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Designing Diversity 2: After Affirmative Action
Fashion has taken strides toward greater racial diversity – but as we anticipated in our panel discussion last fall, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively eviscerated affirmative action, a key civil rights tool for over half a century. While the opinion addressed college admissions policies, its reasoning is far broader, and follow-on cases challenging corporate internships and scholarships are already on the horizon. Could a pledge to stock more products from an underrepresented group, a hiring strategy intended to achieve racial or other forms of diversity, or a program of targeted support for minority designers now be considered unconstitutional? How might the decision affect existing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs? And what are the best legal and ethical strategies for collecting the dividends of diversity and promoting the full spectrum of style in light of the Court's decision? Our panel of experts for "Designing Diversity after Affirmative Action, Part II" will discuss these questions and more. Join us at the beginning of New York Fashion Week to celebrate the Fashion Law Institute's 13th anniversary and engage in one of our favorite roles: cutting-edge analysis and constructive problem solving.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 2023
TIME: 9:30-10:45am (breakfast 9am)
PLACE: Fordham Law, 150 W. 62nd St., 2nd floor (Bateman Room)
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours Ethics and Professionalism, transitional and non-transitional
SPEAKERS:
Angie Byun, AB World
Hayley Macon, Endeavor
Jeff Trexler, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Kenya Wiley, Georgetown University
MODERATOR:
Professor Susan Scafidi
Founder & Director, Fashion Law Institute
Register now!
Due to the social significance of this topic, there is no required registration fee. Voluntary donations are welcome – and tax-deductible!
Fashion Law Bootcamp dorm room
Fashion Law Bootcamp – law school registration
Welcome to Bootcamp!
The Fashion Law Institute's unique annual Summer Intensive Program, fondly known as Fashion Law Bootcamp, is your opportunity to experience the field of fashion law outside of the regular law school curriculum. It's an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the substance of style, with emphasis on current business and legal issues involving the global fashion industry.
Learn fashion law from industry leaders
The program is run by Professor Susan Scafidi, Founder and Academic Director of the Institute, who pioneered the field of fashion law. She is the first professor to create a course in the area – covering the same material as the Fashion Law Bootcamp edition – and is internationally recognized for her expertise. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet fashion industry leaders and Fashion Law Institute faculty, who teach the Fashion Law curriculum at Fordham Law School and themselves have worked with major brands, such as Tiffany, Kering, LVMH, Wilhelmina, Ford Models, and Conde Nast.
The world of fashion law
Fashion law knowledge gives you vital tools for building fashion's future – and because fashion is a truly global industry, Fashion Law Bootcamp takes a comparative international approach. The syllabus is updated every year, with each section taking a fashion-centered focus to help attendees work with the industry more effectively. Topics include
- intellectual property protection of fashion designs,
- counterfeiting,
- licensing agreements,
- contracts and force majeure,
- employment issues from designers to models,
- antitrust,
- bankruptcy,
- fashion and technology, including data security & privacy,
- fashion finance,
- local manufacturing,
- real estate,
- retail issues,
- consumer protection (including cosmetics and personal care products),
- ethics, sustainability and gre
en fashion, - import/export regulations and tariffs,
- endangered species law,
- sumptuary laws,
- masks and personal protective equipment, and
- dress codes.
For lawyers and others interested in the law and business of fashion
Fashion Law Bootcamp® is open to lawyers (and offers CLE credit), fashion professionals, law students, design students and alumni, and others in the U.S. and abroad who are interested in broadening their knowledge of the law and business of fashion. The program is an excellent way for fashion industry professionals to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the legal issues that they deal with on a regular basis or for practicing lawyers to expand their current practice or even jumpstart a change in career.
Individuals who have not yet had academic or practical exposure to the law and business of fashion, including design students entering their final year of study, are eligible to apply but must have a demonstrated scholastic aptitude and willingness to take on the challenge of studying legal materials.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The brief application form is below and is also linked here. Completed applications are reviewed as they are received.
CREDITS
Law students: Fashion Law Bootcamp does not issue a Fordham transcript; academic credit will need approval from your home institution. For additional information, please read this and email bootcamp@fashionlawinstitute.com
before applying).
