FASHION LAW

Studying Fashion Law at the IIFM means receiving a practical, cutting-edge education at the heart of fashion and luxury. Through collaboration with top legal experts and partnerships with leading fashion houses, you'll gain exclusive insights and work on real-life cases, preparing you to tackle the legal challenges specific to this industry, according to the Italian and European perspective. You'll learn how to navigate complex regulations, protect brands, and manage contracts and disputes, acquiring the skills necessary to thrive in the global fashion world. 

A unique and highly valuable professional experience.

The Fashion Law course is designed for:

-    Law graduate and under-graduate current students, law practitioners that are willing to deal with the challenges of the fashion businesses. It’s an excellent opportunity for understanding the most current legal issues and best practices in the industry, that can involve different professional figures: from lawyers, to licensing managers, product managers, retail managers.
-    Graduates and current students in business and economics, who want to understand the most relevant legal issues inside a fashion & luxury company, in order to acquire transversal and multi-disciplinary competences, that will permit them to properly manage core processes, particularly in small and medium fashion companies.

By the end of the course, you will have developed the ability to navigate the complexities of business processes in the fashion and luxury sectors, effectively managing relevant regulations and business and law practices. You will be able to apply laws related to trademarks and intellectual property rights, as well as manage agreements and contracts. Additionally, you will gain the skills needed to optimize relationships with various business stakeholders, from licensing to managing the entire supply chain, enhancing every stage of the process.

 

The Fashion Law course is carried out by the Italian Institute of Fashion Management Faculty, composed of academics and practitioners from law, fashion design and fashion business backgrounds, in collaboration with leading legal office professionals as well as fashion & luxury companies’ managers and lawyers. A multidisciplinary team, for granting the deepest understanding of fashion law practices, and enhancing participants’ opportunities as insiders.
 

COURSE DIRECTORS
Maria Lillà Montagnani 
Full Professor of commercial law at Bocconi University and Director of the LL.M in European Business and Social law (EBSL), with PhD in Competition law. She is Transatlantic Technology Law Forum Fellow at the Stanford Law School, and Faculty Member at IIFM.

Nicola Guerini
Dean and Director-General of the Italian Institute of Fashion Management. Professor of Management of Fashion & Luxury Companies,  Entrepreneurship & Start-up Planning. Lecturer in several universities at graduate and MBA level, in Italy and abroad, among which Villanova University.
 

COURSE COORDINATOR
Aurelio Assenza
Adjunt Professor at Bocconi University – School of Law for ‘Legal Issues in Marketing’ and ‘Advanced Intellectual Property Law.’ Partner at Emlex Law Firm, Member of the Milan Bar since 2010. Aurelio has published in the areas of Intellectual Property and competition Law. Contract Professor at the Italian Institute of Fashion Management.
 

Topics covered in the course alternate between case study discussions, meetings with managers and other industry representatives, classroom activities, and project work. At the end of the course, career guidance is provided to students aiming to work in the industry and a shared evaluation of business ideas with participants who want to start an entrepreneurial venture. 

The course awards an official IIFM certificate.

Fashion Processes & Business Models
The course aims to introduce students to the main business models that characterize the fashion system, the underlying business logic, and the different positioning choices and strategies, up to their impact on the configuration of characteristic processes. The most current and relevant trends in the sector will also be introduced, with a focus on the fashion and luxury segments.

Fashion IP Processes 
This course will look at the different intellectual property rights that can be used to protect products in the fashion industry. Analyzing requirements and procedures, the course will look at how and under what conditions to obtain these rights.

Fashion Design 
The course aims at delving into the different phases of the development process of a fashion collection, identifying both the activities related to the organization and management of the creative processes and to the planning of the architecture of the collection according to corporate and market constraints, with a focus on the different design processes adopted: research, scenario, and architecture of the collection, final development.

Fashion Negotiation 
License agreements are among the most effective tools to exploit the value of brands and other forms of intellectual property. Consequently, the course will analyze how to negotiate a license agreement, focusing on the pros and cons of the most frequently used clauses, as well as the most frequently used cases of negotiation, including digital communication and influencer marketing.

