THE LEGAL VACUUM OF DIGITAL FASHION AND NFTS IN INDIA: A CASE FOR SUI GENERIS PROTECTION

Historically, the global fashion and apparel industry relied on tangible goods and brick-and-mortar retail. However, this is changing with an emerging collection of technologies, including the Metaverse and NFTs, at the core of a far-reaching digital shift. Such a new paradigm introduces digital fashion: three-dimensional garments, virtual accessories, and immersive digital showrooms existing purely as a code or a flow of data. While at first considered a niche market, virtual goods are fast-growing; valued in billions, India's online fashion market is a vital contributor, with key players now experimenting with tokenized asset sales and digital-only collections. For Indian designers and brands, this is a whole different avenue for revenue and a global platform for creative expression.