The textile industry is going through an accelerated transformation process. In a context of strong growth of the import of clothing, local manufacturers seek to support their production and compete both in the internal and external market, facing high costs and increasingly adjusted margins.
The Argentines who traveled abroad in 2025 beat all the records of clothing consumption. According to a recent report, between January and July they spent U $ 2,196 milliona 111% more that in 2024 and 14% above of the 2017 record. In parallel, purchases under the system Door to the door They grew up 258% In the semester, reaching U $ 408 millionan advance that tripled imports by the general regime. This increase is also reflected in Avellaneda and Oncewhere the proportion of imported clothing in wholesale premises grows, displacing participation of national production.
The data that relieved the Argentine industrial camera of clothing (CIAI) highlighted the situation of merchants of Avellaneda and Oncetraditional areas of the wholesale sale of national clothing, where they report a growing percentage of imported garments. This change that could verify Scope It is altering the balance of the business: the channel that used to be the refuge of the Argentine textile industry Now more and more imported products are nourishedAlthough it is worth noting that they are usually more expensive than national articles.
Clothing at the Super.webp
The indirect landing of international Fast Fashion brands in these commercial poles generates concern in some national manufacturers. This movement implies a structural transformation in the value chain of Argentine fashion, pushing the local brands to redefine their production and competitiveness strategies, but also to manufacture less.
“The amount of imported clothes grew a lot. To this the season is added, and I also noticed it in the training clothes. Local who sold something else, now everyone brought. For the textile manufacturer today the economy does not help. The discussion is not importation if or importation no: national manufacturers should have real conditions that allow us to compete dignity in other countries, nothing more, “he said Juliana Coriaone of the influencers that is dedicated to making purchases tours in eleven. He commented that In addition to China, you can also see garments from Taiwan and Türkiye.
Ailín Bonincontro She is the creator of the official kitana and spoke with Scope Commenting on his own vision: “This year I decided not to do bikinis for example, because the triple comes out manufacturing that a Shein bikini. having so much competition, you realize that you have to lower the prices a bit. My strategy as an entrepreneur is to aim to sell cheap and stand out for designs and sell a lot of volume. If I do not sell volume I do not give work to the people in the workshops.
Door -to -door system boom
The report of the clothing chamber also focused on the exponential growth of the system Door to the doorwhich allows importing products directly through postal or messaging services. Only in July 2025 purchases under this regime 30% grew over the previous month And an amazing 390% compared to July 2024.
In the first seven months of the year, the imported volume reached U $ 408 milliona 258% more than in the same period of 2024. According to the CIAI, this growth rate “tripled the advance of imports of garments entering the general regime”, Which confirms an increasing access of consumers to direct purchases abroad, without intermediaries or local marketing chains.
Screen capture 2025-09-11 110904
The claim of the textile industry
The countercara of this imported clothing consumption boom is a Depressed internal market. According to the last report of the Argentine Confederation of the Medium Enterprises (CAME), SME retail sales fell 2.2% monthly in August, and the textile and clothing item collapsed 4.3% intermennsual desestationalized.
“The reduction of tariffs, excressing to” door to door “shipments and relaxation of controls, were implemented without lowering taxes to national production to level the court and thus let the Locala industry compete. These measures are already translated into the sustained loss of jobs: every month approximately 1,500 formal jobs and the industry are destroyed. The Argentine fashion industry gives work to 540,000 families Chamber of clothing in an extensive statement.
Source: Ambito
