Five years ago, the City of Paris initiated a groundbreaking movement called Paris Good Fashion, with the goal of establishing Paris as the capital of sustainable fashion by 2024. As the association celebrated its fifth anniversary, it conducted a review of its achievements and future plans in the presence of key industry stakeholders. Isabelle Lefort, co-founder of Paris Good Fashion, provided insights into the tangible outcomes of their actions in France and Europe.
With over 100 members spanning various sectors, including renowned brands like Lacoste, Balzac, Balmain, Schiaparelli, and major groups like LVMH, Kering, and Richemont, Paris Good Fashion is now the largest French association engaging industry stakeholders in sustainable development. The association also boasts a diverse representation of retailers, digital platforms, federations, consulting firms, and partners, collectively accounting for 60-70% of the French market turnover.
Over the past five years, Paris Good Fashion has led more than 50 projects and concrete actions that have made a significant impact. These initiatives range from mapping eco-responsible actors in Île-de-France to conducting a citizen consultation and establishing a working group on hangers and polybags that resulted in a remarkable solution reducing this form of pollution by over 70 percent.
One of their flagship projects is the development of a Methodology Act for the Fashion & Luxury sector, aimed at assessing the credibility of decarbonisation strategies. This project, led by Deloitte in collaboration with ADEME and World Benchmarking, has already garnered support from over ten members of the association. The objective is to create an international benchmark that can evaluate and measure industry progress in decarbonisation, addressing the lack of coordination and harmonisation in current efforts.
Paris Good Fashion has also made significant strides in raising awareness and addressing the issue of excessive volumes in the industry. They conducted a citizen consultation in 2020, involving 107,000 participants, to find collective solutions for sustainable fashion. Surprisingly, all members requested the creation of a glossary before committing to the initiative, highlighting the need for a common language and shared understanding. The association responded by defining over 350 terms, which are now available on their website and serve as a reference tool for industry professionals.
To further promote sustainable practices, Paris Good Fashion developed a comprehensive map of sustainable fashion actors in Île-de-France, featuring over 433 validated actors in categories like slow fashion, ethical fashion, vegan, and upcycling. The map has become a valuable resource, with over 3,000 monthly subscribers seeking information on second-hand actors and repair services.
The association has also taken decisive action to address the waste generated by the fashion industry. By implementing pooling of collection and standardising processes, they have successfully collected and recycled significant volumes of hangers and polybags. Their goal is to reduce the impact of these plastic objects by 70 percent and expand this initiative nationwide in 2024 through collaboration with the Trade Alliance and DEFI Mode.
In collaboration with Vestiaire Collective, Paris Good Fashion co-piloted a position paper addressing the responsible and circular management of global textile waste. Their recommendations include the introduction of an eco-contribution for companies based on the number of references they put on the market and the development of an independent reference tool to reassess the waste hierarchy.
Paris Good Fashion's achievements are driven by a spirit of collective intelligence and collaboration among all industry stakeholders. Their structure ensures that every member has an equal voice, fostering fair collaboration and transparent discussions. This inclusive approach has resulted in fruitful partnerships between previously unconnected actors, exemplified by brands like LVMH, Kiabi, and Lacoste working together towards sustainable solutions.
Looking forward to their second roadmap for 2024-2030, Paris Good Fashion aims to make Paris an exemplary capital of responsible fashion. Their focus areas include decarbonisation, addressing inclusion issues, and exploring new economic models that incorporate volume and recycling. The association plans to strengthen their key performance indicators, establish technical committees, and share their achievements with international partners for greater global impact.
As the fashion industry continues to evolve, Paris Good Fashion remains agile, useful, concrete, and collective in its approach. The association recognizes the importance of anticipating and preparing for the transition towards a more sustainable future. With their groundbreaking initiatives and relentless commitment, Paris Good Fashion is making significant strides towards a more responsible and environmentally conscious fashion industry.
