India’s textile industry is a vital pillar of its economic and cultural legacy, evolving from traditional handlooms in villages to advanced textile mills today. As one of the country’s earliest industries, textiles account for 13% of India’s total industrial production, 12% of total exports, and 2.3% of the GDP, while employing over 45 million people, including 3.5 million handloom workers. However, this rapid growth has brought significant environmental challenges and driven by a national level task force on sustainability circularity, the country’s textile sector is now rapidly adopting sustainable practices. These range from recycling and upcycling efforts in micro and small textile clusters to firm level interventions by India’s large and listed companies in water, energy and material use efficiency.
India, an inherently circular nation, has a deep-rooted tradition of sustainability, dating back thousands of years. From hand woven khadi to organic cotton and natural dyes, India’s textile heritage is a testament to eco-friendly practices. This inherent sustainability is not just a legacy but a promising future for ethical fashion globally.
To highlight the country’s vision and commitment to a circular textile economy, sustainability will be a key pillar in India’s global mega textile event Bharat Tex 2025. Organised by 11 industry associations and supported by the Ministry of Textiles, Bharat Tex 2025 comprises a mega expo covering over 2.2 million square feet area, spread across two venues and showcasing the entire textile ecosystem including accessories under one roof. While the main event will be held from February 14-17, 2025, at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi and will exhibit the entire value chain of textiles, exhibitions pertaining to handicrafts, garment machinery and ethnic apparel will be held from February 12-15 at the India Expo Centre and Mart Greater Noida, NCR Delhi.
However, Bharat Tex is not just a showcase, it is also a movement to redefine the textile industry through eco-friendly practices, ethical sourcing, and cutting-edge technologies. Bharat Tex 2025 has positioned itself as a transformative platform as it seeks to engage and highlight the cutting-edge issues in sustainability and the measures being taken to address them.
Driving Sustainability: The Core of Bharat Tex 2025
Sustainability is no longer an option for the textile industry, it is a necessity. This is why the twin themes of circularity and sustainability will occupy centre stage at this year’s event. Bharat Tex 2025 will provide a platform to unite stakeholders across the value chain, fostering dialogue and action to embed sustainable practices into the industry’s core. By focusing on eco-friendly innovations, circular economy models, and ethical sourcing, the event aims to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
Evolution of the Indian Textile Industry
India’s textile industry has undergone significant transformation, becoming a global leader in textile and garment production. With a projected market size of US$ 350 billion by 2030, up from US$ 176 billion in 2023, the industry is growing at a CAGR of nearly 7.8%.
Despite its impressive expansion, the industry faces increasing pressure to address its environmental footprint, including challenges such as waste generation, water pollution, and reliance on synthetic fibres. A national level sustainability cum ESG task force in Ministry of Textiles is currently consulting all stakeholders to create pathways for a circular and sustainable textile ecosystem in India.
Eco-Friendly Innovations in Textile Production
The heart of Bharat Tex 2025 lies in showcasing groundbreaking innovations that prioritise sustainability at every stage of textile production and shape the future of the global textile industry. Bharat Tex highlights how sustainable practices can help overcome these issues and position India as a responsible global textile leader.
Special pavilions and Exhibitions
- Bharat Tex will showcase cutting-edge innovations in sustainable textiles from eco-friendly textiles to zero-waste design techniques.
- Exhibitors will demonstrate water-efficient dyeing processes, organic cotton farming, and other initiatives aimed at circularity and decarbonisation.
- Exhibitors will showcase initiatives to minimize textile waste, from up cycling scraps into new products to implementing closed-loop manufacturing processes.
- Winners of circular design contests, sustainability hackathons and other innovators to showcase their offerings in a special pavilion
- A showcase of Kasturi Cotton, a new standard in cotton, with a transparently traceable value chain and globally acceptable quality standards
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- Showcasing of actual work done by individual industry as well as MSME textile clusters like Panipat, Tirupur and Surat
- Renewable Energy Integration: Exhibitors showcase the adoption of solar and wind power, significantly lowering carbon emissions and energy costs.
- Sustainable Fashion: Bharat Tex showcases innovations in sustainable fashion, from eco-friendly textiles to zero-waste design techniques. Designers and brands present collections that prioritize sustainability without compromising style or quality.
These innovations exemplify how the Indian textile industry is embracing sustainable solutions to address its environmental challenges.
Circular Economy: Closing the Loop
A transition to a circular economy is central to Bharat Tex 2025’s vision. By minimising waste and maximising resource use, the industry can address critical environmental concerns.
- Upcycling Initiatives: Innovative practices demonstrate how pre- and post-consumer textile waste can be transformed into high-value garments, contributing to the circular economy.
- Closed-Loop Manufacturing: Advanced technologies enable fibres to be recycled repeatedly without quality loss, revolutionising sustainable production.
- Recycling Innovations: Creative solutions for repurposing discarded garments into new materials showcase the potential to turn waste into valuable resources.
These practices align India’s textile industry with global efforts to create a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.
Major Sessions and Workshops on Sustainability
Bharat Tex 2025 goes beyond showcasing products. By offering over 70 knowledge-sharing sessions and workshops, the expo provides actionable insights into implementing sustainable practices:
- ESG & Sustainability: Exploring how environmental, social, and governance principles are reshaping the textile landscape.
- Circularity in Textiles: Strategies for embedding circular economy principles into supply chains.
- Pathways to Decarbonization: Crafting Sustainable Value Chains and driving a green economic transition
- Sustainable Futures: The Future of Sustainable Textiles; discovering best practices in material and energy efficiency and Hazardous Chemical Elimination
- Economic Greenprints: Navigating the Financial Landscape of Sustainability
These forums empower participants to bridge the gap between sustainability goals and practical implementation.
A Vision for the Future
The Textile Sector’s vision for the future aims to ensure that the industry remains competitive while meeting global sustainability standards. Bharat Tex 2025 seeks to both spotlight and amplify that vision. It stands as a transformative platform, shedding the light on India’s leadership in sustainable textiles and innovation. With real-world examples of eco-friendly practices and groundbreaking solutions, the event highlights the tangible benefits of adopting sustainability as a core principle. Multilateral conclaves on sustainability with stakeholders and development partners seek to delve into solutions for the twin challenges of cost and sustainable production while sessions on Global Sustainability Standards, debate upcoming global trends in sustainability along with India’s leading innovations in textiles. Bharat Tex also candidly faces the challenges the sector faces- from finance to technology and capital to skills- even as it engages with global best practitioners and seeks solutions.
By promoting trade and investment, inspiring green innovation, and preserving cultural heritage, Bharat Tex 2025, India’s largest global textile show shows us the way to a future where economic growth and environmental responsibility can coexist happily.
