Thermometers rarely lie. The world faces interconnected climate events that track toward new extremes. Heat spikes push records, and the seasonal predictability of summer and winter grows murkier each year. This shift affects more than daily life; it touches industries like textiles, where production often aligns with the temperature signals on a thermometer. Industry insiders say changes are already underway.
Pepe Serna, president of the Association of Textile Entrepreneurs of the Valencian Community (Ateval), confirmed that climate change triggers ongoing concern in this regional sector. Cold spells and heat waves arrive later than before, and with consumption softening, sales mirror that hesitation. People hesitate to buy, delay purchases, or simply wait for promotions. Fashion and home textiles face uncertain horizons that ripple through planning and investment.
Solutions to uncertainty
Facing a climate that spoils sales forecasts, Serna notes that many companies choose to hold lean inventories. They keep smaller, sometimes minimal stock levels while preserving flexibility to adjust quickly. The aim is to avoid extreme responses when demand shifts due to weather. At the same time a different reality emerges: supply chains become shorter with closer suppliers. This trend aligns with a broader shift in European textiles toward reducing logistical distance and lowering environmental impact. Large distributors increasingly consider carbon footprints and prefer suppliers nearer to logistics hubs, an observation echoed by Cotoblau’s owner, Càndid Penalba.
Additionally, Serna and Penalba agree on a crucial tactic. When temperatures in a market are unusual and prospects weaken, diversification becomes essential. Expanding to markets with opposite climates, such as offering warm products to cooler regions, creates new sales channels. Having a diverse set of markets provides the flexibility to adapt to shifting weather patterns. The approach may also include pivoting to different product lines as needed.
big impacts
The challenges extend beyond rising temperatures and erratic rainfall. Extreme weather can trigger natural disasters that disrupt operations and dampen sales. Penalba notes that such events can deal a heavy blow to businesses in affected areas.
Similarly, these hazards affect facilities and infrastructure. Businesses must invest in measures like insulating industrial warehouses to protect workers from heat and to safeguard goods. Intense heat can become intolerable, underscoring the need for resilient facilities and adaptive planning.