India is currently winning the global trade reshuffle. As political instability continues to shake traditional hubs like Bangladesh, international buyers are turning to Indian textile groups. But as factories in Tiruppur and Bengaluru accept these increased orders, they are running into a thermodynamic crisis they haven’t budgeted for.

The crisis is personal before it is industrial. A textile worker in Tamil Nadu loses 50% of his working capacity on a 40°C afternoon; And since he has no sick leave or cooling breaks, he also stands to lose 50% of his day’s pay. It bears the costs of a warming planet so that global supply chains remain ‘efficient’.

However, the biology of labor is hitting a wall, and India’s textile industry is quietly crumbling under the burden.