Dornbirn GFC Asia Debuts in Mumbai, Driving Fibre Innovation
A landmark launch spotlighting sustainable fibre solutions and global collaboration.
The Dornbirn Global Fibre Conference Asia held its first edition in Mumbai, bringing global experts together to explore breakthrough fibre innovations, sustainability, and the future of technical textiles.
The Dornbirn Global Fibre Conference (GFC) Asia made its debut in Mumbai on November 18, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the fibre and textile innovation ecosystem. Held as part of the Techtextil India Symposium 2025, the event brought together leading global experts, research institutions, and industry pioneers to explore the next wave of sustainable fibre technologies.
Centred around the theme “Shaping the Future: Sustainable Growth in Fibre Solutions and Innovations”, the conference served as a major platform to discuss cutting-edge developments, sustainability-driven strategies, and the future direction of the global fibre industry. Supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu as Partner State, the event underscored India’s rising influence in technical textiles and advanced fibre research.
The day-long programme featured presentations on emerging sustainable fibres, eco-conscious production advancements, circular economy breakthroughs, and the fast-growing domain of smart technical textiles. Speakers also addressed major global market shifts, evolving policy landscapes, and the increasing need for sustainability-driven business transformation—topics vital for manufacturers, researchers, designers, and policymakers.
Organised jointly by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd and the Austrian Fibers Institute, the conference further anchored India’s growing leadership in textile technology and sustainable innovation. Aligned with India’s goal of scaling textile and apparel exports to USD 100 billion by 2030, Dornbirn GFC Asia acted as a collaborative hub for industry leaders to exchange knowledge and shape a greener and more advanced future for textiles.
Industry leaders shared their insights during the event:
Chief Guest, Hon’ble Ms V Amuthavalli, IAS, Secretary – Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi, Government of Tamil Nadu said:
“Tamil Nadu has already established itself in natural fibres (cotton) but we feel that industries shall diversify more into man-made fibres as well. Being a Partner State to the Dornbirn GFC Asia, we are looking towards exchanging knowledge and building Tamil Nadu’s technical textiles industry as well.”
Guest of Honour, Mr Uday Paul Singh Gill, Senior Partner, Gherzi Consulting, stated:
“I am happy that Dornbirn GFC Asia is here and this will benefit the Indian industry to learn about the new trends and innovations in Europe. I believe that there is a huge potential in the Indian industry with diverse applications in baby diapers, automotive airbags, hygiene and more. Globally, circularity, sustainability and AI will impact industry.”
Mr Bhadresh Dodhia, Director–International Trade & Finance, Dodhia Group & Co-Chairman–Bharat Tex Committee 2025, remarked:
“Dornbirn GFC Asia is regarded as the platform for fibre innovation. The conference is attended by stakeholders who try and discover new developments in the industry. As India is becoming an epicentre of man-made fibre and the circular supply chain into yarn. In India, textile-to-textile recycling is below 1%. This is not a gap but a big opportunity to harness this huge pile of waste that has the potential to be the raw material.”
Mr Murugan Thenkondar, President – Marketing & Global Head – Business Development, Birla Cellulose, shared:
“This is a good platform for India as it will bring a lot of outside perspective in India, improving more interaction in future. The mega trend in India is its growing population, accompanied by increasing per capita income. I would recommend that people visit here as this will help them understand each other better and take the industry to its full potential.”
Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, said:
“We felt happy to welcome the industry to this highly insightful and knowledge-driven platform of the Dornbirn Conference Asia, making its debut in India. This event is a valuable addition to our Texpertise Network, which connects over 500,000 textile professionals worldwide. Dornbirn GFC Asia discussed advanced technologies and innovative processes to guide the industry towards greater sustainability, enhance India’s export potential and position the country as a global hub for technical textiles. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Austrian Fibers Institute for their collaboration and for bringing this international experience to the Indian industry.”
Mr Matthias W Gluth, Managing Director, Austrian Fibers Institute, added:
“With this collaboration, we aim to strengthen Dornbirn GFC’s global presence, engage with new industry sectors and create year-round opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. With a broader cross-industry perspective, Dornbirn GFC Asia was more dynamic and impactful than ever before. The industry’s ability to embrace change, drive innovation and foster cross-sector collaboration will define its success in 2025 as sustainability and digital transformation are no longer optional. They are essential for maintaining competitiveness. I believe that Dornbirn GFC Asia has helped facilitate these conversations and shape the industry’s direction.”
The conference brought attention to India’s leadership in recycling, circularity, and fibre innovation, highlighting its potential to become a global hub for recycled polyester. Industry leaders like Lenzing, Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions, Birla Cellulose, Erema Group GmbH, FibreCoat GmbH, and others participated actively.
Co-located with Techtextil India (19–21 November 2025), the event seamlessly connected with the broader technical textiles ecosystem, fostering deeper knowledge exchange and industry integration.