AMI will launch the inaugural edition of Textiles Recycling Expo USA from April 29-30, 2026, at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina. Aiming to replicate the success of its European counterpart, the exhibition and conference will provide a crucial platform for the industry to tackle the escalating issue of textile waste, encompassing fabrics, clothing, footwear, fibers, and non-wovens.

Having debuted on June 4-5, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, the original Textiles Recycling Expo was widely lauded as a landmark event. It attracted an impressive 126 exhibitors and 3,336 visitors from 67 countries, making it the largest gathering focused on textile recycling to date.

There is a significant interest amongst American consumers for this European event, notes Zied Chetoui, Event Manager. The industry needs to set up a dedicated meeting place to foster dialogue and progress within the North American textile recycling community, he adds.

Industry estimates reveal, Americans discard over 10 million tons of textiles annually, with only a small fraction currently being recycled. The US fashion and waste management sectors are under increasing pressure to boost recycling rates and minimize landfill waste. The Textiles Recycling Expo USA will directly address these challenges, promoting information exchange, innovation, and collaboration to build a more circular and sustainable future for the industry.

The event will feature an expansive exhibition hall showcasing leading suppliers of relevant technologies and services. Additionally, an open conference theater will host keynote presentations, panel discussions, and case studies, delving into critical topics such such as regulatory developments, market trends, technical innovations, supply chain advancements, and investment opportunities.

Andy Beevers, Events Director at AMI, explains, Charlotte was selected as the location for the expo as the city and surrounding areas make up a major hub for textiles production, recycling and research. The city also has great transport connections and excellent exhibition facilities, he adds.

The Eurozone expects GDP growth in Q2, FY25 to remain negative as retail sales declined 0.7 per cent M-o-M in May 2025. This coincides with a -0.3 per cent drop in overall services activity in April. This concrete data supports expectations of negative GDP growth for the second quarter (April-June).

While retail sales demonstrated strength early in the year, fueled by wage growth despite consumer apprehension, May's figures present a ‘reality check.’ Though potentially influenced by holiday timing, this decline clearly indicates a downward trend in consumer spending.

Despite this downturn, the potential for a retail sales rebound remains significant due to recovering purchasing power across the Eurozone. However, stubbornly high saving rates, driven by persistent uncertainty and low consumer confidence, are currently hindering a stronger recovery in European retail.

Further compounding the economic concerns, Eurostat's broader services data for April reveals a weak start to the second quarter. The -0.3 per cent decline from March was primarily driven by substantial drops in ICT and real estate activities. While the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for services showed slight improvement in June, it suggested stagnation rather than a robust recovery.

The confirmed weakness in the services sector, coupled with the retail sales slump, reinforces the view that GDP growth in Q2, FY25 may indeed be negative. This outlook is further underscored by the potential for a reversal in the frontloading of US imports, which could negatively impact the trade balance. Following a strong Q1, economic activity in Q2 is likely to serve as a ‘reality check,’ with the overall trend remaining sluggish.

A recent analysis of global garment import trends from 2013 to 2024 reveals a divergence in strategies and market dynamics between the European Union and the US. While the EU has consistently increased its garment imports, revealing a growing appetite for international textiles, the US market has largely remained stagnant, and in some areas, even seen a decline. This contrasting picture points to a reshaping of the global garment trade, with implications for both importing blocs and exporting nations.

A tale of two markets

From 2013 to 2024, EU garment imports have shown a consistent upward trajectory, with substantial growth. In stark contrast, US garment imports have largely fluctuated, ending the period at levels similar to where they began.

Table: Global garment imports: EU vs US ($ millions)

Data approximated from source PDF.

Shifting sourcing strategies

The divergence becomes even clearer when examining specific exporting nations. Below is a simplified overview of garment import data for the EU and US from various countries, highlighting the start (2013) and end (2024) values, along with a general trend summary.

Table: Country-specific garment imports: EU vs US ($ mn)

What’s driving the trends?

There are several reasons for the disparate trends:

• Economic growth and consumer demand: Stronger consumer demand and economic growth within the EU compared to the US might be driving the increased import volumes.

• Trade policies and agreements: The EU's extensive network of trade agreements and preferential tariffs with various garment-producing nations could be facilitating higher import volumes. The US, on the other hand, might have different trade priorities or less favorable agreements with certain key suppliers.

• Diversification of supply chains: The US appears to be actively diversifying its garment sourcing, particularly away from China, which has led to stagnation or decline in overall import figures, even as imports from other nations like Vietnam increase.

• Geopolitical considerations: Geopolitical factors and specific country-related risks or opportunities could be influencing sourcing decisions for both blocs. For instance, the significant growth in EU imports from Myanmar might be tied to specific investment or trade initiatives.

• Fashion trends and market specifics: Differences in fashion trends, consumer preferences, and retail strategies between the EU and US markets could also play a role in shaping import demands.

Outlook, a continuing divide

The data suggests that the EU and US are on distinct paths regarding garment imports. The EU's consistent growth highlights its role as a key driver of demand in the global textile market, while the US appears to be undergoing a recalibration of its supply chains. This ongoing difference will likely continue to reshape the global garment industry, impacting production hubs, logistics networks, and ultimately, consumer choices worldwide. As these trends evolve, close monitoring will be essential to understand the full economic and social ramifications for both importing powerhouses and the nations that clothe them.

Growing at a CAGR of 4.90 per cent from 2025-32, the global textile recycling market is projected to reach a value of $7.2 billion by 2032.

This market expansion is likely to be propelled by several key factors including environmental regulations that are becoming increasingly stringent worldwide. For example, the European Union mandates separate textile waste collection by January 1, 2025, to boost reuse and recycling.

The rise of circular economy initiatives, particularly in fashion, sees brands investing in closed-loop systems to transform old garments into new products. Consumer awareness of fashion's environmental footprint is also growing, influencing purchasing decisions towards sustainable and recycled options.

Furthermore, technological advancements like AI-powered sorting and efficient fiber recovery are making recycling more viable, while brand collaborations (eg: Patagonia, H&M) are expanding take-back programs and eco-friendly collections.

The textile industry is notoriously resource-intensive and polluting. With over 17 million tons of textile waste generated in the US alone in 2018, the potential for growth in this sector is immense. Textile recycling offers substantial benefits, including reducing landfill waste and conserving water, energy, and raw materials by lessening the reliance on virgin fibers.

Regionally, Europe is set to maintain its dominance due to strong regulations, early adoption of sustainable practices, and well-developed recycling infrastructure in countries like Germany and Sweden. The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, India, and Bangladesh, is expected to witness the fastest growth, driven by increasing awareness and significant investments in recycling infrastructure. China aims to recycle 25 per cent of its textile waste and produce 2 million tons of recycled fiber annually by 2025. North America is also an important market, with the US enhancing its infrastructure through public-private partnerships.

The market employs mechanical recycling, which is cost-effective and dominant for natural and synthetic fibers, and chemical recycling, which breaks down fabrics at a molecular level for high-purity recovery, despite being more expensive and less scalable currently.

Despite this positive momentum, challenges persist, including a lack of infrastructure for collection and processing, contamination issues from mixed fibers and dyes, relatively low consumer participation, and the economic viability of recycling compared to producing virgin fibers.