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The Global Textile Technology and Engineering Show (GTTES 2025) wrapped up its three-day event at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, from February 21-23. Organized by the India ITME Society, the event highlighted advancements in textile machinery and fostered global industry collaboration.
Inaugurated with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, GTTES 2025 welcomed dignitaries like Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Kailash Shinde and Textiles Commissioner Roop Rashi Mahapatra. International representatives from South Africa, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Botswana, and Myanmar reinforced the event’s global relevance.
Innovation and sustainability in focus
Ketan Sanghvi, Chairman of the Steering Committee, emphasized GTTES as a hub for innovation, with 210 exhibitors from 39 countries showcasing cutting-edge textile solutions. India’s textile sector contributes 13 per cent to industrial production and 2.3 per cent to GDP, making such events crucial for growth.
Shinde addressed sustainability, emphasizing the importance of recycling in managing the 2.4 kilotons of textile waste generated annually in metropolitan areas. He highlighted a pilot project focused on tackling textile waste through recycling and upcycling initiatives.
Key launches and industry events
Major product launches included weaving solutions from Laxmi Shuttleless Looms and digital printing innovations from ColorJet India. The event also hosted symposiums on textile machinery standardization and indigenous innovation, strengthening industry partnerships.
Looking ahead, the India ITME 2026 inauguration set the stage for future advancements. With a successful GTTES 2025, the industry now focuses on leveraging new technologies for sustainable growth.
Karl Mayer has strengthened its position in the denim market with two major orders for its Prodye indigo dyeing systems in Egypt and Turkey. The orders, booked in January, will be delivered in the second half of the year.
In Egypt, a fully integrated denim manufacturer has ordered a Prodye - S slasher dyeing machine to modernize production. This repeat customer, impressed by the machine’s efficiency and sustainability, chose Karl Mayer again. The Prodye -S delivers deeper indigo shades with just eight dyeing boxes, reducing dye bath volume.
Its innovative design also cuts hydro and caustic soda use by 20 per cent, while precise yarn tension control ensures high weaving efficiency. Egypt’s expanding textile sector, supported by government incentives and strong export potential, is driving further investment.
In Turkey, Karl Mayer gained a new customer with an order for a Prodye -R rope dyeing system. The company also purchased a full package of equipment, including creels, Ball Warper, Long Chain Beamer, and Prosize yarn sizing machine. The Prodye -R enhances efficiency with deep indigo shades in nine dyeing boxes and a 20 per cent chemical savings. Its advanced tension control and programmable coiler increase output by up to 20 per cent.
Karl Mayer’s strong market presence in Turkey, built over seven years, continues to grow with innovative solutions. The company also supports customers through its denim R&D center in Rotal, helping manufacturers optimize production and develop new ideas.
The Lenzing Group has welcomed the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal, aimed at driving sustainability and industrial competitiveness in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the initiative in Antwerp, Belgium, on February 26, 2025, alongside 400 business leaders, including Lenzing CEO Rohit Aggarwal.
Industry leaders are urging EU heads of state to act swiftly ahead of the European Council meeting in March. “Decarbonization, energy volatility, and trade tensions demand urgent collective action,” said Aggarwal. “Europe must incentivize sustainability and turn ambition into results. This initiative strengthens the net-zero industry and green tech manufacturing.” A key challenge is access to clean and affordable energy, vital for industrial competitiveness. Ilham Kadri, President of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), warned that Europe risks losing quality jobs due to slow action. “Nine out of ten calls from the Antwerp Declaration have been addressed. Now we must move from ambition to execution,” Kadri stated.
European industries face mounting pressures, including declining demand, stalled investments, and soaring gas prices. Between 2023 and 2024, manufacturing output fell 2.6 percent, while the chemicals sector saw over 11 million tons of capacity shut down.
The Antwerp Declaration, initially backed by 73 business leaders, now has over 1,300 signatories calling for urgent reforms. Cefic Director General Marco Mensink stressed that EU policies must prioritize energy affordability, investment, and job security. “We need action, not just strategies or plans,” he said.
As geopolitical shifts reshape global markets, Europe’s industries remain committed to supporting policymakers in building a competitive, resilient, and sustainable future.
Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable textile technologies, is strengthening Bangladesh’s position as the top denim manufacturer by introducing eco-efficient solutions that transform fabric treatment and garment finishing.
At the Dhaka International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition (DTG), Jeanologia showcased its latest technologies designed to enhance automation, efficiency, and sustainability in denim production. These innovations help reduce environmental impact while improving productivity for manufacturers.
