Bharat Tex 2025, India’s largest global textile event, successfully convened from February 14-17, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Spanning a massive 2.2 million square feet and hosting over 5,000 exhibitors, the event attracted more than 120,000 trade visitors from over 120 countries, including global CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Bharat Tex 2025 served as a pivotal platform to propel the government’s vision of “Farm to Fibre, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign Markets.” With India’s textile exports already reaching ₹3 lakh crore, the ambitious goal is to triple this to ₹9 lakh crore by 2030 by bolstering domestic manufacturing and expanding global reach. This report delves into the key discussions and insights shared by industry leaders and experts at Bharat Tex 2025, focusing on sustainability, innovation, challenges, and opportunities within the Indian textile sector.
Sustainability and Certification: A Central Theme
A recurring theme throughout Bharat Tex 2025 was the growing importance of sustainability and the role of certifications in ensuring responsible practices. Several industry experts shared their perspectives:
GSCS International India Pvt. Ltd.: Abhishek Kamble, Deputy Managing Director, provided a comprehensive overview of GSCS International, a global certification body operating in 22 countries. He elaborated on the importance of certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OCS (Organic Content Standard), and RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) for supply chain traceability and environmental standards. Kamble emphasised that these certifications are essential for validating claims about recycled or organic materials, enabling brands to ensure product authenticity and supply chain transparency. He noted the increasing adoption of sustainability initiatives by SMEs to enhance their marketability. GSCS is also expanding into emerging areas like Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to meet growing global demands for carbon credits and sustainability, showcasing their proactive approach to evolving industry needs. Kamble also addressed challenges such as fraudulent practices in organic certifications, which GSCS tackles through risk assessments and ground-level verifications. He also pointed out manpower shortages and high work pressure in certification processes, advocating for government support to boost sustainable standards in India and streamline processes.
Ecocert India: Anil Jadhav, Managing Director, discussed Ecocert India’s role in certifications for organic food, textiles, and cosmetics, emphasising the company’s focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility with nearly 150 certification schemes. Jadhav highlighted challenges in India, including evolving standards that often leave supply chains outdated, causing delays and financial impacts for SMEs. He noted that while certifications in India are voluntary (except for food products), they are primarily driven by private brands seeking third-party validation. Internationally, buyers drive demand for sustainable products, but domestically, awareness is limited outside the food sector. Jadhav suggested that government support could enhance awareness and education about sustainability, potentially involving creating sustainable zones to promote a level playing field for businesses. He emphasised that the certification industry’s growth hinges on consumer demand and greater awareness to drive sustainable certifications in India, particularly among SMEs.
Bluesign®: Barbara Oswald Bader, Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the Bluesign system as a comprehensive solution for sustainable textile production. She explained that it ensures the elimination of harmful substances early in the manufacturing process, promoting environmentally friendly and safe production practices. The system integrates input stream management to minimise environmental and human risks without compromising product functionality or design. Bluesign collaborates with the entire textile value chain, from chemical suppliers to brands, to reduce ecological footprints and provide guidance on resource usage, offering potential cost savings. Oswald noted that sustainability is now a necessity, with consumers and brands increasingly prioritising environmental responsibility. In India, Bluesign faces challenges due to the market’s dominance of cotton and the need for greater awareness of sustainable practices. Globally, audit fatigue is a significant issue, prompting Bluesign to collaborate with manufacturers to reduce audit burdens. Oswald emphasised the importance of government support and awareness in promoting sustainable certifications like Bluesign.
GCL International Ltd.: Rajesh Selva, Standards Manager, highlighted GCL International’s expertise in providing globally recognised certification, inspection, and verification services across various industries, including textiles, plastics, paper, and agriculture. He detailed the certifications offered for the textile sector, such as GOTS, Textile Exchange standards (OCS, RCS, RDS, RWS, GRS), Higg Index verifications, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifications. GCL also certifies dyes, chemicals, and auxiliaries under ZDHC guidelines and conducts customised audits. Selva explained that while certifications are not mandatory in India, they are buyer-driven, with exporters pursuing them to meet buyer demands and improve operational efficiency by utilising idle capacity. Certifications help businesses ensure supply chain transparency and validate claims like recycled content in textiles, which cannot be practically tested otherwise. The primary challenge GCL faces is a lack of awareness about standards among manufacturers, particularly outside metro areas. Selva emphasised the need for increased education to bridge this gap and suggested government support in the form of subsidies for exporters adopting private sustainability standards.
