France authorities advise caution when it comes to Black Friday clothing offers.

The French government has launched a campaign urging people to refrain from buying new clothes during Black Friday sales. The advertisement features a man seeking advice in a store, only to be told by an assistant not to make any purchases in order to help both the planet and his finances. Christophe Béchu, the minister for ecological transition responsible for promoting sustainability, is leading the campaign. However, the message has faced criticism from other government departments. Finance minister Bruno Le Maire described it as "ill-conceived" and expressed concern that it would harm legitimate businesses. Le Maire's department is currently addressing rising unemployment and the cost of living crisis, and it is believed that seasonal sales inject more money back into the economy. Black Friday, a day when retailers offer significant discounts and promotions, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year in many European countries. On Thursday, Béchu admitted that the campaign may have targeted the wrong businesses, suggesting that online sales platforms rather than physical stores should have been the focus. Nevertheless, he stated that the advertisements would not be withdrawn. This campaign is one among several initiatives launched by Béchu, who previously introduced a "repair bonus" to encourage people to mend their existing clothes instead of purchasing new ones. Since October, the government has been subsidizing clothing and shoe repairs by offering discounts ranging from €6 (£5) to €25 (£21). The government has committed to contributing €154 million to the repair bonus fund over the next five years. Junior ecology minister Bérangère Couillard affirmed the government's dedication to addressing fast fashion. The Commerce Alliance, the Union of Textile Industries, and the French Union of Fashion and Clothing Industries jointly issued a statement criticizing the campaign and requesting its immediate withdrawal. They threatened legal action for commercial denigration if their demand was not met, and urged the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territories to discontinue the video and collaborate on developing positive communication about the fashion and commerce sector's transformation.