The fashion industry is facing a reckoning as climate change wreaks havoc on its global supply chains. What was once a steady, predictable flow of raw materials and finished goods is now a treacherous web of disruptions - from drought-ravaged cotton fields to flood-paralyzed manufacturing hubs. And the worst is yet to come, experts warn, as the industry grapples with the harsh realities of a warming world.
Weathering the Storm
The forces that shaped fashion's supply chains in 2025 - extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and looming regulations - are only intensifying in 2026. Vogue reports that apparel companies are now bracing for a year of "much of the same turbulence" as they struggle to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.
What this really means is that the industry's long-standing reliance on cheap, globalized production is being put to the test. As Business of Fashion notes, climate risks like dangerous heat, flooding, and drought are "catching up" with fashion's far-flung supply chains. Factories are being forced to shut down, crops are failing, and shipments are being delayed - all of which is wreaking havoc on the industry's bottom line.
A Reckoning for Fast Fashion
The bigger picture here is that the fashion industry's unsustainable model is colliding head-on with the realities of climate change. McKinsey and BoF's State of Fashion report found that 46% of executives expect industry conditions to worsen in 2026, with trade disputes and tariffs cited as the top risks.
This spells trouble for fast fashion giants that have built their empires on a constant churn of cheap, globalized production. As Business of Fashion notes, the industry now faces a "harsh new reality" where survival - not just growth - is the name of the game.
The companies that will thrive in this climate-ravaged future are those that can build resilience into their supply chains, diversify production, and fundamentally rethink their business models around sustainability. The stakes have never been higher, and the clock is ticking.