Introduction

Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times

It’s Fashion Week in New York City and insiders and fans alike have flocked to witness the season’s new designs. Many of the “fast fashion” retailers are present as well, ready to manufacture similar styles at a mass-market scale.

But where is the difference between mimicking a trend and theft? Some advocate for better legal protection for original designs. Do fashion designers need better copyright protection?

Giselle Defares, a writer in Amsterdam, suggested this discussion.