Xu Kunlin, the deputy mayor of the Shanghai government, said at a May 23 meeting regarding the development of the city's fashion industry that the successful trademark registration of the Shanghai Fashion Week's logo demonstrates the importance of the event as well as the country's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights.The trademark application was approved by the Trademark Office of the State Market Supervision and Administration on March 13.

Shanghai's reputation as a global fashion hub has been growing over the past decade because of the Shanghai Fashion Week. The event, which takes place twice every year, aims to champion and nurture local designers. According to industry players and experts, one of the roadblocks to the development of independent Chinese designers is copycat businesses. Few emerging designers take legal action against such companies because they lack the time and money to do so.

During the meeting, Lv Xiaolei, the deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee of Shanghai Fashion Week, noted that independent designers should familiarize themselves with intellectual property law and register their company trademarks in a timely manner to protect themselves.

Fan Yun, the president of Shanghai Trademark Association, said that trademark associations, social organizations and the government should improve laws and regulations to offer a fairer and healthier competition environment for designers. She also proposed the introduction of a blacklist comprising enterprises and individuals who copy other designers.

Liu Feng, the director of the intellectual property research committee of the Shanghai Bar Association, encouraged designers and companies to keep the faith, noting that the intellectual property protection situation has been gradually improving. He also noted that companies can cooperate with professional agencies that provide monitoring and consulting services.

Apart from seeking supervision and help, designers can also take internal measures to fend off plagiarists. According to Lv Yan, the founder of women's clothing brand Comme Moi, her team does so by promoting their new designs to the market as quickly as possible, letting consumers know that the company is the original creator.

Wang Zhi, the founder of renowned women's clothing line Uma Wang, said that she would apply for a patent for her company's self-developed fabric.