The European textile and fashion sector is entering one of its most significant transformation periods in decades. Policy pressure, resource constraints, labour shortages and rising environmental expectations are converging to challenge long-standing business models, yet responses across the sector remain largely fragmented. 

This report synthesises collective intelligence from the Future-Ready Textiles workshop series led by Climate-KIC in 2025, bringing together manufacturers, brands, researchers, NGOs and policymakers across Europe and beyond. 

Three headline insights emerge: the challenges are systemic, not only technical; signals of change are accelerating; and transition-ready capabilities are the missing link.