Our glossary
The Paris Good Fashion glossary was born following the citizen consultation on responsible fashion carried out in 2020 at the initiative of our association alongside a collective of committed actors*.
It responds to the expectations expressed by more than 107,000 participants, concerning the need for consumer information and the need to use a common language understood by all. Hence, the members of Paris Good Fashion decided to develop this glossary in order to exchange and communicate on the same basis.
Initially published in French, this glossary is now available in English in order to make as many people as possible benefit from this work. It includes about 350 definitions, and is the result of collaborative work with our members**.
- We first defined the main categories and terms to be included. First, we defined the main categories and terms to be included: general terms of fashion and sustainable development, labels and certifications, actors and initiatives, and materials. Another category was established, that of "Basic concepts". It includes the most important generic terms of our sector. These are also often the most complex, as their scope is either very broad or unclear.
_ - Then, we carried out bibliographical research, which allowed us to carry out a state of the art of the existing definitions by basing them on the official and international definitions when they existed.
_ - When they did not exist, the terms were the subject of consultation and in-depth reflection by Sylvie Benard, Clémence Grisel and Isabelle Lefort in order to be enriched and as precise as possible. For each term, you will find the bibliographic references that helped establish its definition.
__ - Following this work which took place from March 2021 to February 2022, the definitions were submitted to the members for correction and validation. Special thanks go to Claudia Lee and Guy Morgan (Chanel), François Souchet (BPCM), and Andrée-Anne Lemieux (IFM) for their careful reading of the translation, coordinated by Clémence Grisel.
If you would like to know more, or have any suggestions, please contact us at contact@parisgoodfashion.com
* Eram Group, Etam Group, Galeries Lafayette, Petit Bateau, Vestiaire Collective, WSN
** They participated in the WG: Chantal Cabantous (Balmain), François Souchet (BPCM), Éric Dupont, Guy Morgan, Claudia Lee (Chanel), Christophe Bocquet and Aude Vergne (Chloé), Sylvain Cariou and Hugo Sereys (Crystalchain), Clémence Hulet and Alice Timmerman (Deloitte), Géraldine Vallejo, Yoann Regent and Annabelle Villot Malka (Kering), Frédéric Lecoq (Lacoste), Hélène Valade and Alexandre Capelli (LVMH), Thomas Bucaille and Pauline Mattioli (Petit Bateau) as well as Léonore Garnier (FHCM), Adeline Dargent (Syndicat de Paris de la Mode Féminine) and Andrée-Anne Lemieux (IFM)
A series of activities from product design through to delivery to the customer and end of life. “Value chain” and “supply chain” are closely linked terms which are often used interchangeably. There is, however, a subtle difference between the two. Whereas supply chain is focused on manufacturing and distribution, value chain includes processes such as marketing and services which do not transform raw material into product but do increase the value of the product.
References:
European Commission (2017) Commission Staff Working Document – Sustainable garment value chains through EU development action
Condenast, The Sustainable Fashion Glossary
Duke University Global Value Chains Initiative (2017) Concept & Tools
References:
European Commission (2017) Commission Staff Working Document – Sustainable garment value chains through EU development action
Condenast, The Sustainable Fashion Glossary
Duke University Global Value Chains Initiative (2017) Concept & Tools
A product that contains no ingredients, additives, or agents of animal origin. Neither the product nor its ingredients were tested on animals. From formulation to packaging, the development and manufacture of a specifically vegan product must seek to exclude any use of animals.
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The Vegan Trademark and the PETA-Approved Vegan certifications guarantee that a product, including textiles, is vegan.
Reference: Vegan France
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The Vegan Trademark and the PETA-Approved Vegan certifications guarantee that a product, including textiles, is vegan.
Reference: Vegan France
Artificial cellulose fibre made from wood pulp, which is dissolved in caustic soda then extruded. Rayon is viscose in the form of unbroken filaments. Fibranne consists of shorter fibres.
