Opinion | Making textiles made in France an industrial success #59

2020/07/09

The textile sector aims to relocate part of its production to France. To be competitive, write three specialists, the French sector must change its production model and invest in innovation. By Géraldine Poivert (President of (Re)set), Pascal Denizart (Director General of the European Centre for Innovative Textiles), Chloé Salmon-Legagneur (Head of the Bali Chair at the Estia Engineering School)

Relocation is gaining ground in the textile sector. Faced with pressure from consumers concerned about social and ecological issues, and to respond to the new regulatory constraints on the circular economy, the textile sector is taking action and starting its biggest revolution: its reindustrialisation as close as possible to the places of consumption. But let’s not be naïve, the project is colossal. Because behind the ideal of a regained industrial sovereignty lie major challenges – economic, technological, skills – which require rapid action with overall measures, to win the wager of employment and competitiveness.

It will be necessary to convince decision-makers of the economic relevance of Made in France and to break down certain preconceived ideas that persist. In the line of sight: the competitiveness of Asian production sites which make “fast fashion” in mass and at lower cost and whose enthusiasm still weighs heavily in the strategic choices.

Les Echos