The European Commission has ended its two-year-long inquiry into a consortium of fashion designers who advocated for alterations in sales periods and discount practices, citing ‘priority reasons’. This move follows the raids conducted by EU antitrust regulators on several fashion companies in May 2022, sparked by concerns of potential price-fixing collusion. The Commission, however, refrained from disclosing the names of the companies involved.
The investigations were initiated following an open letter circulated in 2020 by a group of fashion designers, urging significant reforms within the industry to enhance environmental and social sustainability. Among the signatories were renowned names like Dries Van Noten, Thom Browne, Proenza Schouler, Lane Crawford, Mary Katrantzou, Gabriela Hearst, Altuzarra, and Missoni Group.
A spokesperson for the European Commission clarifes, the European Commission has opted to terminate its preliminary examination into this matter due to priority reasons. The closure does not imply a determination of compliance or non-compliance with EU competition regulations regarding the conduct under scrutiny.
