Things the French Get Right: Sustainability, Strength, and Standing Up

France has long been a leader in art, culture, and revolution—but in recent years, the country has also taken a stand on sustainability, gender equality, and personal freedom in bold, unmistakable ways. From pioneering textile waste legislation to the athletic prowess of Olympic pole vaulter Thibaut Collet and the fearless protests of French women on International Women’s Day, the French continue to set the tone for what progress looks like.

Fashion’s Dirty Secret—And France’s Bold Solution

Valentino's 45 years in fashion on display at the Ara Parcis Museum in Rome, 2007.Photo: Eric Vandeville / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

The fashion industry is infamous for its waste, with millions of tons of textiles ending up in landfills every year. In 2020, France took a world-leading step by enacting laws that ban companies from destroying unsold clothing and textiles. Instead, brands must recycle, donate, or repurpose excess inventory and materials, pushing the industry toward circularity and sustainability rather than fast fashion’s destructive cycle.

For brands like Quiver.love—where reclaimed materials and creative reuse are core to our ethos—this legislation is a glimpse of what responsible manufacturing needs to look like on a global scale.

Our most recent product collection utilizes 1st quality reclaimed fabrics from French design houses, all made possible due to these inaugural regulations. It’s a significant spotlight on the fact that waste is a choice, and France has chosen to do better. 

The Pole Vault Seen (and Felt) Around the World

Getty Images, Thibaut Collet 

Thibaut Collet may have soared into the Olympic spotlight for his talent, but he became an internet sensation for something else entirely—an unfortunate run-in with physics (and, well, his own body).

During his vault attempt, Collet’s impressive bulge made unexpected contact with the crossbar, knocking it loose and costing him the jump. The moment instantly went viral, with fans dubbing it the “pole vault seen (and felt) around the world.”

In true French fashion, Collet handled the situation with grace and humor, proving that sometimes, even when you’re at the top of your game, size does matter. 😏

But let’s not forget—this is the same athlete who, just months earlier, broke his pole mid-air, grabbed another, and vaulted his way to silver. Because if there’s one thing the French know, it’s how to rise to the occasion.

Women in the Streets: France’s Fierce Fight for Equality

International Women's rights Day, in Paris,  8 -3- 2025. AFP - VANESSA CARRONNIER

International Women’s Day 2025, French women took to the streets in a raw, defiant display of protest, marching topless to demand rights, autonomy, and an end to gender inequality.

The images from these protests are striking—not just for their boldness, but for what they represent. Women in France have long been vocal about their right to safety, equality, and respect. And they’re not waiting for permission to be heard.

From challenging laws that govern their bodies to fighting for equal pay and rights, French women are continuing a revolution that is far from over.

Revolution Is a Mindset—Not Just a Moment

Whether in fashion, sport, or the streets, the French have a way of showing the world what it means to stand firm in your values and push boundaries for something better.

At Quiver.love, we admire that energy. The refusal to accept waste as inevitable. The belief that personal power is worth fighting for. The certainty that progress doesn’t happen quietly.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s something we should all get right.