Recent textile news headlines followed one another in rapid fire and with mixed messaging, depending on where in the globe they were.

The headline from Brussels-based trade group Euratex presents a bleak picture, reminiscent of the 80s in the States when companies were migrating largely to Asian production. Euratex reports that this decline has trended since mid-2022, with textile factories closing every week. They note, “…no single cause explains the downward trajectory. Structurally high energy costs, sluggish consumer demand, rising import pressure from Asia, unfair competition from online platforms, and an increasing regulatory squeeze on European producers have all contributed to a perfect storm of stress points.”

Its president Mario Jorge Machado said in a statement: “If Europe is serious about maintaining its manufacturing base, it must act faster and more decisively. Every week, textile companies are closing and the carbon footprint grows. That is the opposite of what Europe wants to achieve.”