Bharat Tex 2025 commenced on a grand note at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with the Hon’ble Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh visiting the event along with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Secretary of Textiles Smt Neelam Shami Rao, and other distinguished dignitaries. The much awaited event, which brings together key stakeholders from the textile industry, kicked off with a strong emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and global collaborations.
With participation from over 120 countries, 33 international trade associations, and 46 leading global brands, Bharat Tex 2025 reinforced India’s role as a key player in the global textile supply chain. Discussions during the event will span across multiple themes, including sustainable manufacturing, trade expansion, digital transformation, and startup-driven growth. The engagement of key textile-producing states such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu further highlighted the regional strength and diversity within India’s textile sector.
India’s Textile Heritage in the Spotlight
Bharat Tex 2025 opened with a vibrant display of India’s rich textile traditions, featuring live demonstrations by artisans and weavers from across the country. Traditional weavers, embroiderers, and craftsmen showcased intricate techniques such as Banarasi weaving, Pashmina production, Kanjeevaram silk weaving, and Chikankari embroidery. The craftsmanship on display was a testament to India’s deep-rooted textile heritage, emphasizing the importance of preserving these age-old traditions while integrating modern production techniques to meet contemporary market demands.
Many artisans and weavers shared their personal experiences, and discussed the evolving landscape of the textile industry. For many, Bharat Tex 2025 served as a platform to connect with global buyers, industry experts, and policymakers, offering them visibility and new business opportunities. The event provided a crucial space for dialogue on how India’s handloom and handicraft industry can be positioned for sustained growth and international expansion.
Startup Pavilion: Nurturing Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Startup Pavilion emerged as a key attraction on Day 1, showcasing India’s burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem in textiles. The launch of Aavartan, a compendium featuring over 3,000 textile-related startups, highlighted the growing interest in leveraging technology and sustainability within the sector.
The Sutradhar Pitch Fest, a unique “Shark Tank”-style investor pitch session, provided an exciting platform for young entrepreneurs to present their ventures to potential investors. The event featured cutting-edge startups working in areas such as sustainable textiles, smart fabrics, digital fashion, and technical textiles. The enthusiasm and engagement at the pavilion demonstrated the sector’s openness to new business models and technological advancements.
Additionally, the Innovating for Tomorrow: Catalysing Success through Textile Startups session, conducted by IIT Madras, provided a deeper understanding of how startups can drive transformation in textiles through advancements in fiber science, smart wearables, and AI-driven design processes.
Industry Dialogues and Knowledge Sessions
Day 1 of Bharat Tex 2025 hosted multiple high-impact knowledge sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables featuring government officials, industry veterans, and global thought leaders. Some of the most insightful discussions included:
- How Can India Be a Stable Partner in an Uncertain World? – Led by KPMG, this session explored India’s role as a resilient global textile hub and the strategies needed to enhance supply chain stability amid geopolitical uncertainties.
- Scaling Up Textile Manufacturing in India – Experts and policymakers discussed challenges in infrastructure development, technology adoption, and market expansion strategies to increase India’s textile production capacity.
- Unlocking the Employment Potential of Textiles – Conducted by NITI Aayog and KPMG, this session focused on job creation and skill development initiatives to drive economic growth.
- Regional Focus: Africa – Industry leaders discussed opportunities for expanding India’s textile trade in African markets, focusing on strengthening partnerships with regional trade associations.
With 42 panel discussions, 3 state sessions, 2 roundtables, 26 masterclasses, and 1 workshop, Day 1 set a strong foundation for meaningful collaborations and strategic growth discussions.
High-Level Industry Discussions and Global Trade Expansion
Day 2 of Bharat Tex 2025 continued with an equally engaging lineup of sessions and discussions, focusing on export growth, investment strategies, sustainability, and digital transformation.
One of the most anticipated sessions, India’s $100 Billion Exports Target: Transforming Vision into Reality, brought together industry experts and policymakers to discuss strategies to expand India’s textile exports. Discussions focused on leveraging trade agreements, improving trade logistics, and diversifying market access to strengthen India’s position as a global textile powerhouse.
Meanwhile, the Scaling Up Textile Manufacturing in India session examined ways to enhance production capabilities while ensuring sustainability and regulatory compliance with international trade standards. Experts highlighted key government initiatives such as PM MITRA parks and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which are designed to boost India’s textile infrastructure.
Leadership Insights: Fire Side Chat with Ms. Dipali Goenka
A major highlight of Day 2 was the exclusive Fire Side Chat with Ms. Dipali Goenka, CEO & MD of Welspun Living Ltd., where she shared her insights on sustainability, leadership, and the role of digital transformation in the textile industry. Her conversation emphasized the importance of adapting to evolving market trends, maintaining ethical production practices, and fostering resilience in a competitive global landscape.
Investment and Sustainability at the Forefront
The Investors’ Meet, organized by Gherzi, brought together key investors and textile sector leaders to discuss funding opportunities, infrastructure development, and policy incentives to boost capital inflow into the sector.
The second day concluded with the Innovation Challenge Felicitation Ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, which honored industry pioneers making significant contributions in sustainable manufacturing, technical textiles, and digital fashion.
A Global Platform for Collaboration and Growth
The strong participation from European, American, African, and Southeast Asian delegates further reinforced Bharat Tex 2025’s role as a premier international trade platform. Dedicated buyer-seller meetings, policy roundtables, and networking events facilitated meaningful business engagements, strengthening India’s role as a preferred global textile sourcing destination.
With two impactful days completed, Bharat Tex 2025 has cemented itself as a key event for fostering industry collaborations, driving innovation, and expanding trade partnerships.
Supported by major corporate players including Aditya Birla, Reliance, Trident, Welspun, Arvind, Shahi, PDS, and Gokaldas, and the strong backing of key state governments, Bharat Tex 2025 is poised to propel India’s textile sector forward. As the event progresses, it will continue to bring more insightful discussions, meaningful business partnerships, and strategic initiatives, ensuring that India remains at the forefront of the global textile industry.
