Articles by Diane Vanderschelden
Diane Vanderschelden is a Business Editor for FashionUnited France and UK. She covers the latest economic, financial, and regulatory news shaping the fashion industry. With a keen interest in international dynamics, she focuses on the economic, social, and cultural factors influencing different regions, particularly Asia and Europe, where she has lived for several years.
US tariffs drive deceptive spike in Swiss watch exports
Boosted by a surge in US demand, Swiss watch exports jumped by 18.2 percent in April 2025. However, this increase mainly masked the sector's deep concern about the new tariffs imposed by Washington. A cyclical surge linked to US trade policy The Swiss watch industry experienced a spectacular upturn in April 2025. According to data from the...
Business27 May 2025
EU approves Eco-Score methodology to assess clothing's environmental impact
On 14 May 2025, the European Commission officially approved the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology for the textile and footwear industries. Commonly referred to as the “Eco-score,” this initiative aims to measure the environmental impact of clothing and footwear across their entire life cycle. The development marks a major...
BusinessMember27 May 2025
Trump's tariff threat: How European luxury brands are preparing
While Donald Trump had threatened to impose duties of 50 percent on European imports from June 1, the White House eventually decided to extend the tariff pause until July 9. This decision, reported by Reuters on May 26, 2025, reflects an unavoidable reality: trade between the US and the European Union is essential in both directions. In 2024,...
BusinessMember27 May 2025
How ANDAM winner Losanje makes textile upcycling a profitable business model
French start-up Losanje, founded by Simon Peyronnaud and Mathieu Khouri, winner of the ANDAM 2025 Fashion Innovation Award, established itself as a key player in textile upcycling. Thanks to its proprietary technology and an integrated approach, Losanje succeeded in making upcycling economically viable and, ultimately, scalable. A year after our...
Business|Interview FeaturedMember23 May 2025
Textile crisis between India and Bangladesh: Inside a logistical lockdown
By blocking imports of Bangladeshi garments via land, India is indirectly closing off its neighbour’s access to its ports and airports, which are essential for its global exports. The decision appears to be a form of diplomatic retaliation. On May 17, 2025, India announced the suspension of several Bangladeshi imports via its land border posts,...
BusinessFeaturedMember20 May 2025
Shein, Temu, AliExpress: End of duty-free low-cost goods from China in the US
Since May 2, 2025, the US ended a customs rule that allowed Chinese platforms like Shein, Temu and AliExpress to flood the American market with cheap products. This abrupt end to the ‘de minimis’ regime disrupted their business model and reshaped the landscape of global online commerce. Us toughens its stance on Chinese imports Since 4:01am GMT...
BusinessMember6 May 2025
Shein versus Vestiaire Collective: the ideological (and economic) battle over fast fashion
France - Two irreconcilable visions of have fashion clashed. On one side, Shein, a Chinese ultra-fast fashion giant, advocated for fashion “accessible to all”. On the other, Vestiaire Collective, a French pioneer of high-end second-hand fashion, denounced a toxic promise based on social exploitation, textile waste and the endangerment of an...
BusinessFeaturedMember6 May 2025
French companies resist Paris' call
Paris - Since the publication of the AFP article on Sunday, April 21st, regarding the tensions between major French companies and the political powers — an in-depth piece outlining the positions taken by Bercy to encourage several groups to suspend their American projects — none of the main groups concerned — LVMH, Schneider Electric, CMA CGM —...
BusinessMember22 Apr 2025
Fashion in Provence: A craft at risk, a future to build
If French fashion is a showcase of creativity and craftsmanship, it is not immune to the contemporary fractures affecting the textile industry. Between the imperative of "Made in France," the dwindling availability of technical skills, and the isolation of industry players, the South Region (Région Sud) exemplifies the contradictions of a sector...
BusinessFeaturedMember21 Apr 2025
France: intelligent protectionism faced with ultra fast fashion
Paris - Will protectionism become a condition for the survival of the French fashion industry? As the Trump administration relaunched its trade offensive against China in April 2025, imposing massive tariffs on imports, Europe braces for a shockwave that could hit its own market hard. Earlier this week the Fédération Française du Prêt à Porter F...
BusinessMember17 Apr 2025