What we can do here in Taiwan?

Textile news, honestly? Not exactly the stuff that blows up your feed.

And when it does show up, it’s always about the big brands or massive factories. So yeah, you’ll see comments like:

“Didn’t the whole textile industry just move to Southeast Asia?”

It’s kind of like back in the day when people thought everything moved to China. Not totally wrong — but also, not the full story.

Here’s the Deal

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Taiwan still has a real textile scene.

Sure, over the years, a bunch of factories moved to China, Southeast Asia, even places like Eswatini in Africa or Haiti. But Taiwan? Still has a strong production base — especially when it comes to fabric, yarn, and semi-finished goods.

According to the Taiwan Textile Federation (2024 data), Taiwan exports nearly $7 billion USD in textiles every year — that’s around NT$200 billion. Fabric alone makes up over 70% of that, followed by yarn at 15%, and the rest is stuff like garments, fibers, and accessories. We’re talking about weaving, dyeing, coating, printing — all of it.

Modern Factories, Not Pollution Machines

Let’s get one thing straight: these factories aren’t stuck in the past.

I work with this stuff every day — and what we’re doing now is way more advanced. We’re mixing up materials, trying new ideas, and chasing international certifications. Some factories even have water recycling systems clean enough to raise fish in. Yeah, fish. Not exactly the “toxic waste dump” image people still have in their heads.

So when you hear “Olympic uniforms used Taiwanese fabric”, it’s true. And a good chunk of that fabric? Made right here in Taiwan.

So Why Did Some Move Out?

Good question. The big wave of “offshoring”? It’s mostly garment factories.

Sewing T-shirts and hoodies takes a ton of labor, and labor’s cheaper in places like Vietnam or Cambodia. So these companies moved — just like herds following fresh grass. And yeah, they took a bunch of the supply chain with them — buttons, zippers, even some fabric mills.

So now, even if the business is still Taiwanese-owned, the factory’s probably not in Taiwan anymore. Maybe just the HQ is left.

The Big Picture

Garments were the main thing that moved overseas — and because of that, the local garment industry never really bounced back.

We used to be called the “kingdom of garments”, and now garments are just 5% of textile exports. What’s left? Mostly small factories, with aging workers and low production efficiency. It’s a tough scene.

Which is why that huge hoodie order meant so much.

In an industry where factories are shutting down or retiring left and right, one order of 80,000 hoodies was a real morale booster. It helped keep a bunch of these small shops alive. And hey — if more orders like that come in? Who knows. Maybe the local garment game could look very different.

Bottom Line

Yeah, some parts of the textile industry moved abroad. But Taiwan’s fabric manufacturing is still legit. It’s still feeding families and supporting entire communities.

And it’s not just the factories. Think about the delivery drivers, the machine repair guys, even the lunch spots near the industrial zones — they’re all part of this.

So when people brush it off with a “meh, they all moved out anyway” — that stings. And for the folks still working in this space? That kind of comment hits deep, even if they don’t say it.