SVKM’s NMIMS Hosts International Conference on “Futuristic Trends in Textiles – 2026 (FTT-2026)”

The International Conference on “Futuristic Trends in Textiles – 2026 (FTT-2026)” was successfully organized on 27th and 28th March 2026 at the Centre for Textile Functions (CTF), NMIMS Deemed-to-be University, Shirpur Campus. The event was conducted in hybrid mode (online and offline) in collaboration with The Textile Association (India).

The two-day international conference witnessed participation from over 150 students, academicians, researchers, and industry experts, representing 13 textile institutes across India, along with eminent international speakers. The event served as a significant platform for global knowledge exchange in the textile domain.

Objectives of the Conference

The conference aimed to:

• Provide a platform for sharing innovative ideas and research findings
• Highlight emerging trends in artificial intelligence, sustainability, and advanced textile technologies
• Strengthen industry–academia collaboration
• Encourage student engagement in research and innovation in textile engineering

Leadership and Guidance

The event was organized under the guidance of SVKM leadership, including:

• Mr. Amrishbhai Patel (Hon’ble Chancellor)
• Mr. Bhupeshbhai Patel (Co-President)
• Mr. Chintanbhai Patel (Vice President)
• Mr. Rajgopal Bhandari (Management Committee Member)
• Mrs. Rita Patel (Campus In-charge)
• Dr. Sunita Patil (Campus Director)

Inauguration Ceremony

The conference commenced with Saraswati Poojan and ceremonial lamp lighting in the presence of distinguished dignitaries.

Key attendees included:

• Mr. Mahendrabhai Patel – Vice President, Textile Association of India
• Dr. Vijay D. Gotmare – Representative Director (India), Mumbai Frontier Cool Inc., Taiwan
• Mr. Abhishek S. Kamble – Country Director, Clean Globe, Mumbai
• Dr. Sunita Patil – Campus Director
• Dr. Vijay Shivankar – Assistant Dean
• Mr. L. C. Patil – General Manager, Disan Tex Fab

In his address, Mr. Mahendrabhai Patel emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation alongside traditional career paths.

Dr. Sunita Patil highlighted the growing role of automation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability in shaping the future of textiles.

Dr. Vijay Shivankar emphasized the role of CTF in bridging the gap between industry and academia through industry-oriented programs.

Technical Sessions and Expert Talks

The conference featured keynote lectures, plenary sessions, and technical presentations by renowned experts:

• Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Lars Hahn – 2D to 3D Textile Technologies for Fiber Composites
• Dr. Nimesh Kankariya – Technical Textiles: Trends and Future Innovation
• Dr. Vijay D. Gotmare – AI-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Apparel
• Dr. Javed Sheikh (IIT Delhi) – Advanced functional textiles
• Mr. Abhishek S. Kamble – Sustainability certification in textiles
• Mr. Baiju Babu (Rieter India) – Digitalization and Industry 4.0 in spinning
• Mr. Shridhar Kane (Rieter India) – Sustainable spinning practices
• Mr. Deepak S. Karade (A.T.E. India) – Technical textiles and performance engineering
• Mr. Amar Surve (A.T.E. India) – Sustainable nonwovens
• Mr. Manish Mashilkar (A.T.E. India) – Composites and geotextile machinery

Technical Paper Presentation Competition

A major highlight of the conference was the technical paper presentation competition, conducted in two tracks:

• Track I: Undergraduate students (70 papers)
• Track II: Postgraduate students (31 papers)

Participation included 150+ students from 13 institutes across India.

Selected papers will be published in Scopus-indexed journals, including:

• Journal of Textile Association
• Man-Made Textiles in India

Awards and Recognition

Undergraduate Winners:

Barath Balaji R.N., Bhoomika V., Nandhini R., Sejal Nakati, Varad Prasad Deulkar

Postgraduate Winners:

Prof. Ashish Hulle, Dr. Subhankar Maity, Adamali Shaukatali Ansari

These awards recognized innovation, research quality, and practical relevance.

Media and Publication Support

The conference received strong support from industry and media partners.

Textile Value Chain served as the official media partner, ensuring wider visibility across the textile community.

Publication support was provided by:

• Journal of Textile Association
• Man-Made Textiles in India

Conference Outcomes and Impact

The conference facilitated meaningful knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration between academia and industry.

Key focus areas included:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Sustainability
• Smart Textiles
• Advanced Materials

Participants gained valuable insights into industry trends, research opportunities, and technological advancements.

Coordination and Support

The event was coordinated by:

• Dr. Sujit Gulhane
• Dr. Prafulla Kolte

Under the guidance of:

• Dr. Sunita Patil
• Dr. Vijay Shivankar

Administrative support by Mr. Shivaji Gayakwad and team ensured smooth execution.

The event’s success reflects the collective efforts of faculty, staff, and students, highlighting the growing importance of such platforms in advancing textile innovation.

Future Outlook

Building on the success of FTT-2026, the institute aims to continue organizing such international conferences to:

• Strengthen global collaboration
• Promote sustainable practices
• Foster innovation in textiles

Explore FTT-2026 on YouTube

All conference sessions, including keynote lectures and technical presentations, are available on the official YouTube channel.
Readers can access the content by scanning the provided QR code.