Bharat Tex 2026 Day 3 Highlights Circularity, Sustainable Textiles, Skills Development and Global Trade

Industry leaders, policymakers and global organisations discuss responsible sourcing, investment, technology, handlooms and textile innovation at Bharat Tex 2026

The third day of Bharat Tex 2026 focused on sustainability, circularity, responsible sourcing, textile financing, future-ready skills, global trade and technology-led growth through a series of panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, masterclasses and industry interactions.

A key highlight of the day was the visit of Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who toured the Madhya Pradesh State Pavilion and interacted with representatives showcasing the State’s textile heritage, manufacturing capabilities and investment potential.

Dr. Mohan Yadav later participated in the Madhya Pradesh State Session, organised by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The session highlighted the State’s strengths across the textile value chain and its potential to attract investment, expand manufacturing, generate employment and support industry-led growth. A media interaction followed the session, during which Dr. Mohan Yadav highlighted the State’s textile potential and investment opportunities.

Fashion Forecasting and Design

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) hosted the discussion “Indian Trends to Global Taste: Forecasting for Billion Consumers (VisionNxt)”, featuring Shri Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Chairman, Jaipur Rugs Company Private Limited, and Shri Riccardo Rami, Founder, Riccardo Rami Studio, Italy. The discussion focused on India's potential to shape global fashion trends by combining consumer insights, indigenous knowledge and contemporary design.

Circularity and Sustainable Textile Development

Sustainability remained a central theme throughout the programme.

The United Nations Development Programme session on the India Sustainable Textile Mark featured Ms. Nalini Shekar, Co-Founder, Hasiru Dala, and focused on developing a social and environmental benchmark for Indian textiles and apparel.

The session “Wheat Straw to Wardrobes” featured Dr. Ravinder Tuteja, Material Program Lead, H&M, and examined the development of next-generation textile fibres using agricultural residue.

The roundtable “Circular Textile: From Dialogue to Deployment”, featuring Shri Archish Kansal, Director, Respun, discussed practical and scalable approaches to implementing circularity commitments across the textile sector.

Organic Cotton and Sustainable Supply Chains

The discussion “Fair Commodity Pricing: An Industry Model for an Equitable and Resilient Organic Cotton Value Chain” featured Shri Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director, India, IDH India Hub Private Limited, and Ms. Danique Lodewijks, Sustainable Raw Materials Manager, Bestseller. The session highlighted transparent pricing, protection of farmer interests and long-term partnerships within the organic cotton value chain.

The panel “Financing a Globally Competitive, Sustainable, Inclusive Supply Chain”, featuring Shri Aakash Shah, Partner, Peak Sustainability Ventures, explored financing models for resilient and responsible textile supply chains.

Responsible Sourcing and Investment

The Better Cotton Initiative roundtable “Dialogue for Sustainable Sourcing Solutions to Drive Textile Trade” included Ms. Eva Benavidez Clayton, Senior Director of Demand and Engagement, Better Cotton Initiative; Shri Paul Wright, Group Environmental, Social and Governance Executive Director, PDS Limited; Shri Anant Ahuja, Director of Environmental, Social and Governance and Sustainability, Shahi Exports Private Limited; Shri Dilip Kumar, Traceability Manager, Marks and Spencer; and Shri Srinivasan Krishnamurthy, Material Development Lead, IKEA Group.

The discussion focused on responsible sourcing, traceability and collaboration among brands, manufacturers and suppliers to support sustainable textile trade.

The roundtable “Weaving Capital In: Investor Perspectives on India’s Textile Sustainability Journey” featured Ms. Ranjna Khanna, Senior Director, Programs, Impact Investors Council; Shri Jai Kumar Gaurav, Senior Advisor for Climate Change and Circular Economy, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit; and Dr. Priya Nagaraj, Head, Green Economy and Innovation, Council on Energy, Environment and Water. The session examined investments in clean technologies, circular business models and inclusive enterprises across India's textile sector.

E-commerce, Handlooms and Industry Learnings

The e-commerce masterclass “From Bharat to the World”, featuring Shri Pulkit Nanda, Head of New Seller Recruitment, Global Sales, Amazon Global Selling, discussed export preparedness and the role of digital marketplaces in enabling Indian textile enterprises to reach global customers.

A fireside conversation featuring Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and Ms. Priyambada Jayakumar, Author and Historian, focused on India's handloom heritage, the contribution of weavers and artisans, and connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary markets.

The day's programme concluded with the “Sustainability Conclave: Learnings and Takeaways — Closing Plenary Session”, featuring Ms. Aarti Mohan, Co-Founder and Partner, Sattva Media and Consulting Private Limited, which summarised the discussions on finance, sourcing, technology, skills and circularity.

Garmenting and Chemical Management

A panel discussion titled “Why Indian Fabric Players Struggle to Integrate into Garmenting and What It Will Take to Succeed” featured Shri Shreyaskar Chaudhary, Managing Director, Pratibha Syntex Limited, and Shri Kartikayan Ravichandran, Associate Partner, Vector Consulting Group. The discussion examined the operational and strategic capabilities required for Indian fabric manufacturers to expand into garment production.

The masterclass “Integrating Sustainable Chemical Management Frameworks into Policy”, led by Shri Saket Damodar Kulkarni, Senior Regional Manager for South Asia, ZDHC Foundation, focused on responsible chemical management, enhanced environmental, social and governance compliance, and internationally aligned production practices to support India-European Union textile trade.