Fashion is an industrial and craft industry. It consists of several sectors: jewellery, footwear, sewing, hides and skins, watchmaking, leather goods and textiles, all supported by various mechanisms that aim to accompany and secure the ecosystem (creativity, know-how, manufacturers, subcontractors).
Fashion is also a heritage and creative sector that has existed for centuries in France and whose dynamism is a creator of value and recognized abroad.
The cultural influence of fashion in France
With a worldwide reputation, French fashion has for more than three centuries been the vehicle of an exceptional image linked to luxury and artisanal creation. A special relationship links the French to fashion: our language and our national territory are deeply imbued by it.
France very often embodies the country of art de vivre and luxury. France is perceived as the country of big brands but it is also recognized for the exceptional quality of its artisans and small creators, their know-how and the quality of their products.
The Ministry of Culture attaches great importance to the young generation of creators and family businesses taken over by the youngest. They all embody strong values: vigilance on the climate impact of their production, interest in second-hand products and new technologies.
The heritage of French fashion is particularly important. The private collections of fashion houses and the public collections of museums devoted to fashion, accessories, clothing and know-how are numerous in the territory.
The challenges of the fashion sector
The fashion industry is currently facing new issues: transformation of consumer behaviour, importance of the customer experience, integration of new technologies, 3D creation, digital data, Special attention to resources and the environment. From production to sales, fashion must remain competitive, while maintaining excellence and creativity.
The fashion industry is also experiencing social change in the era of CSR, diversity and inclusion, and the preservation of the environment.
For French companies, production and relocation in France are important issues since they both contribute to the spread of French know-how by reducing the ecological impact via a shorter production chain. The search for new, more sustainable materials, that is environmentally friendly products, is a challenge that many fashion companies are taking up.
