French authorities have had a discount system in place since October, encouraging people to bring in used shoes and clothes to repair instead of throwing out the old and buying new. But will French fashionistas and fashionistas agree, and how will this move affect luxury brands?
According to the representative of the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development of France, Bérenger Couillard, each year 700,000 tons of clothing and shoes end up in landfills in the country.
To put an end to this waste and the environment, while supporting the shoemaking and tailoring sector and creating new jobs, the authorities have drawn up a special incentive program of 154 million euros over five years.
Shoe repairers and clothing repairers who have joined the program will be able to offer customers discounts, such as 7 euros for a new heel or 10 to 25 euros for a new lining for a skirt or jacket.
According to Kuyar, the government thus intends to fight against the excesses of the “fast fashion” industry, in which things are often worn a few times, and to encourage “modest fashion” followers who are ready to repair and patch their clothes and shoes.
According to the Refashion group responsible for developing the new incentive scheme, 3.3 billion articles of clothing, footwear and various home textiles were sold in France last year alone, which is far more than the real needs of the population.
Company alarmed
Not everyone in France is convinced of the desirability and usefulness of the new “repair and repair” initiative.
Businesses fear this will negatively affect such an important sector of the country’s light industry, and French right-wing representative Eric Poger recalls the government’s 3 trillion euro debt and suggests not wasting it already modest public funds.
Pascal Morand of the Federation of Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear, Couturiers and Fashion Designers is worried about how the new government initiative could affect the luxury brands for which France is so famous.
“Silk organza (thin, sheer fabric) should not be considered less durable than polyester organza, based solely on its physical strength,” he complained in an interview with Le Monde newspaper. .
Labeling too…
Another innovation from the French authorities in the fight for the sustainability of clothing and footwear will be new labeling rules, which are introduced from the beginning of 2024 and must include a description of the environmental impact of the production of each specific item. .
Manufacturers will need to mention the amount of water and chemicals used to make a particular item, whether it contains microplastics that can leach into the environment, and whether recycled textiles were used in the production process.
France’s fashion industry, which employs several thousand workers, is one of the biggest sectors of the economy, with a turnover of around 66 billion euros last year.
The country is Europe’s fourth-largest haute couture exporter, but the French themselves spent an average of €430 a year on clothes in 2020, less than the European average.
Source: delfi