Yarn Manufacturing and Expansion: Meeting Growing Demand
The discussions also shed light on the yarn manufacturing sector and the efforts to meet the increasing demand for diverse and sustainable yarns:
Ganga Acrowools Limited: Ankush Bajaj, Marketing Manager, provided details on Ganga Acrowools Limited’s expertise in producing a wide range of yarns, including classical, fancy, machine knitting, hand knitting, weaving, and home furnishing yarns. He listed their diverse blends, including acrylic, nylon, wool, polyester, merino, mohair, alpaca, silk, cashmere, and tensile, and discussed their sourcing strategies for wool from Australia, South America, and Europe based on micron quality and treatment, and acrylic fibers from India, Turkey, South America, Thailand, and China. Bajaj emphasised their focus on recycled acrylic, polyester, and nylon, highlighting their supply of recycled blends to major brands like Zara and their use of biodegradable polyester while partnering with environmentally certified logistics providers like DHL GoGreen. The company is undergoing significant expansion to increase daily production from 45 tons to over 60 tons within three months, including advancements in technology and factory space to accommodate cotton dyeing and meet the growing demand for fancy yarns. Bajaj addressed challenges, including geopolitical issues with Bangladesh and changing U.S. policies, but praised the Indian government’s supportive initiatives for the textile sector and expressed optimism about future growth in exports driven by favorable policies and global interest in Indian textiles.
Quality Assurance and Testing: Ensuring Global Competitiveness
The importance of quality assurance, testing, and compliance with international standards was underscored by several experts:
Testtex India Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.: Kunal Shingala, COO, detailed Testtex India Laboratories’ role as a third-party testing, inspection, and certification agency, emphasising their commitment to helping manufacturers meet quality standards and regulatory requirements across various industries. Shingala stressed the need to increase quality awareness among SMEs, who often prioritise cost over quality and conduct only end-product testing when required by brands. He advocated for mid-process testing to ensure consistent quality throughout the supply chain. Shingala highlighted the growing adoption of sustainable practices like organic cotton and recycled polyester, praising government initiatives that promote these materials. He suggested that mandatory testing protocols for imported and domestic goods could enhance quality standards and that expanding Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to general fabrics and garments would be beneficial. Testtex is committed to empowering businesses with robust quality assurance systems, and Shingala expressed optimism about the industry’s growth, driven by increasing awareness of quality and sustainability. He called for stronger government support to enhance India’s global competitiveness in textiles, emphasising Testtex’s aim to set industry standards and drive excellence in quality assurance.
Hohenstein India: Vinod Kumar, Managing Director, discussed Hohenstein India’s recent MOU signing with PDEXCIL at Bharat Tex to provide SMEs in the fabric industry with crucial knowledge about global compliance and quality standards, particularly concerning stringent European regulations. He explained that Hohenstein aims to assist PDEXCIL members in meeting the requirements for exporting to European and US markets through training programs, awareness sessions, and participation in Hohenstein conferences and newsletters. Kumar noted a significant increase in compliance adaptability among SMEs, citing a five-fold increase in companies participating in Hohenstein’s chemical certification program. He detailed Hohenstein’s various certification programs, including Eco Passport for dyes and chemicals, organic cotton certification for supply chain transparency, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for hazardous chemical testing, and STEP for process certification. Products certified with both STEP and Standard 100 can use the Made in Green label, enhancing traceability and trustworthiness. Kumar believes the future lies in certification due to its cost-effectiveness compared to frequent testing and highlighted that brands increasingly prefer certification to ensure conformity with required quality standards.
