Colombia’s textile sector, once a proud symbol of craftsmanship and regional trade, is now facing one of its toughest battles in decades with the rapid expansion of Chinese fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu. Factories are cutting back production, small businesses are closing their doors, and thousands of workers fear losing their livelihoods as imported clothing floods the market at prices domestic producers simply cannot match.
The story unfolding in Colombia is more than a tale of global commerce; it reflects the growing tension between cheap, mass-produced fashion and the survival of national industries that rely on fair wages and stable employment. For Colombian families who depend on the textile economy, the stakes are higher than ever.
Shein and Temu’s fast-fashion model disrupts Colombia’s local industry
Walk through any Colombian city today — Bogota, Medellin, Cali — and the shift is easy to see. Street vendors and online platforms are flooded with ultra-cheap garments, many of them shipped directly from Shein and Temu warehouses in Asia. A trendy blouse might cost as little as US$5, while a full outfit can be delivered for less than what Colombian manufacturers pay just to source fabric.
This business model, powered by low-cost labor and aggressive online marketing, has taken global markets by storm. In Colombia, however, its impact is particularly severe. The country’s textile industry has long relied on domestic production chains, from cotton cultivation to garment assembly. These processes generate thousands of jobs and sustain entire communities, especially in regions such as Antioquia, where textiles are part of the cultural identity.
Now, faced with competitors who bypass traditional retail costs and exploit economies of scale, local companies are struggling to remain competitive. “We can’t sell a T-shirt for the same price Shein does without going bankrupt, their costs are so low that it’s impossible for us to compete on price”, said one factory owner in Medellin.
The result is clear, Colombian consumers are increasingly choosing imported fast fashion, while local brands watch their sales plummet. What was once a thriving sector is now shrinking under the weight of global digital commerce.
Jobs, culture, and the struggle for survival
The crisis is not just about balance sheets. At the heart of the debate are thousands of workers — many of them women — who have built careers in sewing, design, and retail. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the sector of yarns, textiles, and clothing remains one of Colombia’s most labor-intensive industries, employing nearly half a million people in 2024. That figure represents 2.1% of the nation’s workforce, with garment manufacturing alone accounting for more than 406,000 jobs, or roughly 83% of the total.
Structural barriers
These numbers underscore how deeply the sector is tied to Colombia’s social fabric. Many of those employed are young people entering the workforce or women who rely on stable wages to support their families. As factories scale back operations, the blow lands hardest on these vulnerable groups.
The Customs, Tariffs, and Foreign Trade Committee has raised alarms about structural challenges the industry faces beyond international competition. The committee has warned that limited access to key raw materials and strategic supplies is compounding the crisis. Without cheaper and more reliable inputs, domestic production costs rise, leaving Colombian manufacturers at a severe disadvantage.
In a recent decree, the committee stated that lowering costs related to raw materials and inputs is “a necessary condition for national clothing and footwear production to compete on fairer terms with imports, increase productivity, improve competitiveness margins, and preserve jobs in this strategic sector.”
This vulnerability is worsened by price distortions in global markets, which make it nearly impossible for small- and medium-sized Colombian enterprises to adjust. “It’s not only that Shein and Temu are cheap — it’s also that our industry is weighed down by high input costs,” explained a textile association spokesperson. “Unless these structural barriers are addressed, the jobs of almost half a million Colombians will remain at risk.”
A national debate in the making
The cultural dimension is equally significant. Colombia has carved out a niche in Latin America for producing quality fabrics, unique designs, and sustainable fashion initiatives. International fashion weeks have highlighted Colombian designers who combine innovation with tradition. But with global fast fashion dominating the market, these local creative industries face an uphill battle to stay visible and relevant.
For decades, Medellin earned its reputation as Latin America’s textile capital. Now, that legacy is under pressure as more Colombians turn to apps and online platforms that deliver trendy pieces for a fraction of the cost. If current trends continue, the city’s iconic role in the regional fashion world could fade into history.
The government faces a difficult balancing act. On one hand, consumers want access to affordable clothing, especially in a country where inflation has squeezed household budgets. On the other, protecting and revitalizing the textile industry is crucial for jobs, cultural identity, and long-term industrial development. Measures discussed include import regulations, tariff adjustments, and subsidies for local producers. However, critics argue that without innovation — such as greater investment in digital retail channels and sustainable production — Colombia risks falling behind regardless of trade policy.
A matter of identity, pride, and community resilience
The stakes are high. If policymakers succeed in lowering raw material costs and supporting industrial competitiveness, Colombia could preserve one of its most emblematic sectors while carving out new opportunities in sustainable fashion. If they fail, the sound of sewing machines in Medellin’s factories may be replaced by the click of online checkouts ordering garments from halfway across the globe.
What is happening in Colombia is part of a broader global debate. Around the world, governments and industries are grappling with the disruptive power of fast fashion, its environmental costs, and its effect on traditional economies. The Colombian case illustrates how vulnerable developing markets are when confronted with global e-commerce giants that operate beyond traditional trade barriers.
For everyday Colombians, the issue goes beyond economics. It touches on questions of identity, pride, and community resilience. Will Colombia manage to reinvent its textile industry to withstand the storm of global fast fashion, or will it become another casualty in the race for the cheapest clothes? The answer will shape not just an industry, but the future of Colombian fashion and labor itself.