The UK has a broad range of intellectual property (IP) protection, making it an ideal jurisdiction for safeguarding the creativity that is central to the fashion industry. In addition to many of the rights it shares with its EU neighbours, such as trade marks, registered and unregistered design rights and copyright, it also has some UK-specific rights, such as passing off and an extended unregistered design right for 3D designs.

In their day‑to‑day operations, fashion brands regularly navigate challenges that emerge where fashion meets the law and increasingly face complex questions at the intersection of fashion and legal regulation. 

What are the main intellectual property rights (IPRs) available to protect fashion products?

What contractual arrangements are useful in manufacturing, distributing and advertising fashion products?

What regulations govern online marketing and how are the rules enforced?

What are the most relevant unfair competition rules for fashion businesses and how do the courts interpret and enforce these rules?

Is there any regulation specifically addressing sustainability or ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) in the fashion industry?

With customs monitoring, do any special import and export rules apply to fashion products?

Sarah Fellows answers these questions and more in the UK Chapter of Fashion Law- Law Over Borders Comparative Guide 2026 by the Global Legal Post. It highlights some of the key changes post Brexit, particularly in the design protection framework and new legislation (Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and Online Safety Act 2023) and it sign posts some further upcoming changes being considered, including the potentially significant reform of the UK’s design system and cessation of series trade mark applications.

You can read the full chapter here.