Innovation and Technology: Driving Efficiency and Sustainability
Innovation and technological advancements were also key topics of discussion, with a focus on enhancing efficiency and promoting sustainable practices:
Deven Supercriticals: Dr. Swapneshu Baser, Managing Director, provided an in-depth explanation of Deven Supercriticals’ work in supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) processing, a technology they’ve been developing since 1998. He detailed how their patented technology enables conventional dyes to be used without water, achieving comparable or superior results in terms of color depth and performance. Dr. Baser highlighted the versatility of their process, which can dye polyester-cotton blends in a single step and dye cotton without salt, saving chemicals and energy compared to traditional methods. He emphasised the importance of considering hazardous chemical usage when assessing sustainability, as these chemicals contribute significantly to environmental degradation. Deven Supercriticals’ technology can be applied to various textiles, maximising machine capacity and compliance with ESG requirements. He also highlighted the potential for sustainable Khadi production, combining human-friendly cotton with environmentally sound dyeing processes. Dr. Baser expressed gratitude for the support from the H&M Foundation and called for greater visibility and support from the Indian government, citing successful models where governments actively promote domestically developed technologies.
RSWM Limited: Dr. Rajeev Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, shared his vision for RSWM Limited, emphasising his dual focus on preserving RSWM’s legacy while modernising its operations to meet contemporary demands for speed, innovation, and customer experience. He aims to enhance agility and response time while maintaining the company’s strong values and professionalism. Dr. Gupta detailed RSWM’s operations across 12 manufacturing plants, producing high-quality yarns and fabrics with cutting-edge technology. He highlighted recent expansions, including a 50,000-spindle cotton yarn unit at Lodha and the acquisition of Guinea International, adding 80,000 spindles and knitting facilities. The company is also exploring a ₹730 crore project in Jammu & Kashmir. Sustainability remains a priority, with RSWM recycling six lakh PET bottles daily into green fibers. Dr. Gupta highlighted RSWM’s professional management structure, distinguishing it from typical family-owned businesses, and stressed the company’s focus on product development in areas like recycled polyester fiber and innovative textiles that enhance customer experience. For startups entering the textile industry, Dr. Gupta advised commitment and hard work, emphasising that success requires hands-on involvement.
Challenges and Opportunities
While Bharat Tex 2025 showcased the immense potential and progress within the Indian textile industry, the discussions also highlighted several challenges:
- Lack of Awareness: A recurring concern was the lack of awareness among manufacturers, particularly SMEs, regarding sustainability standards, quality control, and global compliance requirements.
- Evolving Standards: The rapidly evolving nature of sustainability standards poses a challenge for businesses, potentially leading to outdated supply chains and financial impacts.
- Fraudulent Practices: The presence of fraudulent practices in organic certifications remains a concern, necessitating robust verification and risk assessment measures.
- Geopolitical Issues: Geopolitical factors and changing international policies can impact the textile industry, creating uncertainty and challenges for exporters.
Despite these challenges, Bharat Tex 2025 underscored the numerous opportunities for growth and innovation in the Indian textile sector:
- Government Support: The Indian government’s supportive initiatives and policies are driving growth and encouraging sustainable practices.
- Growing Consumer Demand: Increasing consumer awareness and demand for sustainable and high-quality products are creating new market opportunities for businesses.
- Technological Advancements: Innovations like supercritical CO2 processing and advancements in yarn manufacturing are enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
- Global Collaboration: Collaboration between industry players, certifying bodies, and government agencies is crucial for driving sustainable growth and enhancing India’s global competitiveness.
Conclusion
Bharat Tex 2025 provided a comprehensive overview of the Indian textile industry, highlighting its strengths, challenges, and future potential. The event underscored the critical importance of sustainability, innovation, quality assurance, and collaboration in driving the industry forward. As India aims to triple its textile exports by 2030, a concerted effort is needed to address the challenges, leverage the opportunities, and promote a more sustainable, efficient, and globally competitive textile sector. The insights and discussions from Bharat Tex 2025 serve as a valuable roadmap for stakeholders to navigate the evolving landscape and contribute to the continued growth and success of India’s textile industry.
