Digital Product Passport: Guide for Fashion Brands

Why the DPP impacts the fashion industry

The textile and fashion industry is one of the first sectors affected by the mandatory Digital Product Passport. With entry into force planned for January 2027, fashion brands, textile manufacturers and distributors have less than 2 years to prepare.

The textile sector is particularly targeted by ESPR as it meets several regulatory criteria: high environmental impact (water, chemistry, carbon), short lifespan, low recycling rate and growing importance of supply chain transparency for consumers.

Required data for textiles

The Digital Product Passport for textiles and footwear must include detailed information:

Product identification: Brand, collection, colour, size, year of production, unique identifier (GTIN or QR code), person responsible for placing on the market.

Fibre composition: Percentage of each fibre (cotton, polyester, wool, linen, etc.), presence of recycled fibres and their source, presence of alternative or innovative materials.

Durability and longevity: Estimated number of uses before wear, washing resistance, detailed care guide, recommendations to extend lifespan, information on fibres used and their durability.

Hazardous substances: Restriction of problematic substances (SVHCs), textile certifications (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, etc.), information on chemical treatments applied.

Traceability and provenance: Country of origin/manufacture, first-tier manufacturer names, information on working conditions if available, ethical trade certification.

End of life: Washing and care instructions, recycling or secondhand possibility, collection points for take-back, brand-offered take-back programme.

Carbon and environmental: Estimated lifecycle carbon footprint, water consumption, chemical impact, overall environmental score if available.

Timeline for the fashion industry

January 2027: Mandatory entry into force of DPP for textiles and footwear. Products sold after this date in the EU must have a complete DPP.

2024-2026: Transition period. Brands must pilot their implementation, test with a sample of products and correct processes.

Q4 2025: The Commission will publish final delegated acts with the exact textile DPP specifications.

2026: Progressive deployment for all new products launched after January 2027. Old stock can be sold until exhausted.

2027+: Strict compliance. Non-compliant brands face fines and product withdrawal.

Supply chain impacts in fashion

Implementing the textile DPP requires a supply chain overhaul:

Data collection: Each supplier (weaver, manufacturer, dyer, etc.) must provide the required data. This represents a considerable coordination and standardisation effort.

Enhanced traceability: The DPP requires tracing materials back to first-tier suppliers (farms, mills). Brands must map their entire supply chain.

Format standardisation: Data must be structured according to a single standard. IT systems must be updated to support these formats.

SME engagement: Small manufacturers, dyers, embroiderers, etc., will also need to train and adopt technology. Brands must support them.

Additional costs: Data collection, technology, training, external audit. Estimates range between €0.05 and €0.50 per product depending on complexity.

Commercial opportunities for the fashion industry

Despite the challenges, the DPP offers opportunities:

Transparency as a marketing lever: Fashion consumers are already sensitive to sustainability. The DPP allows you to communicate credibly on the quality, origin and environmental impact of your products.

Combating counterfeiting: The DPP with QR code and cryptography makes counterfeiting harder. Reducing fakes benefits the entire chain (brands, distributors, consumers).

Secondhand and recycling: The DPP facilitates secondhand resale. Brands can create secondhand platforms and generate recurring revenue.

Premium differentiation: Brands voluntarily adopting the DPP before 2027 signal their commitment. They attract consumers willing to pay for transparency.

Consumer data: DPP access via QR code allows collecting behavioural data (who accesses the DPP, when, where) without cookies.

How to prepare now

Q1-Q2 2024-2025: Complete audit of your supply chain. Who are your 1st, 2nd, 3rd tier manufacturers? What data do they already have? What processes need to be created?

Q2-Q3 2025: Selection and integration of a DPP platform. Arianee, for example, allows you to host DPPs, generate QR codes and distribute via a consumer app.

Q3-Q4 2025: Pilot with a product collection. Test data collection, system integration, QR code generation and consumer communication.

2026: Progressive deployment. Start with new products launched in 2026, prepare stocks for 2027.

2027: Full compliance for all products sold in the EU after January 2027.

Use case: premium brand

A luxury fashion brand can make transparency a key element of its strategy:

• •Communicate on material origins (fair-trade cotton, French linen, New Zealand wool)
• •Display durability (garment presented for 300+ uses)
• •Offer a repair service with access through the DPP
• •Launch a secondhand platform with DPP authentication
• •Engage consumers on environmental impact

Conclusion

The fashion industry has the opportunity to transform the Digital Product Passport from a regulatory constraint into a lever for differentiation and consumer trust. Brands that prepare now will be better positioned to meet obligations, optimise their supply chain and capitalise on the growing demand for transparency.