The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) concluded a highly successful participation at Bharat Tex 2026, reaffirming its pivotal role in advancing India’s position as a globally competitive apparel manufacturing and sourcing destination. Through a comprehensive industry presence spanning brand promotion, sustainability, international collaboration, policy dialogue and thought leadership, CMAI brought together the country’s apparel ecosystem on one of the world’s largest textile and apparel platforms.
As an integral partner of Bharat Tex since its inception, CMAI facilitated the participation of over 100 exhibitors across multiple halls, representing apparel, textiles, brands and sustainability initiatives. The Association’s Brands of India Pavilion showcased more than 70 leading apparel brands, including a first-ever dedicated showcase for India’s rapidly growing intimate and innerwear segment at the Innerwear & Sleepwear Pavilion, highlighting the depth, diversity and growing global appeal of the country’s branded apparel industry.
Speaking on the successful conclusion of Bharat Tex 2026, Santosh Katariya, President, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), said, “Bharat Tex has become a defining platform for showcasing the strength, resilience and aspirations of India’s apparel industry. CMAI’s participation this year reflected our commitment to building an ecosystem that is globally competitive, innovation-driven and sustainability-focused.”
Further strengthening India’s sustainability agenda, CMAI, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability (GATS), curated the Eco-Stitch Sustainability & Circularity Hub, which emerged as a vibrant platform for showcasing India’s progress towards circularity, responsible manufacturing and innovation-led growth. Over four days, the pavilion hosted sustainability report launches, product unveilings, technology demonstrations, investor and buyer engagements, industry roundtables and strategic partnerships, bringing together leading manufacturers, brands, recyclers, technology providers, multilateral organisations and sustainability experts from across the value chain.
A major highlight of CMAI’s participation was the release of the India Textiles & Apparel CXO Blueprint 2030, jointly developed by CMAI and GATS, by Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles. The report presents a strategic roadmap to strengthen the global competitiveness of India’s textile and apparel sector by accelerating sustainability, traceability, innovation and technology-led manufacturing.
Naveen Sainani, Chairman – ESG Committee & Hon. General Secretary, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), added, “The scale and diversity of participation witnessed across CMAI’s initiatives at Bharat Tex 2026 reflect the maturity of India’s apparel industry and its readiness for the next phase of global growth. From promoting Indian brands and fostering international partnerships to driving conversations around sustainability and manufacturing excellence, our efforts have been focused on creating long-term value for the industry.”
Reflecting its leadership beyond exhibitions, CMAI also convened several high-impact knowledge and industry engagements that brought together global industry leaders, policymakers, brands and manufacturers to deliberate on the future of apparel manufacturing, India’s evolving consumer landscape, sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
Chaired by Honourable Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh along with Smt. Neelam Shami Rao (IAS), Secretary-Ministry of Textiles, Smt. Alaknanda Dayal, Joint Secretary – Ministry of Textiles, a round-table discussion on ‘Indian Brands, Global Ambitions: Redefining Retail Growth Beyond Borders’ hosted by Deloitte and supported by CMAI, saw deliberation by Welspun World, PDS Ltd, Arvind Advance Materials, Trent, renowned designers like Vaishali Shandangule and Rahul Mishra, among others sharing their noteworthy global achievements. CMAI also hosted a panel discussion in association with the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) ‘Brands of a Billion: The Great Indian Retail Revolution’, which was moderated by Harminder Sahani (Wazir Advisors) with participation of industry leaders including P. Venkatesalu (Trent Ltd.), Siddharth Bindra (BIBA Apparels), Rajesh Jain (Lacoste), Nikhil Upadhyay (Benetton India), Gautam Saraogi (Go Colors), Sidhant Keshwani (Libas), Maya Pradeep (Haute Couture) and Shweta Agarwal (Tradyl), amongst others.
CMAI hosted the Board Meeting of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), organised international leadership sessions in partnership with IAF and Gherzi Consulting, and actively contributed to multiple industry discussions featuring leading business leaders, global experts and renowned fashion designers. Furthermore, the Apparel Manufacturing Leadership Session featured global industry leaders including Stefano Festa Marzotto, President, IAF; Giuseppe Gherzi, Managing Partner, Gherzi Textile Organisation; Sanjay Jain, CEO, PDS Group; Edgar Tung, CEO, Tessellation Group; Mahmud Hasan Khan, President, BGMEA and Managing Director, Rising Group; Navdeep Sodhi, Partner, Gherzi Textile Organisation; along with CMAI leadership, reinforcing India’s role in shaping the future of global apparel manufacturing.
CMAI’s continued participation at Bharat Tex once again reaffirmed its pivotal role in strengthening the Indian apparel industry. Through its initiatives and industry engagements, CMAI continues to create meaningful opportunities that enhance the competitiveness, resilience, innovation, and global growth of India’s apparel sector.
