Europe textile sector opposes ultra-fast fashion
21 October 2025: More than 20 European textile and garment organisations have requested the European authorities to establish immediate regulatory measures against the rise of ultra-fast fashion in the region.
This communication involved trade bodies from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. They came together under the umbrella of French manufacturers’ association UFIMH, Union des Industries Textiles (UIT) and European confederation Euratex.
The declaration was signed at the Première Vision trade fair in Villepinte, France.
The organisations are calling for a tax on small-parcel deliveries and to end the current exemption that waives customs duties on goods under 150 ($177.70).
According to the federations, there is a need for stronger regulation and sanctions as provided by the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Their stance is that e-commerce companies must appoint legally authorised representatives to ensure accountability within their operations. Furthermore, they highlighted the need for more rigorous value added tax (VAT) collection processes to manage the high volume of goods entering the European Union (EU) market.
The federations also suggested engaging with Chinese authorities to regulate online platform practices.
The signatories highlighted the alarming growth of ultra-fast fashion, which is said to be predominantly driven by large non-European online platforms, with an aim to make the garment industry more “sustainable and responsible”.
They want governments to take action to help consumers make more responsible choices and to support garment brands and companies transitioning to more sustainable models.
Denouncing the “excesses of ultra-fast fashion”, they warned against the harmful consequences of a model built on the overproduction of disposable garments: a surge in textile waste, unfair competition for companies respecting regulations and the weakening of local retail.
