From April 24 to 26, 2025, the Change Now trade fair turned the Grand Palais in Paris into a global epicenter for sustainability, drawing 40,000 participants, 10,000 companies, and representatives from 140 countries. Among the many industries present, LVMH emerged as a key voice, championing bold solutions to reshape the future of fashion and luxury in a world demanding accountability.
Two standout moments defined the event: Hélène Valade’s (LVMH) visionary speech on supplier collaboration and the powerful intervention of a Native American chief, whose wisdom reminded participants of the deeper values underpinning sustainability.
Fashion’s Wake-Up Call
Despite occupying a smaller footprint at the fair—with just 28 exhibitors—the fashion sector delivered a powerful message: the industry is ready to confront its environmental impact and embrace a circular economy.
At the forefront of this movement was the Fédération de la Mode Circulaire, which has rallied 300 members since its founding in 2020. Its recent study with KPMG France shed light on the economic and environmental shifts needed to transform the European fashion industry. Meanwhile, Kering, a longtime leader in sustainability, showcased its Kering Generation Award alongside other influential players like the Institut Français de la Mode and L’Atelier des Matières.
Start-ups also made waves, with Save Your Wardrobe and Prolong debuting creative solutions to reduce waste and extend garment lifecycles through software-driven systems. These innovations underscored a collective awakening—the industry is no longer just talking about change; it’s acting.
Hélène Valade: LVMH’s Vision for a Sustainable Supply Chain
On the Agora Stage, Hélène Valade, environmental development director at LVMH, delivered a compelling address that positioned the luxury giant at the forefront of fashion’s sustainability revolution. As president of the Observatoire de la Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises (ORSE), Valade brought a message of collaboration and accountability to the table.
“In Italy, there are 60,000 small businesses powering the luxury supply chain,” she noted. “The fragmented nature of this network makes collecting data a daunting task, but it’s a challenge we must overcome to achieve true sustainability.”
LVMH’s response? The launch of ‘Licensing Business Partners’, an ambitious plan to harmonize traceability requirements across luxury brands like Chanel, Hermès, and Dior. By reducing inefficiencies and unifying data collection, the initiative seeks to free suppliers from repeated administrative burdens, empowering them to focus on their environmental impact. “This is about giving our partners the tools to transition sustainably while making the process more coherent across the industry,” Valade explained.
A Timeless Reminder from Indigenous Wisdom
Amid the innovation and strategy, a moment of reflection emerged when a Native American chief took the stage. His words, though simple, carried a profound weight: respect the Earth and protect future generations. His intervention served as a stark reminder that sustainability is not just about technological solutions it’s about reconnecting with fundamental values.
LVMH and the Future of Fashion
Change Now 2025 made one thing clear: the fashion industry stands at a crossroads, and LVMH is leading the charge. With initiatives like Licensing Business Partners and deep investments in collaboration, the luxury giant is not just adapting it’s actively shaping the future.
But as the Native American chief reminded attendees, true sustainability transcends business strategies. It’s about a mindset shift that prioritizes the planet over profit and recognizes that the choices made today will shape the legacy left for tomorrow.
For LVMH and the fashion industry as a whole, the stakes have never been higher. The question is no longer whether to change it’s whether the change will be bold enough to make a difference. And with leaders like LVMH at the helm, there’s hope that the answer lies in action, not rhetoric.