Fashion Pipeline & Counterfeiting
The course focuses on ways to prevent and limit counterfeiting, working on the production-distribution chain as well as on communication via the Internet. At the same time, the course also provides an overview of the most recent regulatory developments introduced to facilitate IP-companies, including, for example, the favorable tax regime known as the 'patent box'.

Field project: fashion mock trial and fashion critical analysis 
Thanks to the presence of guests and lecturers, you will develop a real team-based mock trail for fashion. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the analysis projects will be based on a wide range of topics: from competition policy to the protection of intellectual property, thanks to lawyers and fashion professionals (designers, photographers, entrepreneurs) with significant experience from both academic and professional perspectives.

Students will be able to study the principles of design contracts, theories of consumer consent, communication design, intellectual property, franchise law, real estate, commercial law, as well as fashion show/presentation law (covering issues in general, design rights, and labor law) and supply chain law (with a focus on sustainable fashion).
 

IIFM's short courses deliver a dynamic, industry-driven learning experience. Dive into hands-on projects, tackle real-world challenges, and connect directly with leading fashion professionals. We blend cutting-edge theory with practical simulations, company visits, and exclusive networking opportunities.
Gain specialized skills and actionable insights in a condensed timeframe, equipping you to thrive in today's fast-paced fashion and luxury landscape. Experience the IIFM difference – where learning is immersive, interactive, and directly relevant to your career ambitions.

Our specialized short courses in Fashion Law, Fashion Journalism, Digital Fashion, and Fashion Buying can have a direct and powerful impact on your careers, offering market-relevant skills that truly make a difference in the job market.
Featuring an inter-disciplinary Faculty, sessions with professionals, a diverse cohort of international classmates from all over the world - this is the perfect formula for enhancing your expertise and connections. 
And there’s more: upon completion, you’ll join our exclusive Alumni association, a global community of fashion professionals that unlocks invaluable networking opportunities and career pathways.

The courses at the Italian Institute of Fashion Management offer flexible learning, designed to fit your lifestyle, needs and commitments. You can choose to attend classes in person or,  at your choice, join online sessions live or even access recorded lessons whenever it suits you. This flexibility allows you to study at your own pace, balancing your education with work or personal need without any stress. With a modular program, you can fully personalize your learning experience, taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with instructors and experts no matter where you are. The flexibility is total, giving you the freedom to grow professionally while managing your daily responsibilities.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To initiate the selection process, prospective candidates must complete the following steps:
1.    Application Form : Complete and submit the application form, accessible at the page APPLY NOW.
2.    CV: Attach a CV to the online application.
Upon receipt of the required documents, IIFM will evaluate the application and will notify the candidate of the final decision (admission or non-admission) within 7 days.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications:
-    Current enrollment in an a degree program or possession of a degree equal to or higher than a bachelor's degree.
-    Knowledge of English.

The program is designed for under-graduate students, graduates (bachelor's or master's degrees), and professionals.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
The total course fee is €3,500, payable in two installments:
-    First installment: €2,000, due upon acceptance of the application.
-    Second installment: €1,500, due by the start of the program.
These fees include a portion of the study materials and access to the Institute's facilities.
Financial aid is available for the Italian Institute of Fashion Management Master students. For detailed information, please contact: info@iifm-milano.it

Withdrawal Policy
The initial registration fee is non-refundable.
Participants may withdraw from the course up to the eighth calendar day prior to the course start date by sending a written notification to the Italian Institute of Fashion Management's legal address (with advance notice via email). In such cases, a refund of the amount paid, excluding the initial fee, will be issued.
If a participant communicates their intention to withdraw after the specified deadline, or fails to provide notification and does not attend the course, no refund will be granted. However, the participant will have the option to attend a subsequent edition of the course (if available) or another IIFM course within one calendar year of the original course start date, subject to the payment of any price differences.