COVID-19's impact on the world textile chain has been devastating. From retail to brands, textile mills, trade, producers and all associated industries, monetary and job losses are mounting. Estimates by the International Labour Organization [ILO) indicate that full or partial lockdown has affected 2.7 billion workers, or 81% of the world's workforce. The ILO estimates that the majority of the hardest-hit workers — about 1.25 billion, 38% of the global workforce — are in retail trade, accommodation, food services and manufacturing. Retail and manufacturing, including textiles, are facing the closure of retail stores, cancelled orders, job losses and reduced salaries, as well as suppressed demand for textiles, and clothing, especially fast fashion.There are several estimates of the number of workers employed in the global textile and cotton industry, ranging from 150 million to 200 million, and almost all of them are affected and face losses. The value of textiles produced in 2019 is estimated by the Grand View Research company at $962 billion. Production in 2020 could be reduced by approximately one-third, or around $300 billion in lost economic activity.
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