Fashion Law Day

What is Fashion Law – and why does it matter to everyone from designers to consumers?

Fashion Law refers to the wide range of legal issues that shape the fashion industry. It brings together intellectual property law, contract law, marketing regulation, sustainability and compliance norms, labor law, and international trade into one fast-evolving and highly relevant field.

The program includes engaging case studies based on real industry situations, as well as discussions of recent legal cases that have shaped the field of Fashion Law. We will also hear guest speakers from the industry sharing practical insights into how law operates in everyday fashion business – from design to retail.

In addition, the seminar will address perspectives, including the historical and structural impact of colonialism on fast fashion and legal questions surrounding upcycling and circular fashion.

Fashion Law is not just about rules and regulations – it is about creativity, power, responsibility, and the future of the fashion industry.

Join us to explore how law shapes fashion – and how fashion, in turn, shapes the law.

Seminar is chaired by Heidi Härkönen,  University Lecturer,  Fashion Law Docent, University of Turku.

Member university students can receive one ECTS credit for participating in the seminar and completing the related assignment (a learning diary). Before registering, please confirm with your own institution that the course can be credited towards your degree. IPR University Center will provide a certificate of participation, but credits are granted by each student’s home university. The ECTS credit can only be obtained by attending the seminar onsite. The seminar can also be attended without completing the credit requirements (either onsite or online). The number of onsite places for students is limited, and priority will be given to students from University of Turku who are taking a design law course at the time of the seminar. Students will be informed about acceptance to participate in the onsite event by 6 October at the latest. More information: info@iprinfo.com.

Program

9.00 – 9.15 Welcome to Fashion Law Day
Heidi Härkönen, Fashion law docent, University Lecturer, University of Turku

9.15 – 10.00 Keynote: Is there a right to fashion? Aesthetic welfare, intellectual property, and the magnificent art of fashion
Johanna Gibson, Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London

10.00 – 10.30 Coffee

10.30 – 11.15  The new EU standard for copyright infringement – what does it mean for the fashion and design sectors?
Heidi Härkönen

11.15 – 12.00 Most interesting fashion law cases from Finland and abroad
Emilia Hodge, VP Brand Advisory and Legal Services, Lawyer, Berggren

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch

13.00 – 13.45 Historical and structural impact of colonialism on ultra fast fashion
Ellenetta Jestoi, Lawyer, Papula-Nevinpat

13.45 – 14.30 Fashion law case analysis – Case Peak Performance and Case Marimekko
Markku Tuominen, Partner, Roschier

14.30 – 14.50 Coffee

14.50 – 15.30 How brands are fighting dupes in the US with an arsenal of IP
Christine Haight Farley, Professor of Law, Washington College of Law (Distinguished Fulbright Professor at Hanken – autumn 2026)

15.30 – 16.20 Panel discussion
All the speakers

16.20 – 16.30 Closing remarks

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During the seminar we are offering a candy buffet!

SEMINAR IS SUPPORTED BY: