Despite the major relief provided by the various job-retention schemes and abundant funding, we believe that up to 8% of total industry employment (about 158,000 jobs) and 6% of companies (about 13,000) could disappear by the end of 2021. The share of SMEs in the textile industry’s total turnover is twice as high as the manufacturing sector average, making it more vulnerable.

However, three factors suggest the industry is far more resilient and competitive than it was in 2009, making it better placed for a recovery: 1) The stabilization of the European textile and apparel trade balance, 2) dynamic growth across segments where European manufacturers are the most competitive and 3) progress in productivity.  Public support to the industry could not only allow a speedier rebound and help manufacturers return to their pre-crisis growth track, but also align with calls for a greener and more digital economy.

A greener textile industry would place greater emphasis on quality rather than quantity, a U-turn from the fast-fashion paradigm that has worked against the best interests of Europe’s manufacturing industry. Booming per capita apparel consumption comes with a cost: the industry globally generates about 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The case of Italy, where the aligned interests of consumers, retailers and manufacturers have allowed the country to keep a preference for more expensive, yet higher quality and locally made apparel, sets the example for the rest of the region. The benefits of import substitution would be very tangible: A 10% decrease in French and German imports of apparel would represent the equivalent of an 8% boost in European apparel manufacturing turnover. Efforts to encourage a transition from linear to circular manufacturing practices could also yield substantial opportunities for the local manufacturing base.

Encouraging the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies would also be beneficial to an industry where SMEs dominate and do not necessarily have the clout to engage in expensive R&D programs. Learning from the lessons of the past retail lockdown and the slow recovery in international travel, support for the development of e-commerce capabilities would help manufacturers increase their reach and mitigate their risks.