As of 19 July 2026, the EU has officially banned large companies from destroying unsold textiles, clothing, and footwear. Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), fashion brands can no longer incinerate or landfill excess stock — products must instead be resold, donated, repaired, or remanufactured.
It's a seismic shift for an industry that has long relied on overproduction. Every year, an estimated 4–9% of textiles placed on the European market were destroyed before ever being worn — a catastrophic waste of materials, water, energy, and the skilled labour that went into making them.
We've Never Made a Single Item Without an Order
At Designed by Debz, made-to-order isn't a marketing term — it's how we've always worked. Every bra, bralette, brief, and swimsuit is handmade in the UK or Europe specifically for the person who ordered it. No overstock. No waste. No destruction.
This is what sustainable fashion actually looks like — not just better fabrics or recycled packaging, but a fundamentally different relationship between making and selling.
What the ESPR Means for the Fashion Industry
The regulation targets large companies first, with medium-sized businesses following in 2030. Small and micro businesses are currently exempt — but the direction of travel is clear. The era of fast fashion overproduction is ending.
We're hopeful this accelerates real change across the industry:
- Better production planning and less overproduction
- Stronger markets for clothing repair, resale, and remanufacturing
- Greater investment in recycling infrastructure and digital product traceability
- More brands adopting slow fashion and on-demand production models
Why Made-to-Order Is Better for You Too
When you shop with Designed by Debz, you're not buying something that's been sitting in a warehouse. You're getting something made for your body, in your size — from our inclusive range of 3XS to 10XL and A–O cup — using organic cotton and sustainable fabrics, handmade by skilled makers.
That's not just ethical fashion. That's fashion that actually fits, lasts, and means something.
The Future of Fashion Is Circular
Regulation can set the direction, but achieving true circularity requires more than compliance — it requires businesses that are built differently from the ground up. We've been building that way since day one.
If you've been looking for ethical underwear UK, handmade swimwear, or sustainable lingerie made in Britain — you're in the right place.
