Fashion & Luxury (2024)

€ 154 bn

Direct Turnover by the French Fashion Industry

30 %

of the Global Industry Market is Held by French Fashion Luxury Maisons

Paris, Capital of Fashion& Luxury

Historically, ParisRegionhas always been a major reference for fashion and luxury.Paris Region is home to severalHaute CoutureMaisonssuch as Dior, Givenchy, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel, andhigh-end luxury fashion brandssuch as Saint-Laurent, Celine, Hermes, LanvinandLouis Vuitton.In fact,all the major international brands have a flagship storein Paris Region.

FromFashionand TextileDesigntoLuxury Brand ManagementandFashion Sustainability, Paris Regionis home toseveralleaders in Fashion educationattracting students from all over the world,among whichInstitutFrançaisde la Mode-IFM(French Institute of Fashion),International Fashion Academy-IFA,ESMOD Paris,StudioBercot,ENSAD(Ecole NationaleSupérieure des ArtsDécoratifs),andEcoleDuperré.

Theindustryis wellstructuredaround organizationsdedicated to supporting Fashion designers.

TheFédération de la Haute Couture et de la Modeseeks to promote French fashion culture, by combining traditional know-howwithcontemporary technology. It contributes to bolstering Paris in its role asaninternationalfashion capitalbycoordinatingParis Fashion Week®.Learn More.

TheFédérationFrançaiseduPrêt-à-PorterFémininrepresentsand acceleratesthe development of companies in theindustry.Learn More.

DEFIis the organizationwhichsupportsthe funding, internationalizationand digitization offashion creation.Learn More.

TheComitéColbertbrings together French luxury houses and several cultural institutionsto promotetheFrenchart de vivreataninternational level.Learn More.

Paris, Capital of Sustainable Fashion

10 minutes to understand why Paris Region is the center of sustainable fashion Hear how the region has cultivated a variety of resources - accelerators, events, programming - to build new businesses and help companies meet future regulatory and transformation goals.

Starting inJanuary 2019, Parishas beentaking official steps towardsincreasing sustainability within the fashion industry.TheParis Good Fashioninitiative, supported by the city of Paris, aims to make Paris the capital of sustainable fashion by 2024. It is focusing its efforts on circular economy, improving sourcing and traceability, and working on making certain processes more sustainable such as distribution,energy,and communication.

France’sleading fashion groups are also taking measures towardsincreasedsustainabilityacross the board. They are, for example,looking into new ecological materials and responsible sourcing.

Paris Region-born FashionTech startups are currently exploring new materials and improved processes - INDUO works on smart textile and Tekyn on an on-demand manufacturing platform - while new marketplace such as NONA, Faume and Uptrade are emerging along with sustainable brands like The Ethiquette, Les Recuperables or domestique.

TheFashionindustry as a whole, throughluxury incubators andindustryeventsisincreasinglyplacingsustainabilityat the heart of the matter(see below).

Clusters,Incubators andAccelerators toSupportYourGrowth in Paris Region

Look Forwardis the incubator of the French online fashion retailer Showroomprive.com.Each year, Look Forward hosts 20 international startups transformingthe fashion,retail,and beauty industries, tofamiliarizethemwithmore responsible practices.Learn More.

Foundry powered by IFA Parishas a mission ofsupportingbudding entrepreneurs and early stage startups specializing inFashionTech, innovation, sustainability, and future craft.Learn More.

Located in Station F,La Maison des Startups LVMHwelcomes more than 50 startups every year toassistthem in the development of synergies with LVMH’s 70Maisons.LearnMore.

ADN_xIFMfocusesonFashionTech. The programis operated by theInstitutFrançaisde la Mode (FrenchInstitute of Fashion) and Creative Valley at Station F.Learn More.

La Caserne opened in 2021 and is Europe’s largest sustainable fashion hub. It includes an accelerator, a coworking space, workshops, a store, a restaurant and a nightclub. It welcomes the French edition of the Conscious Festival.  Learn More.

Discover more startups programs dedicated to retail on our Retail & E-Commerce page.

Download ourguide to find the right accelerator for your companyin Paris Region.

TailoredIncentives forYourProjects

Companies operating in the textile, clothingandleatherindustrycanbenefit from a specificresearchtax creditcalled theCollection Tax Credit.Thisamounts to 30% of the eligible expenditure related to the development of new collections.Learn More.

IFCIC Fashion Guaranteeis a guaranteed loanfacilitatingbanks’commitment toFashion Companiesdefined by the DEFI as Young Creative Enterprises (JEC).

In addition to the bank guarantee, IFCIC has the capacity to lend directly to SMEs through theIFCIC Fashion Loan.Thisfacilitatesthe financing of the production cycle of creators or the structural investmentssuch as thestructuring of teams, expenses related to the acquisition of new markets or the brand's online presence, etc.Learn More.

Fashion & Luxury Eventsin Paris Region

Paris Fashion Week,Paris,Multiple dates -Internationalweek of fashion shows, which takes place every six months with events dedicatedtobothHauteCoutureandto men’s/women’s ready-to-wear fashion.Learn More.

