At the invitation of Scott Lipinski, Chairman of the Board of the European Fashion Alliance and Managing Director of the Fashion Council Germany and Dr. Christian Ehler, Member of the European Parliament, a political discussion on the European fashion industry took place in Brussels. The event brought together key stakeholders from the fashion industry, policy makers and members of the press. The focus was on the current status and future of the fashion industry, which were discussed on the basis of the newly published report "The Status of European Fashion" and upcoming legislation. The report, which was also published and presented on the day of the round table, is based on a comprehensive Europe-wide survey on the upcoming sustainability laws affecting the fashion industry.

Dr. Christian Ehler, MEP, the EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Safety and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall and Scott Lipinski, Chairman of the Board of the EFA, jointly welcomed the guests. In her keynote speech, the EU Commissioner, confirmed by Parliament last week, particularly highlighted the importance of the European fashion and textile industry, which plays a key role with 170 billion euros in sales last year and over a million jobs, while increasingly focusing on sustainability and the circular economy. It is therefore important that all organisations involved work together to make European fashion a global leader in innovative and sustainable design. She stressed: "As the new Commissioner, I want you to know that my door is always open. The transition to sustainable fashion is not just about regulations - it is about collaboration, innovation and a shared vision."

This was also confirmed by Dr. Christian Ehler, who added: "Fashion is not just about creating objects; it is about creating dreams and devoting yourself to the art of constant reinvention. In times of societal change, these dreams are more important than ever. The European Union and its institutions must actively support and promote this spirit of creativity and innovation. However, achieving this requires a strong partnership between policymakers and industry. However, the task of achieving the mandatory 55% climate target does not lie solely with legislators: the fashion sector and industry must also make serious efforts on a larger scale to achieve our common goals.”

Scott Lipinski reiterated: “The Fashion Policy Round Table marks a crucial moment for the industry. With the publication of the report, we have not only highlighted the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, but have also reaffirmed our commitment to promoting a sustainable and innovative future for European fashion.”

In the following two discussions on the topics Status of the fashion industry: challenges and needs and Future of the fashion industry: opportunities and solutions, key stakeholders from the industry and representatives of regulators shared their perspectives and expertise. This included Costanza Maramotti, Member of the Board and Sustainability Committee at MAX MARA. For them, it is important to create long-lasting and durable products that are passed down from generation to generation, creating an emotional bond. This also underlines the cultural heritage and supports local handicrafts. The focus is on the longevity of the products, but at the same time also on promoting innovation and sustainability.

Other speakers at the round tables were Annika Mohr Storfält (Balenciaga), Christine Goulay (Sustainabelle), Lieve Vermeire (Van de Velde), Martina Durikovic (MAD by MAD), Michele Casucci (Certilogo), Nikolai Langguth (McKinsey & Company), Paul Mouginot (Stabler.tech), Carlo Capasa (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana) and Pascal Morand (Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode).

Following the Fashion Policy Round Table, a networking event was held by EFA and Certilogo, where participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the results of the Fashion Policy Round Table.

The report “The Status of European Fashion” including the “EFA Manifesto of Recommendations” and a summary of the “EFA Fashion Policy Round Table” will be published on the EFA and FCG websites.