Developing a new product always comes with certain risks. Fast fashion products like Handbags, in particular, have the issue of being copied and replicated. It's an issue for everyone who doesn't have an in-house manufacturing setup.

Handbag designs being stolen is bad, so how to protect your handbag designs when outsourcing production? There are several ways actually, and in this article, we’ll talk about everything you can do to protect your IP.

The Problem of Design Replication

One of the biggest concerns of outsourcing your production is the idea of getting your design stolen. It’s particularly prevalent in the seller’s community that manufacturers often steal product designs, and sell the same product to competitors and other entities, which leads to increased competition.

While there is some truth to the theory, it's not nearly as common an occurrence as people make it out to be. Manufacturers usually don't have the time to overproduce products with the intent of marketing them. It's a foolish gamble because they would then need to find ways to inject them into a market that may or may not exist.

But such things do happen from to time. And it's almost always done by unethical manufacturing facilities. Even large entities like Amazon often engage in design theft of its sellers' products. They produce the product for cheaper and then sell it on the same platform to drive out the original owner.

In the end, the chances of such design theft depend entirely on the situation and the quality of your product. Design thefts are less common in the fashion industry because it’s way too hard to keep up with the fast-paced changes in consumer taste.

Why Do People Outsource Production Despite The Risks?

There's a reason why people still choose to outsource production rather than set up their own in-house facilities. Externalização production is one of the hallmarks of current production infrastructure. 

It helps you lower production costs and gives you access to specialized expertise. It elevates your product quality and increases your production efficiency. Outsourcing is much better in terms of scalability. This kind of supply chain is also very flexible in dealing with unforeseen situations.

Outsourcing is extremely important for attaining a marked competitive edge in any market these days. A good example case for illustrating this issue is Intel. For the longest time, Intel had its in-house semiconductor manufacturing facility. Many people praised it for having an edge over their competitors in that regard.

But as you all know now, the company simply can't adapt to the fast-paced changes and is almost close to going bankrupt. On the other hand, its competitors like AMD and Apple source their semiconductors from companies in Taiwan, China, or South Korea. And they are doing much better at adapting to the changing environment in their niche.

Such isn't only applicable to the tech industry. The niche fashion industry and the garments industry are also using the same principle. Despite the risks of minor design leaks here and there, outsourcing production is simply more profitable for the sellers.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Designs?

There are several ways of protecting your designs from leaking. While these methods aren't 100% foolproof, they do a good job of dissuading anyone from copying other people's designs, because it just isn't worth the hassle. 

Overseas Copyright

Working with manufacturers that are within the jurisdiction of the World Trade Organization is a good way to safeguard your patents. World Trade Organization has an IP protection clause for unique designs, so as long as you file for IP protection, most manufacturers should comply. 

You can easily get a patent if your design is unique enough. Even countries like China offer patents for products if you use their manufacturers. You'll simply need to complete the patent acquisition through a Chinese agency. 

Local Copyright

You should also apply for copyrights in your own country. That will prevent your immediate competition from using your designs in your local market. This is usually a good way to prevent design theft. Most design theft incidences involve local competition rather than a foreign one. 

Even if an overseas company steals your design, the ones to market the product will usually be your local competition. Local copyright will protect your products from local entities. 

Fragmentary Outsourcing

The best way to completely avoid design infringement issues is to customize your handbags after the manufacturing process. What you can do is, order the general bag designs from the manufacturer, and outsource the bulk of the manufacturing process for the basic design of your bag.

You can add the finishing touches like accessories yourself, locally. That will make your bags more unique and prevent potential design thefts. You could also hire multiple manufacturers to manufacture different parts and assemble them in-house.

Why A Reliable Manufacturer Is Necessary

Arguably, the most important factor in safeguarding your designs when working with a foreign manufacturer lies in choosing a good manufacturer. Manufacturers with integrity will never steal their client's design, because it's simply not worth souring a good relationship.

Establishing a good connection with your supplier can eliminate many issues that arise from miscommunication, and build strong trust. Trust is essential for client retention and is an integral part of the business strategy of a competent manufacturing company. 

You can judge a manufacturer based on their track record, working experience, and past clientele. It's highly unusual for a shady manufacturer to be able to continue operating for long due to all the regulations. So, it's usually a safe bet to pick ones that have a long history of satisfied clients.

Conclusão

In this article, we discussed how the manufacturing process works in safeguarding your product designs. The cases of actual design theft are few and far between, as most manufacturers feel that it’s not worth the hassle. 

Any competent manufacturer will never try to steal your product designs but you can always protect your designs with copyright claims. Feel free to contacte-nos if you need any more information about handbag manufacturing.