For every euro spent on buying a clothing item, the economy gains about 1.3 euros to keep turning. In total, the clothing, footwear, and textile accessory retail ecosystem moves roughly 20 billion euros each year in Spain. Specifically, 19.8 billion euros come from store sales and the surrounding activity it generates—from design and manufacture to the rental of the storefront—meaning this sector accounts for about 1.62% of the country’s wealth.
Pretend the impact looks modest in isolation, yet the economic forecaster from Afi, Diego Vizcaíno, labeled it on Monday as “highly significant.” He framed this within a report prepared by his firm for the Textile Retail Association of Spain (ARTE) to quantify the textile retail sector’s contribution to the Spanish economy. The study concludes that retailers add 8.8 billion euros of gross value added, while the remaining 11 billion euros reflect the ripple effects around the sector.
“For every euro of value added produced by the sector, the economy generates 1.3 euros,” Vizcaíno stated. “This shows a driving effect on the broader economy, on other sectors and companies outside the analyzed perimeter. The textile retail sector acts as a tractor economy, surpassing the impact seen in other major EU economies,” he noted, clarifying that this indirect contribution currently sits above the European average.
Among other findings, the study presented to Spain’s Congress attributes the sector with a workforce exceeding 343,000 jobs, about 1.7% of the national average payroll. Again, roughly half of these are direct roles, with the rest—most of them indirect and induced jobs—earned through the broader supply chain. Vizcaíno also described it as one of the most productive segments within general trade, as well as one of the densest in terms of store concentration (about 8% of all establishments) and a key economic driver within the fashion business, where retail accounts for around 60% of the sector’s gross value added.
Additionally, the consultant notes the textile trade contributes more than 6 billion euros annually to public revenues (about 2.5% of total collections) and has played a pivotal role in elevating Spain’s brand on the global stage.
A Magnet for Investment
“We are seeing important companies accumulate foreign direct investment totaling more than 870 million euros in recent years. This reflects an outward orientation and competition beyond borders, not just a push to export, but to compete on the ground with major global players,” analyzed a senior Afi executive. “Spain itself is a strong market, which has driven foreign textile multinationals to invest here,” he added, highlighting the country’s geographic position and tourism magnetism. In the last 15 years, Spain has drawn about 755 million euros in this type of investment.
Formerly, ARTE’s president, Ana López-Casero Beltrán, emphasized that the sector remains deeply committed to economic development, attracting investment, fostering innovation, and advancing sustainability. “The textile retail sector understands and shares the challenges facing the country, including people’s well-being and the dual green and digital transformation that must take priority,” she stated. “We know our strengths and are determined to work together to actively help solve these challenges,” she added in a message to a government official who has underscored the industry as one of Spain’s ambassadors on the global stage and as one of the sectors most diligently pursuing digitalization to counter competition from large Chinese platforms.”