“Sustainability, Technology, Trade and Gen Z”. These are four words that describe what we believe are likely to be the biggest spheres of influence on the global textile industry in 2025. Many of our clients are at the centre of this highly sophisticated sector and we’ve woven together the trends to look out for in 2025 and beyond.
Sustainability
The shift towards sustainability is transforming industries across the globe, including the fast-moving and complex world of textiles. This impact is being felt across the supply chain, from farm to fashion outlet as consumers increasingly demand fabrics that are ethically sourced, biodegradable, climate and water friendly and free from chemical additives.
In 2025 we will be watching out for a rise in circular economy initiatives in the textiles industry which change the production landscape from product cradle to grave. Circularity is about putting in place ‘closed loop’ systems and is a growing focus to help reduce resource use and increase recycling and restoration, addressing waste and carbon challenges.
On the farm, the source of many materials used in textile production, look out for the increased production of natural fibres such as bamboo, hemp and flax. These are all biodegradable and can help with soil regeneration, reducing the impact of textile farming.
In the factory, new waterless dyeing technologies that eliminate the need for chemical use, and the development of textiles that sequester carbon, are on the horizon.
AI and blockchain technology are also increasingly being used in the textile industry from the optimisation of production processes and resource use to tracing materials through the supply chain.
Technology
Beyond sustainability, AI and blockchain technologies are changing the global textiles industry in other ways. In the latter half of this decade we expect artificial intelligence to be helping analyse and forecast cyclical supply and demand challenges and changes, likely to minimise waste and boost efficiency.
Smart textiles are also on the rise driven by the rapidly growing consumer demands for wellness and self-care. These are concepts that have been embedded in personal and home care for more than a decade and they are now crossing over into the textiles sector. Fabrics are being developed that can be fitted with smart-sensors or that offer other features such as temperature regulation, better weather resistance or the automatic release of natural scents or antimicrobial agents.
Last but not least, a revolution in 3D and digital printing will help manufacturers to personalise design and work together with consumers for truly bespoke designs and products.
Trade
The textile and apparel industry is a multi-trillion-dollar sector with complex and highly integrated international supply chains. In the United States Donald Trump has re-entered the White House, threatening extensive tariffs, including 60% tariffs on China, a dominant textile and apparel industry player, with the world's largest production capacity and export volume.
Industry representatives from the United States and other countries have warned against additional U.S. tariffs on textiles and apparels saying that they would be devastating, with the uncertainty already adversely influencing decision making.
More positively, we are watching developments around innovative financing mechanisms to help the textiles industry address social and environmental challenges in its supply chain. The UN Environment Program’s Finance Initiative has started exploring the ‘Circular Economy as an Enabler for Responsible Banking’[1] whilst the Good Fashion Fund[2] is a first-of-its-kind initiative financing the implementation of highly impactful and disruptive production technologies in Asia, targeting long term USD debt investments in textile & apparel manufacturers in India & Bangladesh.
Gen Z
The last of Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, are just becoming teenagers while the eldest of them are almost 30 years old and this demographic is bringing its values to the fashion, design and other industries in force. Broadly, Gen Z is concerned with sustainability, ethics and quality and with these values, this emerging generation of new consumers is perhaps more likely to turn their back on what’s been dubbed ‘fast fashion’.
For the textiles industry we believe this will speed up some of the other trends we have already covered – sustainability in supply chains and a focus on higher quality, less mass produced and more customised personal textile products.
Many Zoomers also came of age during the COVID-19 pandemic, so for them, casual and comfortable clothing made from fabrics that offer the wellness and self-care features we outlined earlier are here to stay. Their preferences are likely to accelerate this trend.
2025 and beyond
We believe the global textiles industry will continue its sustainability transformation and begin integrating this trend with the greater consumer demand for wellbeing and self-care options in textiles. If your business needs support with its communications and you would like to work with an agency that knows your industry, please get in touch.
