On the occasion of the Premiere Vision trade fair in Villepinte, the leading European textile and clothing federations issued a solemn call for urgent action against the rapid rise of ultra fast fashion.
This model, driven by major non-European e-commerce platforms, already accounted for 4.5 billion imported parcels in the European Union in 2024—representing 5% of clothing sales (20% online)—and continues to grow at a staggering pace.
The signatories warn of the severe consequences of this phenomenon:
- Explosion of textile waste due to the overproduction of items with a very short lifespan.
- Unbearable pressure on European SMEs, committed to strict social and environmental standards.
- A direct threat to local retailers, accelerating the decline of city centers.
- Practices in breach of European rules, such as VAT fraud, counterfeiting, and unfair competition.
The federations call on the European institutions and Member States to act without delay to:
- Enforce the reform of the European Customs Code adopted on 27 June 2025.
- Strengthen controls and sanctions through the DSA and DMA.
- Require e-commerce platforms to appoint legally authorized representatives, so they can be held accountable.
- Introduce taxation on small parcels and abolish the customs duty exemption below €150.
- Ensure VAT collection on these massive flows.
- Engage in dialogue with the Chinese authorities to regulate the practices of their platforms.
European consumers are also invited to choose durable products and support companies investing in quality and innovation.
News Courtesy: Fibre2fashion