fashion week

The fashion industry world wide has been jolted into recognising our South African designers who have exploded onto the scene with their exciting fusion of Afro-chic and hip Euro designs. We at Bowman Gilfillan firmly believe that our designer's creativity and talent should not only be encouraged but also protected from any possible unlawful exploitation.

It is on this basis that Bowman Gilfillan has entered the foray of the Fashion Industry. We represent major international design houses in South Africa and feel it is high time our local designers are made aware of their Intellectual Property rights. Our designers need to be informed that their efforts have not only materialised into tangible designs but that they have built up financial value in the form of intangible Intellectual Property rights. It is these rights which hold the key to their brand strength. We hope to highlight the value and importance of our designer’s Intellectual Property. This includes trademarks, copyright and designs, what they are and what they entitle you to.

We can assist you with:

• the choice of your brand
• the filing of trademarks & designs
• how you can enforce your rights
• how your trademark, design, copyright should be used
• how to mark your products
• costs involved
• how to manage your intellectual property and much more.......

Being proudly South African and spreading the "ubuntu" spirit is, sadly, not enough to protect our fashion designers from unscrupulous copiers. We have vast experience in the international arena of IP law and we wish to share our knowledge to the benefit of our local designers . We are very excited about the emerging local fashion industry and believe we can contribute to our local fashion industry through our legal expertise.

Please visit the South African Fashion Week website for more information.