Reshoring and nearshoring in the textile industry: relocation strategies, decision factors and effects on the value chain

Valencia-Arias A.; Salazar Montoya E.O.; Valera Aredo J.C.; Cardona-Acevedo S.; Rodríguez-Correa P.A.; Patiño-Vanegas J.C. · Research Journal of Textile and Apparel (2026) · DOI: 10.1108/rjta-07-2025-0163

Resumen

Purpose – This study aims to examine how reshoring and nearshoring are reshaping industrial capacities and strengthening the resilience of production systems, with a particular focus on the textile sector. It highlights how these strategies respond to vulnerabilities created by decades of offshoring and how they enable the reconfiguration of regional supply chains. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted using peer-reviewed sources from Scopus and Web of Science. The analysis categorized drivers, destination patterns and methodological approaches, with special attention to studies addressing structural change in the textile industry. Findings – The review reveals that reshoring and nearshoring have evolved into strategic tools for building shorter, more resilient and more sustainable supply chains. In textiles, these practices enhance local capabilities, improve production control and support environmental and social objectives. Originality/value – This review addresses a specific and persistent knowledge gap: despite the growing interest in reshoring and nearshoring, the textile industry lacks an integrated framework that jointly examines relocation drivers, destinations, impacts and implementation challenges. Prior studies remain fragmented focused on isolated factors, limited to particular regions or centered on other industries preventing a comprehensive understanding of how relocation transforms textile value chains. By synthesizing these dispersed insights, this study provides the first sector-specific, multidimensional overview that links relocation strategies with resilience, sustainability and regional development, offering a relevant evidence base for researchers, firms and policymakers.

Instituciones: Universidad Señor de Sipán