Jeanologia’s G2 Dynamic technology is changing the denim industry by replacing traditional polluting processes with an ozone-based alternative. This innovation reduces water and chemical use by up to 95 per cent and cuts energy consumption by 80 per cent. By adopting this technology, Bangladesh’s textile industry can enhance its competitiveness while making production more sustainable.
Beyond fabric treatment, Jeanologia offers advanced solutions for garment finishing. Its Laser Technology provides a fully digital and automated system that replaces manual and chemical-intensive processes, improving precision and creativity. G2 Indra, based on Airwash technology, achieves vintage denim looks without using water or chemicals, preserving fabric integrity. e-Flow, a nanobubble technology, applies chemicals with minimal water, reducing waste and improving fabric performance. H2 Zero, a water recycling system, ensures zero discharge in the finishing process, making garment production more sustainable.
By integrating these solutions, Jeanologia is helping Bangladesh maintain its position as a leader in sustainable denim manufacturing.
“With our end-to-end solutions, we aim to transform denim production into a more responsible, automated, and sustainable model. Bangladesh plays a key role in this shift, and our technologies support its global leadership,” said Jean Pierre Inchauspe, Jeanologia’s Business Director in Asia.
Jeanologia celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, marking three decades of revolutionizing the textile industry. Since launching laser denim finishing in 1999, the company has continuously developed innovative solutions to reduce water, energy, and chemical use. Its Mission Zero initiative aims to eliminate water and toxic chemicals from garment finishing worldwide.
With over 20 years in Bangladesh, Jeanologia remains a key partner for manufacturers, driving the industry toward a more sustainable, digitalized future.
Karachi will host IGATEX 2025 from April 24 to 26, marking the return of ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, alongside the Italian Trade Agency. After years, an Italian collective participation is set, with 11 companies three in spinning and eight in finishing. Ten of these are ACIMIT members, including Audaces, Biancalani, Brazzoli, Danitech, Fadis, Ferraro, Mcs, Pinter Caipo, Pozzi Leopoldo, and Zanfrini.
Pakistan’s textile sector has faced a sharp downturn after years of high investment, driven by economic challenges. Reflecting this, Italian textile machinery exports to Pakistan fell from 134 million euro in 2021 to 44 million euro in 2023. However, in the first nine months of 2024, sales rebounded to 34 million euro, up 27 per cent from the same period in 2023.
ACIMIT President Marco Salvade emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong market presence. “Our exports’ recovery confirms the value of our participation in IGATEX 2025. Despite recent challenges, Pakistan remains a key market,” he stated.
ACIMIT and the Italian Trade Agency also support Pakistan’s textile sector through a technological training center at Faisalabad’s National Textile University, established with PISIE. Salvade reiterated that innovation and quality, hallmarks of Italian machinery will continue to enhance Pakistani textile companies global competitiveness.
IGATEX 2025 serves as a crucial platform to reinforce trade ties and drive technological advancements in Pakistan’s textile industry.
In 2024, US and EU retailers shifted cotton garment orders from China and Bangladesh to Vietnam, with India also experiencing a 20 per cent Y-o-Y growth in cotton textile exports during April-December. This shift reflects a ‘China Plus One’ strategy, where retailers diversify their sourcing.
China's market share in the US declined by 1 per cent in 2024, translating to approximately Rs 6,900 crore in lost business. This share was distributed among competing nations, including India, which gained 0.2 per cent, raising its market share to 5.9 per cent.
Data from Texprocil and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry shows, India's cotton yarn, fabric, and handloom exports grew by nearly 12 per cent in December 2024 compared to December 2023. Over the April-December period, these exports increased by 2.82 per cent, while apparel exports rose by 11.5 per cent.
Industry experts attribute this growth to diverted orders from Bangladesh, creating strong demand for domestic yarn and garment exports. The weakening rupee further enhances India's competitiveness. Additionally, new US tariffs on small parcels from China present an opportunity for India to expand its e-commerce fashion exports.
However, Vietnam has increased its cotton purchases from the US, Brazil, and West Africa due to lower prices compared to Indian cotton. Vietnam also benefits from no customs duties on cotton imports.
The Indian cotton market remains stagnant, with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procuring 92 lakh bales under the price support program. CCI procurement is expected to exceed 100 lakh bales, providing comfortable price levels for spinning mills.
