A tsunami in the textile industry: How Europe’s lawmakers are re-threading fashion

Abstract

There was a time when fashion followed seasons. Now, it follows directives. In less than a decade, the European Union has transformed textiles from a lifestyle topic into a legislative priority. What began in 2018 with the amendment of the Waste Framework Directive has since evolved into a regulatory tsunami that leaves no stitch untouched. For decades, the textile industry expanded largely unchecked – now it is expected to surf a rising wave of sustainability requirements.