France news and archive

French fashion retail in transition: overview of a reinvented sector

This year, in France, of over 2,000 shop openings recorded by Newmark, only 13 percent concerned the fashion sector. This figure, far from anecdotal, reflected the major shift currently shaping fashion retail and redrawing the landscape of our shopping streets. The turning point began in late 2019. Progressively, more and more mid-range fashion...

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France consumes more new fashion than ever amid transition to circularity

Purchases of new clothing, footwear and household linen reached a record high in France in 2024, with an average of 42 items per person, the organisation Refashion revealed at a press conference on Tuesday. In 2024, 3.5 billion new pieces were purchased, or 10 million per day, Vanessa Gutierrez, head of studies at Refashion, the body tasked by...

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Tax loophole: Decathlon expresses concern over potential CIR decrease in France

As the French government addressed the 2026 budget, the subject of tax credit cuts resurfaced within local media. Among these, a potential decrease in the CIR (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche) could significantly impact companies in the fashion and sports sectors, such as French sporting goods retailer Decathlon. Concerned by the issue, Decathlon...

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French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion

The French Senate is due to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate the fast fashion industry, by sanctioning companies and banning advertisements. The bill is targeted at Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which has a reputation for selling lower quality clothes at a very low price. Easy to order and replace, fast fashion items are exported to...

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Arnault slams France’s tax plans: ‘Encouragement to relocate’

Bernard Arnault, CEO of the world’s largest luxury firm LVMH, strongly criticised the French government during a hearing in the French Senate. In his argument, he stated that “it is very bad for the state to interfere in the management of private companies”. This statement came in response to President Emmanuel Macron’s recent call for economic...

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Macron backs call to scrap EU sustainability rules

French President Emmanuel Macron boasted that his reforms paved the way for 20 billion euros ($22 billion) in foreign investment projects announced on Monday at the Palace of Versailles. The record figure beat the 15 billion euros announced last year and reinforced France's status as the top draw in Europe for foreign direct investment,...

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Circ to open first full-scale commercial facility in France

US textile recycler Circ has announced plans to open a facility in France dedicated to the recycling of used polycotton textiles into new materials. The plan was confirmed at the 2025 Choose France Summit by the country’s president Emmanuel Macron. Set to be located in Saint-Avold, the new facility is said to be “the first of its kind to recycle...

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C&A continues its restructuring, 300 jobs threatened in France

Paris - Dutch fashion brand C&A, established in France for over 50 years and which has been restructuring its store network for several years, has just announced a new project that puts more than 300 jobs at risk. Announced to its employees on March 14, the new workforce reduction plan has not gone down well with the unions, particularly the CGT...

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French clothing and textile sales up 4.3 percent in October 2024

In October 2024, retailers' sales of clothing and textiles recorded a 4.1 percent increase in value compared to October 2023, according to data shared by IFM Panel. After the strong increase last September , the French clothing and textile sector continues its performance. For the month of October 2024, distributor sales recorded an increase of...

Retail

Savage X Fenty teams up with Galeries Lafayette and arrives in France

As part of an ongoing international expansion strategy, Savage X Fenty, the lingerie brand founded by Rihanna, has chosen to partner with French department store Galeries Lafayette. Starting September 12, the deal allows the brand to be distributed in nine Galeries Lafayette stores across France, including stores in Marseille Prado, Béziers,...

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France: Fashion industry players mobilise against the National Rally

As France waits for the second round of legislative elections, part of the country is mobilising against the arrival of the National Rally (RN) in power, after it won 29.25 percent of the vote (33.15 percent with the Republican allies) in the first round. In this historic context, a handful of personalities from the fashion sector have spoken...

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Retail

Will relocation and digitalisation help in the renaissance of France’s fashion retail sector?

Which industries, with the possible exception of emerging ones, bring only good news? Once thriving, the retail sector in the French textile and clothing industry is now facing a host of challenges. Competition from low-cost countries, the rise of e-commerce and changes in consumer habits have undermined what was once a dynamic sector. Far from...