The largest global textile event in India, Bharat Tex 2024 with a unified Farm to Fashion focus concluded on Feb.29 in New Delhi. The 4-day event which was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 26th February at Bharat Mandapam witnessed an overwhelming response not just from Indian, but also global players including top brands and retailers.

Bharat Tex also emerged as a Launch Pad for various initiatives and Projects such as IndiaTEX, the Launch of the Textile Grand Innovation Challenge, Announcement of 63 MoUs including with international institutions focusing on collaboration in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, new product development, skilling and sustainability.

Read in Hindi: ‘भारत टेक्स 2024’ में रखी गई कई परियोजनाओं की नींव

The event also saw the release of the UNEP Report for Sustainable Textile Hub in India, eight books on various technical topics, and a Documentary on Women's Empowerment in the Silk sector. Winners of the hackathon held on “Fostering Innovation in Technical Textiles” were announced and awarded during Bharat Tex.

The mega event was organized by a consortium of 11 Textile Export Promotion Councils and supported by the Ministry of Textiles. Built on the twin pillars of trade and investment and with an overarching focus on sustainability, the event attracted policymakers and global CEOs, 3,500 Exhibitors, 3,000 Buyers from 111 Countries, and over one lakh trade visitors. An exhibition encompassing the entire textile value chain, including an artistically curated story of textiles- Vastra Katha was the highlight of the event. The event was hosted simultaneously at two state-of-the-art venues- Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi with both venues fully subscribed.

All major textile organizations and brands from around the world were represented in the event including top-level participants from companies including Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Vero Moda, Jack n Jones, Toray, H&M, Target, Kohl’s, K-Mart, IKEA, YKK, Lenzing, Anko, CIEL Group, Busana Group, Brandix Apparels, Teijin Ltd among others. All Indian leading players including Reliance, Aditya Birla, Welspun, Trident, Vardhman, Nahar, Indocount, and Raymond SRF Industries among various other players were represented at the highest levels. Multilateral Organizations and Global Think Tanks including UNEP, IRENA, Laudes Foundation, GIZ, IDH, Cotton Connect, WGSN, Fashion for Good, Better Cotton Initiative, Responsible Sourcing Network, ITMF, International Apparel Federation, BGMEA, BKMEA, Cotton Egypt Association among others were part of the event. In addition, various Indian and global industry bodies and associations including CMAI, CITI, SIMA, SGCCI, TEA, GEMA, YESS, ITMF, ITME, ATMA, and NIFT, among others overwhelmingly supported the event.

Leading textile states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka were enthusiastic participants with dedicated pavilions and government representations.

Union Minister for Textiles Piyush Goyal chaired the CEO roundtable which deliberated on the growth prospects of the Textile Sector. The Minister of State for TextilesDarshana Jardosh was also present during various events. Other highlights of the event included a farm-to-fibre full value chain expo and a Retail High Street focusing on India’s fashion retail market opportunities, dedicated pavilions on sustainability and recycling showcasing actual work done by individual industry as well as clusters like Panipat, Tirupur, and Surat, an Indi-Haat showcasing India’s traditional sector of Handicrafts and Handlooms. Over 10 Fashion presentations spread across four days on diverse themes ranging from Indian Textiles Heritage to sustainability and global designs, art demonstrations by master craftsmen, interactive fabric testing zones product demonstrations and showcases of global fashion trends and special Indian trend books were other significant attractions of the show.

A global scale conference with 70 sessions and 112 international speakers saw engaging discussions on key textile issues of the day including Textile Mega Trends, Sustainability, resilient global supply chains, and Manufacturing 4.0.  Pressing issues of the global value chain such as green financing, resilient supply chains, waterless dying, and innovation were among the other topics. In total, there were over 70 knowledge sessions including 14 marque sessions on ESG, sustainability, circularity and recycling and Green Financing, Country and State Sessions, over 25 capacity building masterclasses on various topics such as ESG, Skilling, Finance, Smart Factories, New applications in Geotech, etc. A special international conference by the Central Silk Board on the occasion of its Platinum Jubilee was also part of the event.

The event also saw over 50 Business meetings with prominent global brands and potential investors covering areas of investment in manufacturing, and R&D with a focus on innovation and sustainability.

Several dignitaries including foreign dignitaries and senior government functionaries visited Bharat Tex. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath attended the event on the concluding day and visited the theme pavilion and UP State pavilion.

Over 10000 artisans, weavers, design and fashion students, factory workers, NGOs, and Producer companies visited and participated in the Bharat Tex 2024 as special invitees. The exhibition at Yashomboomi reflected diverse and intricate artistry. It was open to the public and received a positive response.  

A showcase of sustainable initiatives including Kasturi Cotton, a new standard in cotton, with a transparent value chain and globally acceptable quality standards, and other solutions such as waterless dyeing, regenerative farming, organic and recycled raw materials aimed at reducing carbon footprint, and minimizing environmental impact, the latest innovation in process, systems and production methods to move towards eco-friendly and globally acceptable sustainable practices were also part of the event.

Several Memorandum of Understanding were signed during the event. In addition, several books were also launched during Bharat Tex 2024. An announcement for the Textiles Grand Innovation Challenge was also made.