France Takes Steps to Slow Down 'Fast Fashion'
A new bill targeting "fast fashion" has been approved in the lower house of the French Parliament, making France one of the first countries to limit the influx of low-cost, mass-produced garments, mostly from China.
The fashion industry is among the world's biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. France is seeking to reduce the appeal of fast fashion items, setting a precedent in the fight against the environmental damage they cause.
The bill has been sent to the Senate to consider — either to approve it, or to edit it and send it back to the lower house — before it can become law.
The government said the vote was a historic step toward reining in the "excesses" of fast fashion.
The bill will introduce tough new measures, including banning advertising for the most inexpensive textiles and imposing an environmental levy on these low-cost products.
The bill specifically targets fast fashion giants, calling for companies to reveal their products' environmental impact. It seeks to move the industry toward more sustainable practices.
It's a measure that promotes environmental protection and also aims to protect France's prized high fashion industry.
Known for luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel, France has seen its lower-end market sectors suffer due to stiff competition from fast fashion brands like Zara, H&M, and the emerging Chinese companies Shein and Temu.
By imposing these measures, France aims to promote a more sustainable fashion landscape.
However, producers such as Shein have argued that their business model keeps the proportion of unsold garments very low. This, they claim, contributes to reducing waste — a crucial aspect of sustainability in fashion.
Luxury brands regularly face criticism for the billions of dollars of unsold products yearly.
French supporters of the bill argue it will allow for further action in future, including a proposed EU-wide ban on the export of used clothing to tackle the problem of textile waste.