Lawyers: Both newly admitted and experienced attorneys will receive a maximum of 28.0 transitional and non-transitional, professional practice New York State CLE credits, for the online edition. We are looking into CLE certification for other jurisdictions.
California CLE credit certification renewal for the San Francisco/Silicon Valley edition is pending; based on previous years, the amount of CLE credits for this version should be 14.0 transitional and non-transitional, professional practice New York State CLE credits, and 12.0 CLE credit hours for California.
CERTIFICATE
Certificates of completion will be awarded to all participants at the conclusion of the program.
VISA
If you are not a U.S. citizen or legal resident and are in or will enter the U.S. as a non-immigrant, you may need a visa to attend in-person editions of Fashion Law Bootcamp. A student visa is NOT required; attendees typically use a B-2 or B-1 visa depending on their particular interests, or, for qualified countries, the visa waiver program. Please email us for more information.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about Fashion Law Bootcamp, please email bootcamp@fashionlawinstitute.com.
DATES
New York: May 26 - May 30, 2026
Silicon Valley: TBA (email bootcamp@fashionlawinstitute.com for updates)
CONTENT
The New York in-person edition covers the entire content of Professor Scafidi's pioneering two-credit-hour Fashion Law course.
The Silicon Valley edition covers special topics in fashion law with a technology focus, with sessions at the headquarters of leading brands. Details to be announced for the 2025 edition, which had to postponed due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Silicon Valley offices.
FEE
New York: $2,450, which includes all expenses associated with the program, including materials and optional sessions.
Silicon Valley: To be determined. A special reduced combined rate will be available for attendees of both the online and Silicon Valley editions!
DEPOSIT
A $250 deposit is due with the application. The deposit is applied toward the program cost and is non-refundable once accepted into the program. We look forward to receiving your application!
ACCOMMODATIONS
For the Silicon Valley edition, there are a number of places to stay in San Francisco, and surrounding areas. Details are provided in the admittance letter.
Symposium review at LookOnline.com
Missed our 13th annual symposium? Here’s a comprehensive – and delightful – overview of the entire event, with photos and panel summaries from Laurel Marcus @ LookOnline.com!
We’re preparing recordings of several panels – along with additional pics – and will post links here when they’re accessible.
CLE Materials – 13th Annual Symposium
CLE Materials Inside Out 8
Inside Out 8
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
We look forward to seeing you at a future event!
Join us for our 8th annual panel featuring fashion's in-house counsel!
In-house counsel can rarely discuss their own cases or problems in public, but everyone is keeping an educated eye on others' issues. We've asked about the litigation, legislation, scandals, social issues, and other matters that our colleagues at fashion-related companies are glad are on someone else's desk and not their own, and we're eager to learn about what they're watching. Join us during New York Fashion Week for our 8th annual in-house counsel panel, "Inside Out 8: Fashion's in-house counsel shares schadenfreude"! This session will not be recorded.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 2023
TIME: 9:30-10:45am (continental breakfast at 9am)
PLACE: Fordham School of Law, 150 W.62nd St., New York, NY. 10023
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours professional practice, transitional and non-transitional
- Angie Byun, AB WORLD
- Lizzy Han, Chanel
- Ariel Sodomsky, Coty
- Nick Barnhorst, Fresh
- John Maltbie and Jana Checa Chong, Louis Vuitton
- Alice Pang, Ralph Lauren
- Ashley Valdes, Warby Parker
- Moderated by Professor Susan Scafidi, Founder & Director, Fashion Law Institute at Fordham
For more information about the Institute or the CLE hardship policy, please contact us at events@fashionlawinstitute.com.
Happy Year of the Rabbit!
Boot up for 2023!
We wish you and your loved ones all the most stylish joys of the season, and
we look forward to seeing you in 2023!
Sign up in January for these upcoming events:
Inside Out 8: Fashion's In-House Counsel!
Friday, February 10, 2022
13th Annual Symposium
Friday, April 28
Applications for our next Fashion Law Bootcamp in New York are also open!
And, if you're feeling the spirit of the season, the glee of a holiday bonus, or simply the satisfaction of planning a tax deduction before the end of the year, please help us continue the work of the Fashion Law Institute with your donation. We're a self-supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and contributions at all levels are deeply appreciated!
Happy Year of the Tiger!
