At the Première Vision trade fair in Villepinte on 16 September 2025, leading European textile and clothing federations issued a joint declaration urging immediate action against the rapid rise of ultra fast fashion.

Driven largely by non-European e-commerce platforms, ultra-fast fashion already accounted for 4.5 billion imported parcels into the European Union in 2024, representing 5% of clothing sales and 20% of online trade. The federations warn this trend poses severe threats, including the overproduction of short-lived garments, mounting textile waste, unsustainable pressure on European SMEs, damage to local retailers and high street vitality, and widespread practices such as VAT fraud, counterfeiting, and unfair competition.

The declaration calls on European institutions and Member States to act without delay. Key demands include enforcement of the reformed European Customs Code adopted in June 2025, stronger controls and sanctions through the DSA and DMA, compulsory legal representation for e-commerce platforms, the introduction of taxes on small parcels, abolition of the €150 customs duty exemption, and robust VAT collection. Dialogue with Chinese authorities is also requested to regulate platform practices.

The statement was co-signed by federations across Europe, including Euratex, UFIMH, UIT, Confindustria Moda, Fedustria, DM&T, Finnish Textile & Fashion, Textil+Mode, SEPEE, LATIA, Modint, ATP, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Consejo Intertextil Español, Swiss Textiles, WKO, Anivec Apiv, TEKO, Creamoda, the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp, and PIOT, among others.

European consumers were also invited to support durable products and companies investing in quality and innovation. “Ultra-fast fashion cannot become the norm. The European Union has both the means and the duty to act immediately to protect its businesses, its workers, and the environment,” the federations declared.

www.euratex.eu