Vietnam's cotton imports and consumption are projected to reach a record 7.4 million bales in 2024-25, driven by record garment exports and increased foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Having signed 13 free trade agreements (FTAs) and six preferential trade pacts to boost exports, India has resumed negotiations with the UK for a comprehensive FTA. This comes after an eight-month gap, with Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister and Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State, announcing the resumption of talks.
Negotiations, which began in January 2022, have completed 14 rounds. The FTA aims to boost trade and investment by reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and to expand cooperation in technology, healthcare, and education.
In FY 2024, India's merchandise exports to the UK reached $12.9 billion. According to GTRI, the FTA's impact on increasing these exports may be limited, as over half of Indian goods already enter the UK with low or no tariffs. The UK's average tariff on Indian imports is 4.2 per cent. However, Indian exports worth $6.1 billion, including textiles, apparel, footwear, cars, and agricultural products, will benefit from duty reductions.
On the import side, India's merchandise imports from the UK stood at $8.4 billion in FY24. Approximately 91 per cent of these goods, worth $7.6 billion, face medium to high tariffs in India The UK seeks tariff reductions for these products.
With negotiations resumed, both countries aim to finalize an agreement that benefits trade and investment. The outcome will shape the future of India-UK economic relations.
Vietnam, Bangladesh challenges, a hype created vested interests: Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles
Downplaying the challenge posed by Bangladesh and Vietnam to India’s textile industry, Giriraj Singh, Union Textile Minister calls it a ‘hype’ created by a few vested interests.
The Modi Government aims to expand India’s textiles market from $176 billion to $350 billion by 2030, Singh informs.
In the 2025-26 Budget, the government has increased its allocation to the ministry by 19 per cent to Rs 5,272 crore. This will lead to job creation and exports from the textiles sector, he adds. Committed to reviving the jute sector, the government has also earmarked Rs 12,000 crore for the sector with efforts also on to organise craft village initiatives in India’s tourist destinations.
The government is also intensifying efforts to boost cotton productivity by adopting global best practices to increase the per-hectare yield, notes Singh. With an aim to adopt the Akola model, it has tasked the Cotton Corporation of India to identify one district in each state for conducting cotton productivity trials. It plans to implement this model to bridge the yield gap with global competitors. The government is targeting 1,000 kg per hectare in 11 major cotton-producing states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, by expanding the Akola Model, adds Singh.
In the technical textiles sector, the government has set an export target of $10 billion of technical textiles by 2030. It aims to start producing carbon fiber in the country by 2026, he adds.
The government is also promoting Make in India in the textiles sector to meet the growing domestic demand. It has set an ambitious target of $100 billion in exports for textile products by 2030, Singh.
Lastly, the government aims to increase jobs in the sector to 6 crore by 2030 from the current 4.5 crore. It plans to create 21 lakh jobs from the proposed seven PM-MITRA parks, Singh adds.
To mitigate the impact of potential reciprocal tariffs from the United States, India is pushing for increased textile exports through the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
Indian officials are prioritizing the BTA to shield key sectors, including textiles, agriculture, steel, and aluminum, from these potential tariffs. They aim to more than double bilateral trade with the US to $500 billion by 2030, a target agreed upon during Prime Minister Modi's recent US visit through this agreement.
India aims to negotiate the first phase of the BTA by fall 2025, with a focus on protecting its textile exports, which stood at $10.8 billion in 2024. The country is particularly concerned about significant tariffs differentials faced in the textile sector. It sees BTA as a crucial mechanism to protect Indian exports and ensure a mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US, India's top export destination.
Owned by Turkish entrepreneur Cafer Mahiroglu, Select Fashion plans to close 35 stores in the UK by mid-March. This would downsize the affordable fashion brand’s UK presence by half.
The retailer had initially planned to shut down 12 stores in locations like Southshields, Peterlee, Thornaby, Hartlepool Scarborough Hull Hessle Hull St Stephens, Ashington and Scunthorpe. But, it now plans to close two more stores in Bristol.
Struggling since the last few years, Select Fashion entered administration in 2019 as the affordable fashion brand faced difficult trading conditions. The retail chain failed to revive in the following years and entered a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) last summer to restructure its debts.
Besides Select Fashion, New Look, Caffe Nero, Body Shop, and Jigsaw are also entering into CVAs. Brands like Ted Baker are also being forced to shut down their physical stores due to the 0 per cent economic growth registered by UK and a drastic rise in cost of living in the country.
