AndalucíaAragónAsturiasIlles BalearsCanariasCantabriaCastilla y LeónCastilla-La ManchaCatalunyaExtremaduraGaliciaMadridMurciaNavarraPaís VascoLa RiojaComunitat ValencianaAndalucíaAragónAsturiasIlles BalearsCanariasCantabriaCastilla y LeónCastilla-La ManchaCatalunyaExtremaduraGaliciaMadridMurciaNavarraPaís VascoLa RiojaComunitat Valenciana
ES|EN

Diario PYME

Catalonia's Fashion Sector Exceeds 17.5 Billion Euros in Business Volume

Micro and small businesses lead in turnover and employment, while foreign investment shows significant growth.

Generic image of a sewing machine, symbolizing the fashion industry.
IA

Generic image of a sewing machine, symbolizing the fashion industry.

The fashion and leather sector in Catalonia has generated a business volume of 17.559 billion euros, comprising nearly 1,000 companies and employing 73,660 people, according to a study presented by the Generalitat.

These figures come from the report El sector de la moda i la pell a Catalunya, prepared by Acció, the business competitiveness office of the Generalitat, in collaboration with the Modacc and Leather Cluster Barcelona clusters. The presentation coincides with the 37th edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion, held at Port Vell in Barcelona from April 14 to 17.
The study reveals that 365 brands account for the bulk of the turnover, with 14.235 billion euros in sales (81% of the total) and 60,800 employees (83% of employment). Additionally, 411 production companies contribute 2.392 billion euros and 9,700 jobs, while 177 retailers generate 933 million euros and employ 3,100 people.
Micro and small businesses are the driving force of the sector, representing 83% of total turnover and 86% of employment. Startups also show significant growth, increasing by 8% in the last four years, reaching 79 companies. Within the sector, the fur industry stands out with 135 companies and a combined turnover of 1.1 billion euros.
In terms of foreign investment, Catalonia has positioned itself as the fifth global region and third in the European Union over the last five years, attracting 124.6 million euros between 2021 and 2025 through 19 projects. The main investors come from the United Kingdom (47.8 million), Denmark and Italy (22.4 million each), France (15.8 million), and the United States (4.8 million). These investments have primarily targeted areas such as sales, marketing, logistics, and transport.
Acció identifies key trends such as deglobalization, the promotion of local production, inflation, rising logistics costs, and fragmented value chains. In the technological sphere, artificial intelligence (AI) is considered crucial for accelerating design and automation, while augmented and virtual reality, along with the Internet of Things (IoT), are transforming customer relationships and industrial process quality.
To address these challenges, the study proposes strategies such as digitalization, strengthening industrial talent and generational succession, and promoting responsible and circular business models. It also emphasizes the importance of consolidating Barcelona as a hybrid hub for fashion, audiovisual, and other creative sectors.

Related News