social impact, which is why fashion is a constantly evolving industry that relies heavily on innovation to remain relevant and competitive, It must therefore be protected and strengthened through programs that promote education, training, and awareness of basic intellectual property concepts, such as how to register a trademark or patent, as well as awareness of the infringement risks, the rights of the owner and means of enforcing them.