August, AVECAL

AVECAL released the updated 'Annual Report on Skills Intelligence', part of the METASKILLS4TCLF pro-ject, in May 2025. This strategic document provides an in-depth look at the evolving skills landscape across the Textile, Clothing, Leather, and Footwear (TCLF) industries, supporting stakeholders in navi-gating the digital and green transition. Based on online surveys – distributed to companies, VET centres, universities, and other relevant stakeholders – as well as updated SWOT analyses, the 2025 edition of-fers both continuity and new insights compared to the 2024 report.

An Evolving Context: What’s Changed Since 2024?

Compared to the previous year, the 2025 report highlights several important developments shaping the TCLF sectors:


• Sustainability continues to gain momentum, with growing attention to compliance, circularity, and traceability initiatives - such as the Digital Product Passport.
• Skills and talent needs are evolving, particularly in digital, green, and technical domains.
• Career perception remains an area for improvement, especially in the clothing and footwear sectors, where stronger efforts are needed to enhance appeal.
• Geopolitical and environmental uncertainties persist, reinforcing the need for resilience and adaptability in sector strategies.
• Collaboration between education and industry is deepening, supported by innovation hubs and vocational training reforms gaining traction.

These shifts point to a dynamic landscape - one where modernized training and renewed narratives are key to positioning the sector as innovative, future-ready, and sustainable.

Key Findings Across the Four Sectors

Textile. The textile sector builds on a solid foundation in sustainability, particularly in regions champion-ing circular production. Digitization is advancing within industrial operations, though smaller and arti-sanal players face greater challenges. With an aging workforce, attracting young talent through updated, tech-driven roles is essential. There are notable opportunities in enhancing traceability and responding to the rising demand for sustainable fibres.

Clothing. While rich in creative potential, the clothing sector faces notable skills gaps and a need to improve its professional image. Uptake of digital tools remains limited among SMEs, though larger firms are innovating through AI and 3D design. The ongoing shift toward ethical production and local value chains offers a compelling direction, supported by adaptive training models to boost competitiveness.

Leather. A sector often overlooked, leather demonstrates its circular economy credentials by transform-ing meat industry by-products into high-quality materials. Though regulatory complexity and outdated perceptions persist, sustainability leadership (especially in Italian tanning districts) is driving progress. Future priorities include attracting youth, increasing digital integration, and communicating the sector’s environmental strengths more clearly.

Footwear. Traditionally anchored – especially in Southern Europe – the footwear industry has been re-shaping its model over time and is progressively moving toward greater innovation. Challenges remain in filling technical roles and managing generational transitions, but momentum is growing around sus-tainable materials and innovative production. Strong local ecosystems are a distinct asset, particularly for customized, high-value goods.

Cross-Sector SWOT Revalidation: Shared Insights

The 2025 SWOT analysis reaffirms several cross-cutting themes:


• Strengths: Local production networks, regional sustainability leadership, and expanding innova-tion ecosystems.
• Weaknesses: Ongoing skills gaps (particularly in digital and green areas) and limited innovation capacity among some SMEs.
• Opportunities: Growth of circular economy practices, enhanced traceability through digital tools, and trends favouring nearshoring.
• Challenges: Navigating economic uncertainty, adapting to fast fashion dynamics, and addressing regulatory complexity.

Conclusions and Way Forward

The 2025 report reflects that the TCLF sectors are at a transformative juncture: rich in heritage yet poised for reinvention. To stay ahead of change and secure long-term competitiveness, the following strategic priorities are recommended:


• Build agile, modern skills ecosystems, with sector alliances and rapid upskilling pathways.
• Rebrand TCLF careers, engaging younger generations through stories of innovation, sustainabil-ity, and creativity.
• Accelerate SME transformation, through targeted support tools, digital enablement, and stream-lined EU funding access.
• Enhance regional resilience, by harnessing local strengths while scaling international competi-tiveness.

In summary, the report signals not only challenges but also strong momentum toward coordinated, fu-ture-facing action. With the right investments and partnerships, the TCLF sectors are well positioned to thrive in a fast-evolving European context.