Brands of all categories are tapping into the potential of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and wearable technology to evolve the marketplace and make sense of big data. How e-commerce and digital innovations affect fashion will be the focus of a cutting-edge panel at the Federal Bar Association’s 5th Annual Fashion Law Seminar in New York February 9, 2018.  To attend and save with early bird rates, register today at

Panelists Céline Bondard (Cabinet Bondard), Olivera Medenica (Medenica Law PLLC), and Kenya Wiley (Fashion Innovation Alliance) will examine the latest fashion technology trends and products, and discuss the legal implications from a US and EU perspective.

Blockchain: The demand for transparency around where clothing comes from (country of origin) and how it’s made (component materials) is rising. As a result, many companies are using blockchain technology – a secure ledger that has been touted as a “spreadsheet in the sky” – to enable both transparency and trust regarding goods. Blockchains can be used to distribute and store product information as well as complex metadata that are run without a single centralized operator.

Brands have the capability with this technology to give consumers confidence in what they’re buying. The data are recorded in a blocks structure, with each block holding batches of individual communications.  Blockchain can be used to clear IP rights; detect counterfeit goods or grey goods; transmit payment in real-time to IP owners; establish and enforce IP contracts; and enforce exclusive distribution networks. Panelists will discuss how the incorporation of blockchain technology will impact the fashion sector as well as other IP-intensive industries.

 Artificial Intelligence: AI will mine and study market data and customer behavior to a level beyond human capability, thereby identifying designs, patterns, and colors that will sell, which enables brands to tailor production and avoid the environmental crisis and economic costs associated with surplus goods. Fashion Law Seminar attendees will explore several machine-learning systems that could help provide an edge to brands when it comes to spotting, reacting to, and shaping the newest fashion trends.

Wearable Technology: Wearable technology goes beyond connected eyewear such as Google Glass, 3D printing, solar-powered fabric that charges your gadgets, biometric shirts that track your vitals at the gym, and smart timepieces such as the Apple Watch. The proliferation of apparel, accessories, and fitness wear that can do everything from monitor your heart rate to charge your smartphone shows no signs of slowing. The wearable tech market could be a $34 billion force by 2020.

The surge in development and use of wearable tech is raising privacy concerns. How information is gathered and how companies digest and retrieve insights will be addressed at the Fashion Law Seminar.

This is a conference that will not only make you think outside the box but help you redefine and redesign the box when it comes to business strategies and adapting to rapid changes in technology and consumer preferences. Sign up for the Fashion Law Seminar on or before December 29, 2017 to use the early bird rate!
