Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 9:55AM Representatives to dictate trends
During the last presidential election much was made over the media's seemingly illogical obsession with personal style of Sarah Palin. But in the coming months, what our politicians want to wear may become something we NEED to think about before heading to the ballot box, thanks to the newly formed Congressional Apparel Manufacturing and Fashion Business Caucus, who announced their full list of priorities for future bills and amendments this morning.
Rep Jarrold Nadler with Michelle Obama/Image: JarroldNadler.com
As expected their list of priorities included the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, a bill that would extend title 17 of the United States trademark code to include fashion design, and protect designers from the rampant 'knock-off' industry, by allowing designers to trademark silhouettes and detailing on pieces for a period of up to ten years.
While this act is controversial as opponents site the difficulty in identifying a trademarkable design due to a long history of fashion piracy, it is not the most surprising on the caucus' list, that dubious title goes to the Trend Redundancy Act, or TRA.
Congresswoman Diane E. Watson/Image: Diane E Watson .com
TRA looks to "Improve marketability and innovation among the American design community to heighten the competitive fashion exporting to the world market by limiting the time trends are permitted to be repeated by American based design houses."
"How can we be expected to compete with the innovators in Europe and Asia if we don't set some guidelines for good design." Representative Jarrold Nadler ( D-NY), a member of the new caucus told members of the press earlier today.
At press time no formal time limits or guidelines for the TRA, were determined, however the caucus did confirm that they had several of the more popular spring styles in mind when discussion the breadth of the Act. "It's more than a marketplace issue." Explained Rep Diane E. Watson ( D-CA) , "I feel my constitutes are being held hostage with ugly, unflattering, 80's silhouettes, harem pants and ridiculous rompers, come on a romper on a grown woman is nothing short of degrading, and it's time we, as Americans stand up against its reign of fashion terror."
For more on this ACT , or to voice your opinion, visit the official TRA website.
Reader Comments (2)
I thought the TRA was real!! I guess I actually believe politicians are that self-involved until i clicked on the link. nice job SW!!!!!
You got me too!!! ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!