Artificial cellulose fibres can contribute to deforestation when the wood pulp is sourced from endangered forests. FSC and PEFC certifications, and the CanopyStyle initiative guarantee that the cellulose comes from sustainably managed sources.
Another major problem arises from the large number of chemicals used to dissolve the pulp and obtain the finished filaments. They release chemical substances and gases that are potentially harmful to workers and to the environment.
Lyocell and Cupro are two alternatives to viscose that are produced in a similar but more sustainable way. Lyocell uses wood pulp from sustainably managed forests while Cupro is manufactured in a closed-loop process, whereby no harmful waste is released into the environment.
References:
Kering Standards
Paris Good Fashion
Artificial cellulose fibres can contribute to deforestation when the wood pulp is sourced from endangered forests. FSC and PEFC certifications, and the CanopyStyle initiative guarantee that the cellulose comes from sustainably managed sources.
Another major problem arises from the large number of chemicals used to dissolve the pulp and obtain the finished filaments. They release chemical substances and gases that are potentially harmful to workers and to the environment.
Lyocell and Cupro are two alternatives to viscose that are produced in a similar but more sustainable way. Lyocell uses wood pulp from sustainably managed forests while Cupro is manufactured in a closed-loop process, whereby no harmful waste is released into the environment.
References:
Kering Standards
Paris Good Fashion
Waste collection whereby the municipality provides one or several containers at drop-off points, more or less evenly distributed across an area, which all users can access.
Reference: Mission commune d'information sur les déchets (2010) Traitement des ordures ménagères : quels choix après le Grenelle ?
Reference: Mission commune d'information sur les déchets (2010) Traitement des ordures ménagères : quels choix après le Grenelle ?
A reference framework, initiated by market players in the public interest, which states guidelines, technical requirements or quality requirements for products, services or practices. A voluntary standard is produced through a consensus of professionals and users. A company is free to adopt a standard or not, hence “voluntary”.
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A declaration of conformity to a voluntary standard can be made under the sole responsibility of the declarant, who guarantees the quality of its production, services or organisation. The declarant or its customer can request that conformity be endorsed by a competent third party, such as a laboratory, an inspection body or a certification body.
An officially approved standard is recognisable by a national prefix (for example NF for France or BS for the United Kingdom), possibly followed by EN or ISO or EN ISO, depending on whether the standard was developed or adopted at European level (EN), at international level (ISO) or both (EN ISO). This prefix is followed by a number then the month and year the standard was approved.
Standards are intended to meet market needs and, while they are voluntary, can play a role in ensuring technical regulations are adopted. In a small number of cases, a standard can become a legal requirement. In France, only 1% of standards are obligatory.
References:
AFNOR - What is a volontary standard?
AFNOR - How do you prove that your product complies with voluntary standard?
AFNOR - Which standards are mandatory?
French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry (2016) Guide relatif au bon usage de la normalisation dans la réglementation
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A declaration of conformity to a voluntary standard can be made under the sole responsibility of the declarant, who guarantees the quality of its production, services or organisation. The declarant or its customer can request that conformity be endorsed by a competent third party, such as a laboratory, an inspection body or a certification body.
An officially approved standard is recognisable by a national prefix (for example NF for France or BS for the United Kingdom), possibly followed by EN or ISO or EN ISO, depending on whether the standard was developed or adopted at European level (EN), at international level (ISO) or both (EN ISO). This prefix is followed by a number then the month and year the standard was approved.
Standards are intended to meet market needs and, while they are voluntary, can play a role in ensuring technical regulations are adopted. In a small number of cases, a standard can become a legal requirement. In France, only 1% of standards are obligatory.
References:
AFNOR - What is a volontary standard?
AFNOR - How do you prove that your product complies with voluntary standard?
AFNOR - Which standards are mandatory?
French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry (2016) Guide relatif au bon usage de la normalisation dans la réglementation