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Fashion Tech

The global multibillion dollar industry of fashion is being transformed by technology.

For example, consumers concerned with sustainability might find the yarn of their clothing made from recycled materials or dyed using sustainable fabric-coloring technologies that reduce the environmental impacts of apparel manufacturing. Fashion is ripe for disruption and transformation, taking everything from design, fabric development, manufacture, delivery to the way in which consumers shop on digital channels.

We have decades of experience advising brands and designers. We also have a dedicated technology practice, advising companies, entrepreneurs and investors at the forefront of technology disruption and innovation, ensuring their intellectual property and market changing products and ideas are protected globally.

Our breadth of knowledge and expertise in both the technology and fashion sectors allows us to successfully and expertly advise clients on all matters protecting their innovation, sustainability, technological evolution, creativity and integrity. Our dedicated teams represent both emerging companies and entrepreneurs as well as recognised and respected industry veterans in all matters from company formation, equity investments, loan capital, restructuring, investment negotiations and advice, intellectual property rights protection as well as shareholder disputes, tax advice and employment advice.

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It has been an immense pleasure to work with the Withers team, which provided excellent legal advice for 3DLOOK. With Withers, we have successfully patented our mobile body scanning technology, which helps the apparel industry to better understand what their customers look like and create an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Everything went smoothly and on time. We are so thankful!

Vadim Rogovskiy, CEO & Founder of 3DLOOK
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Our team at Pommello looks to Withers for the wisdom we need to protect our innovations in technical fabrics that set us apart from other athletic apparel brands. We choose Withers because of their in-depth intellectual property, corporate, technology and fashion knowledge. We view Gina Bibby and her team as trusted advisors.

Calvin Ng, CEO & Founder of Pommello Inc.
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Withers is a valued advisor and has represented us for several decades both locally and internationally.  The firm fully supports our values of passion, commitment and tradition which are embodied in each of our product ranges and their guidance, advice and industry knowledge have always been appreciated, especially as the Max Mara brand has expanded around the world.

Massimiliano Camellini - Max Mara
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The team at Withers has been a great support to the creative development of our brand over the years, providing legal advice that has given us stability, and that is always informed by the firm’s deep understanding of the fashion industry.

PREEN
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Having used Withers for my personal tax advice, Graham and Meriel were best placed to assist on my move to the UK to become CEO of the owner of the ‘Agent Provocateur’ brand. They not only gave clear, commercial advice but were able to marry specialist employment and private equity expertise in relation to a bespoke incentivisation package. They were always available and reacted very fast.

Fabrizio Malverdi
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Withers tech have been with us through thick and thin. I trust them completely. They are so in-twined in our business. I see it as a personal relationship.

Mark Davis, CEO – Mologic Ltd
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Personal, detailed and quick. Withers tech provide solutions to problems whilst still ensuring we are fully protected.

Johan Indot, Co-Founder and Executive Director - Bioven Group
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We at Lexicom Technology pride ourselves on our technical expertise and our transparent client relationships. Withers have been key advisors since our inception in 2006. Over the years they have provided invaluable advice to our growing business, representing us on both commercial and private client matters and over a wide range of subjects ranging from domestic property law to international commercial negotiation. They are eminently approachable and always extremely responsive to our enquires. In any arena they have provided a consistently substantial upper hand. I cannot recommend them enough.

David Sunney - Lexicom

Track record

Online FashionTech platform

We are currently mentoring an online SaaS platform start-up which is aimed at online merchandising and retailers in the fashion industry.

Italian luxury lifestyle and fashion company

We are assisting a well-known Italian luxury lifestyle and fashion company in respect of their online platform and e-commerce agreement

Iconic bags and accessories brand

We conducted a global check on the selective distribution system through the analysis of the relevant agreements. We also provided ad hoc IP and commercial advice.

$70M investment to fund partnership with Nike

Acted for ETF Partners, who led a $70M investment into E-Leather, a UK-based company developing patented high-tech materials technology. This Series C funding is for their partnership with Nike to develop the Flyleather line.

Fashion blogger

We acted for one of the most renown fashion bloggers in the world. We provided strategic advice for the implementation of the client's e-commerce platform. We also helped in establishing the client-owned group of companies' GDPR compliance program along with the relevant employee's training and ad hoc advice for special fan-interaction projects.

Max Mara - Jennifer Garner campaign

Italian fashion house Max Mara has a long history of designing luxury couture clothing and has a strong reputation as one of the world's top fashion brands. When their latest campaign involved offering American screen actress Jennifer Garner the opportunity to be the face of their new sunglasses range, Withers was there to assist and provide advice for the agreement.

Business of Fashion

We acted for the Business of Fashion in relation to their Series B financing round led by the Financial Times. This is a great step in the continuing growth and development for our client.

Wool and the Gang

We have acted for well-known clothing brand, Wool and the Gang, in relation to multiple funding rounds and their ultimate exit.

Inspiring young FashionTech entrepreneur

We have advised our client in relation to all aspects of a tech platform linked to 3D printing of luxury fashion and merchandise – an exciting step in revolutionising the brands production scene!

Advising an online made-to-order company, PlatformE

We advised PlatformE, an online made-to-order platform, in relation to their Series B financing round. We acted for the company, which is looking at supporting sustainability and revolutionising the way brands look at inventory and stock.

Leading luxury fashion group

Advising a leading luxury fashion group in setting up a long lasting joint venture between the portfolio brands and a leading ecommerce player for building up the brands online stores.

Italian start-up

Assisting an Italian start-up with the launch of a cloud-based human resource solution for Italian and international businesses.

Leading company in the fashion industry

Setting up the brand protection practice for a leading company in the fashion industry and advising the client on the day by day IP activities such as, managing civil, criminal actions, custom monitoring, parallel imports issues and coordination of counsels in several countries (including China, US, and other EU countries).

Partnerships

Meet the team