Taking a major step toward making India the Responsible Fashion Business Capital of the World by 2030, the International Fashion Business Exchange Council (IFBEC) officially announced the formation of its National Mission Committee (NMC) at the World Trade Center in Mumbai. The announcement was timed with World Environment Day, reinforcing India’s intensified focus on sustainable textiles and circular economy leadership.
The inaugural event brought together key dignitaries, most notably Smt. Roop Rashi Mahapatra, CEO of KVIC, along with distinguished leaders from major industry players like Reliance Industries, Bestseller, WTC, United Way Mumbai, IDH, and several notable influencers from the fashion industry, academia, government, and civil society.
The NMC will serve as the primary strategic advisory body under the IFBEC umbrella, aimed at strengthening both domestic and international cooperation. The committee’s mission is to drive India’s fashion industry toward compliance with global sustainability benchmarks. It consists of policy-makers, trade veterans, grassroots leaders, and sustainability experts who will oversee and implement projects that focus on:
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Promoting circular fashion and eco-innovation in textiles
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Aligning international trade policies with sustainable development goals
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Empowering artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in global markets
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Establishing supportive frameworks for finance, regulation, and ethical production practices
Smt. Roop Rashi Mahapatra, CEO of KVIC, emphasized during her address:
“India, by its very culture, is inherently circular. It is time we reclaim that narrative. Textile waste is not waste — it is a resource waiting to be transformed. But true impact lies beyond policy papers and seminar halls; it begins on the ground, with people. Let us first spark a movement — only then will meaningful regulation follow.”
Neha Gupta, the founder of IFBEC, added:
“The formation of the National Mission Committee marks a decisive step toward measurable action in textile sustainability and circularity. More than just a committee, it is a call to unite industry, institutions, and innovators under a common vision. It affirms that sustainability is a shared responsibility—and our collective commitment to ensure Indian textiles not only inspire through craftsmanship, but also endure responsibly in harmony with the planet.”
The launch ceremony underscored the need for collective cross-industry action in light of the climate crisis, ecological damage, and the rapid evolution of global fashion markets.
Harshavardhan Chauhan, founding visionary of Bharat YEF and a long-standing advocate of ethical fashion, stated:
“This isn’t just about fabric — it’s about the future. Circularity is our return to dharma, where waste becomes wisdom and progress respects the planet. India must not remain the factory of the world, but become its future. This policy is not a document — it’s a declaration that Bharat will no longer be stitched into someone else’s value chain.”
As the world looks toward more accountable and environmentally sound fashion leadership, the launch of the NMC signals the start of a transformative journey. It aims to shift India’s industrial focus from volume to value, waste to wealth, and from tradition to forward-thinking innovation.
On this World Environment Day, the message is clear: this is not just a symbolic gesture, but a bold call for concrete action, transparency, and long-term sustainability.
