Textiles, Fashion & Creative Industries

  • EU leader in the World
  • 12 milion people employed
  • 7.5% of EU people employed
  • 5.3% of the EU GDP
Fashion and creative industries such as the textiles and clothing, footwear and leather sectors operate at the crossroads between arts, business and technology. They are in a strategic position to link creativity to innovation at a time when culture-based creativity is an essential feature of business innovation in the new economy. Their potential to contribute to the re-industrialisation of Europe is often overlooked.

The EU  wants  to encourage innovation in the European fashion and creative industries, in order to compete with emerging economies on price.
Counterfeiting is also an issue as far as competitiveness is concerned. The EU Commission works to fight fake goods and provide information on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
The EU Commission also works to give the industry better access to markets worldwide by dismantling tariffs and reducing non-tariff barriers with key trading partners.

Fashion and high-end industries

As fashion and high-end industries are a significant part of the creative economy and have the potential to contribute to the growth of manufacturing in Europe, EU taken some initiatives. They include the fight to the counterfeit goods, the protection of intellectual property rights, and the helping small businesses for finance. 

Textile and clothing industries

Textiles and clothing is a diverse sector that plays an important role in the European manufacturing industry. The EU legislates on fibre names and labelling to offer consumers protection. It is also engaged in dialogues with non-EU countries on policy and regulatory issues that affect the textiles and clothing industry. 

The footwear industry

The European footwear industry is made up of diverse products and industrial processes. The EU aims to promote the footwear innovation and footwear competitiveness of firms and to combat counterfeiting, while protecting consumer health and the environment. It also provides footwear legislation that manufacturers must follow. 

Leather

EU is a major actor of the global leather market. Its leather industry is made up of diverse products and industrial processes. EU promotes leather innovation and leather competitiveness of firms, while protecting consumer health and the environment.