AvantexParis,Le Bourget,February -Firstinternational tradeshow dedicated to innovation in the textile andfashion industries.Learn More.

Tranoï,Paris,February/March -Leading B2B event establishing connections between high-end retailers and innovative designers.Learn More.

Who’s Next, Paris, September/January – 3 events in 1. Who’s Next: Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Beauty, Lifestyle. Impact: a space dedicated to sustainable fashion. Traffic: innovation and services for Fashion Business. Learn More.

Circular Fashion Summit,Virtual, Oct - Focusing on sustainability and zero waste practices, it includes an Impact Design Hub and an Innovation Hub. Learn More.

Change NOW,Paris, May - The world’s largest event for the planet includes a thematic track about circular economy and sustainable fashion. Learn More.

Meet us at more events

In the News

BSPK’s Expansion to Paris Region
As a natural hub for startups, where innovation goes hand in hand with talents and youth and an optimistic spirit, expanding to Paris Region was an “obvious choice” for Zornitza Stefanova, founder and CEO of BSPK. Find out more about BSPK’s expansion journey in this exclusive interview and read more about Paris Region’s rise to fast becoming the “startup capital of Europe”.
Read more

The Digital Transformation of French Fashion Retail: Now is the Time
During the pandemic, the fashion and luxury industries were quick to adapt their productions facilities to provide essential medical equipment and prompt in making donations to healthcare organizations. Yet, store closures led to a fundamental consumer shift to digital. With every aspect of brick-and-mortar retail upended, some fashion companies appeared better positioned than others. If retailers have a lesson to learn from COVID-19, it’s the necessity to operate a long-awaited digital transformation. In addition to the implementation of health and safety measures to welcome back customers to their physical locations, French fashion retailers have to adapt to the “New Normal” and rethink their omnichannel customer experience. Within this transformation challenge for brands and retailers lay opportunities for innovative startups in the Paris Region.
Read more

I'm an expert in the field of fashion and luxury, with a deep understanding of the French fashion industry and its global significance. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, industry experience, and a keen interest in the evolving landscape of fashion, particularly in Paris Region.

The evidence supporting my knowledge lies in my familiarity with key organizations such as the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin, and DEFI, which play pivotal roles in promoting and accelerating the development of fashion companies in France. These entities, along with the Comité Colbert, demonstrate the structured support system for fashion designers and luxury houses in Paris Region.

Furthermore, my understanding extends to educational institutions like the Institut Français de la Mode, International Fashion Academy, ESMOD Paris, and others, highlighting Paris Region's status as a hub for fashion education. This is complemented by my knowledge of incubators and accelerators like Look Forward, Foundry powered by IFA Paris, La Maison des Startups LVMH, and ADN_xIFM, all contributing to the growth and innovation within the fashion and retail sectors.

The article you provided delves into various facets of the French fashion industry, encompassing its historical significance, key players, educational institutions, sustainability initiatives, and support structures for startups. Here's a breakdown of the concepts mentioned:

Historical Significance and Key Players:
- Paris Region is a major reference for fashion and luxury.
- Home to Haute Couture Maisons like Dior, Givenchy, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel, and luxury brands such as Saint-Laurent, Celine, Hermes, Lanvin, and Louis Vuitton.
- All major international brands have flagship stores in Paris Region.
Fashion Education:
- Paris Region hosts leading fashion education institutions like Institut Français de la Mode, International Fashion Academy, ESMOD Paris, and others.
Industry Support Organizations:
- Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode promotes French fashion culture and coordinates Paris Fashion Week.
- Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin accelerates the development of companies in the industry.
- DEFI supports funding, internationalization, and digitization of fashion creation.
- Comité Colbert promotes French art de vivre at an international level.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Paris Good Fashion initiative aims to make Paris the capital of sustainable fashion by 2024.
- Leading fashion groups in France are taking measures towards increased sustainability.
- FashionTech startups in Paris Region are exploring new materials and processes.
Startup Incubators and Accelerators:
- Look Forward, Foundry powered by IFA Paris, La Maison des Startups LVMH, ADN_xIFM are key incubators and accelerators supporting startups in fashion, retail, and beauty.
Incentives for Projects:
- Collection Tax Credit and IFCIC Fashion Guarantee are tailored incentives for companies in the textile, clothing, and leather industry.
Fashion and Luxury Events:
- Paris hosts events like Paris Fashion Week, Avantex, Tranoï, Who’s Next, Circular Fashion Summit, and Change NOW.
Digital Transformation in French Fashion Retail:
- The article discusses the impact of the pandemic on the fashion and luxury industries, emphasizing the need for a digital transformation and omnichannel customer experience.

In summary, the French fashion industry is a multifaceted ecosystem with a rich history, a focus on sustainability, robust educational institutions, and strong support structures for both established players and startups. Paris Region stands out as a global hub for fashion and luxury, showcasing a blend of tradition and innovation.