Spanish textile retail closed the autumn-winter 2025 campaign stable despite the impact of international uncertainty, tariffs, and geopolitical tension, in a context marked by the growth of consumption and the boost of tourism. This is reflected in the fourth edition of the ARTE Indicator, prepared by the Spanish Textile Retail Association, which places the sector's semi-annual index at -0.2%, in line with the levels recorded a year earlier.
According to the report, retail sales of clothing, footwear, and textile articles grew by 6.7% year-on-year between September 2025 and February 2026, above the retail trade as a whole, which advanced by 5.9%.
The association highlights that this behavior has been supported by both the strengthening of private consumption and the evolution of international tourism. During the semester, Spain received nearly 41 million foreign tourists, 1.8% more, reinforcing key campaigns for the sector such as Black Friday, Christmas, and winter sales.
Historic record of the online channel and consolidation of omnichannelity
The study also underlines the strong growth of the digital channel, which reached a new all-time high during the autumn-winter campaign. Purchases made through websites, mobile applications, and social networks grew by 8.9% year-on-year, exceeding 3.54 billion euros.
ARTE considers that this evolution consolidates omnichannel as a “structural model” for the sector, with an increasingly integrated coexistence between physical stores and e-commerce. According to the employers' association, this combination reinforces the adaptability of textile retail in the face of demand fluctuations.
Tariffs and geopolitical tension curb further growth
Despite the good consumption indicators, the report warns that the international context has acted as a restraining element for the sector. Among the factors pointed out are the new wave of tariffs on transatlantic and Asian trade, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and geopolitical tensions on various fronts.
Even so, Spanish textile retail maintains “a level of activity in line with what was observed in previous semesters,” according to the ARTE Indicator.
Two out of three companies expect to grow in spring-summer 2026
The outlook for the next campaign is moderately positive. 66% of companies integrated into ARTE anticipate sales growth during the spring-summer 2026 season, while the remaining 33% foresee stable performance. Overall, companies estimate an average increase close to 3% compared to the same period last year.
The forecasts for ecommerce are even more favorable. 100% of the companies consulted expect growth in the online channel and calculate an average increase of more than 2.8% year-on-year.
ARTE maintains that these data reflect a “consolidated” sector, with capacity for adaptation and an increasingly resilient structure, which maintains its weight as a driver of trade, employment, and digital transformation in Spain.
ABOUT ART
The Spanish Textile Retail Association (ARTE) represents the textile commerce sector at a national level and brings together companies such as Inditex, Mango, H&M, Primark, Tendam, Uniqlo, Kiabi, Hugo Boss, or Mayoral, among others. The organization defends the economic, regulatory, and socio-labor interests of the sector and promotes social and environmental sustainability, as well as market unity and freedom of enterprise.