On November 22, the European Commission’s vice-president, Antonio Tajani, hosted a round-table discussion with around twelve of the biggest names in the European fashion industry. Some of those were representatives of Dior, LVMH, Pucci, Chanel, Altagamma, Harrods, Max Mara, Up-tex, Creadores de Moda de Espana, Euratex, Moser, Löewe and Pink.

From left to right: Mr. Pezzini (EESC), Mr. Tomellini (Commissione), Mr. Tronconi (SMI); Mr. Toledano (Dior); Mr. Beirnaerts (Up-tex), Mrs Pucci (Pucci), Mrs Castro (LVMH), Mrs Montenay (Chanel); Vice-Present Tajani, Mr. Branchini (Altagamma) Mrs de la Prada (Creadores de Moda de Espana) ; Mr. Ward (Harrods) ; Mr. Paccanelli (Euratex) ; Mr. Riha (Moser a.s.) ; Mr. Loewe (Löewe); Mr. Heilbron (Pink) and Mr. Prezioso (Max Mara)

For Euratex (European Apparel and Textile Organisation), this meeting was a first step towards the set-up of “an informal high-level group to meet periodically over the next few months” to draft a strategic document regarding the sector. This document will consist of a communication “on key aspects of the competitiveness of the fashion industry", and will be part of a larger report named ‘An Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era’.

The document, which should be revealed by the end of 2012 by Antonio Tajani, will highlight the importance, for the textile and clothing value chain, to “nurture both the high-end luxury and the very innovative technical applications,” commented Euratex, which unites almost 200,000 European companies.