In a decisive show of unity, France and Italy have renewed their alliance to protect European industry under the banner of “Made in Europe.” During a recent bilateral meeting in Paris, French Ministers Éric Lombard (Economy) and Marc Ferracci (Industry) joined their Italian counterpart, Adolfo Urso, to outline a coordinated response to rising global competition, especially from the U.S. and China.
While their agenda addressed heavy industries such as steel and clean energy, it was clear that fashion held a unique place, both as a key economic driver and a symbol of European identity. For decades, France and Italy have set the global standard for fashion, from haute couture houses to traditional artisans. Now, their governments are placing the fashion sector at the heart of a new industrial strategy, treating it not just as culture, but as competitive infrastructure.
The two nations’ collaboration reflects a growing concern that European producers are increasingly exposed to aggressive foreign subsidies and unfair trade dynamics. In response, France and Italy are lobbying for the European Commission to implement stronger safeguards, including reduced steel imports and a framework to prioritize European-made products in public procurement. Yet amid these more industrial concerns, fashion emerged as an equally strategic sector, one that blends economic output with symbolic weight. Italy’s fashion ecosystem is particularly illustrative: with over 60,000 companies, more than half a million employees, and more than €100 billion in annual turnover, the industry contributes significantly to exports and national image. Earlier this year, Italy launched a wide-ranging initiative to promote “Days of Italian Fashion in the World” while signing a memorandum of understanding to fight counterfeiting and safeguard the artisanal supply chain, a move that signals not just pride, but policy intent.
Reputation has become a priority. In response to recent concerns about labor practices and supply chain transparency in parts of the industry, the Italian government has introduced a new certification system aimed at safeguarding ethical standards across the fashion sector. Developed in close collaboration with unions and industry associations, the framework is designed to ensure that production remains not only high-quality and artisanal, but also socially responsible and sustainable.
Meanwhile, France brings its assets to the table.
During a visit to Italy in 2024, French Industry Minister Olivia Grégoire emphasized the strengths of France’s apprenticeship and vocational training systems. In contrast to Italy’s decentralized, often family-run model, France offers a more structured approach to workforce development, and the two systems could be highly complementary. The ministers see an opportunity to build a shared European model that strengthens both sustainability and traceability in the fashion supply chain.
From this renewed Franco-Italian dialogue, several strategic priorities have emerged, all pointing toward a redefinition of how Europe approaches its creative industries:
✅Reshoring and reinvestment: Luxury groups are increasingly acquiring or investing in local suppliers to control quality and ensure resilience;
✅Sustainability leadership: From Italy’s Re.Crea textile recycling initiative to support France’s ecological fashion goals, the two nations are aligning green ambitions with an industrial strategy;
✅Supply chain integrity: Italy’s certification framework may serve as a model across Europe, offering a transparent, enforceable standard for ethical production;
✅Industrial diplomacy: By coordinating policy and promoting cultural exports, fashion becomes a lever of European soft power on the world stage.
This alliance between Paris and Rome is more than symbolic. It reflects a shared understanding that Europe’s creative industries, especially fashion, must be defended not only for their cultural significance but also for their role in shaping a more sustainable, competitive, and sovereign economic future.
