thanks for the link. That was very interesting. It's really amazing how the entire fashion industry even without any sort of protection is running well.
While the fashions themselves aren't protected, the names of the labels etc. are trademarked. That's why you're seeing the Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana names on everything. And the Luis Vuitton luggage pattern contains their logo. A lot of stuff produced is basically nothing but a vehicle for the logo itself, without much fashion/innovation around it.
True. However analogously software companies also have trade-secret protection from employees divulging source code independent of the software patent process.