Whether through the print of the fabric, the style lines or in the trims added to each piece, fashion designers strive to create garments that will appeal to consumers. Protecting fashion creations with a robust IP strategy is critical for lasting commercial success. FB Rice provides expert guidance to safeguard fashion innovations and maximise their value.

As trends emerge, copying and mass production often follow. From established designer brands to boutique labels, no part of the industry is immune, with imitation occurring at nearly every level. IP laws play a critical role in helping designers protect their work, providing enforceable rights to take action against unauthorised copying.

FB Rice supports clients across the full lifecycle of brand protection and product development. We conduct trade mark searches, filings, and portfolio management, and represent clients in disputes, oppositions, and infringement matters. Our design team ensures the visual appearance of your products is protected and enforceable, while early-stage due diligence—covering patentability, trade mark availability, and design protection—helps secure your competitive edge and mitigate risk.

Our clients include producers of luxury, ready-to-wear fashion, as well as outdoor and performance apparel. With deep technical expertise, FB Rice develops tailored IP strategies to protect your innovations at every stage of their commercial journey.

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Our Fashion Experts

Responsive, thoughtful and reliable, we work alongside you to protect and maximise the value of your innovation.
With experience across a broad range of industries, our highly skilled attorneys provide commercially focused, strategic IP advice tailored to your needs.
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What our clients say

"FB Rice were efficient, professional, and proactive. They completed the work and recommended other services to meet my needs. The team was welcoming and clearly understood my requirements as a client."

- Client Choice Awards, 2026

Fashion Insights

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Catwalks and copycats – intellectual property protection for the fashion industry

Sweet escape for would-be copyright infringers: Copyright found not to subsist in State of Escape tote bag

State of Escape is an Australian company that primarily designs and produces handbags and tote bags. State of Escape accused another Australian bag and accessory company of copyright infringement of one of State of Escape’s products - a perforated neoprene tote bag called the “Escape Bag”. Beata Khaidurova examines the court's decision which should be taken as a warning to designers of bags, accessories and other fashion items about the danger of relying on copyright protection alone.

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Alt. Leather – Creating plastic free leather alternatives

Melbourne based startup Alt. Leather is at the forefront of sustainable innovation with plastic free leather alternatives. They are developing a world leading sustainable leather alternative in terms of ingredient inputs, quality, ethical transparent supply chains and circularity. Alt. Leather’s proprietary leather alternative is made from agricultural waste and regeneratively grown plants, with no animal products or petroleum derived plastics. It is suitable for the fashion, furniture and automotive industries.

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Cautionary Tale: Who’s who in the zoo? Getting legal entities right

When it comes to intellectual property, precision matters. Most people instinctively think of precision in terms of technical details - claims, drawings, prior art searches. But there’s another detail that can be just as critical, and yet is often overlooked: having the correct legal entity on your documents and agreements. A simple oversight in naming can lead to loss of rights, messy disputes, or even the unintended transfer of valuable IP to the wrong party. This cautionary tale - drawn from real-world experiences - shows how a lack of clarity around “who’s who in the zoo” can unravel even the most carefully laid IP strategies.

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