Bharat Tex 2026 Day 3 Advances Sustainable Textiles and Global Trade
The third day of Bharat Tex 2026 brought together policymakers, State Government representatives, industry leaders, investors, international organisations, brands, academic institutions and sustainability experts for focused discussions on building a competitive, inclusive and environmentally responsible textile sector. The day featured panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, masterclasses and industry interactions covering circularity, responsible sourcing, textile financing, future-ready skills, global trade and technology-led growth.
A key highlight was the participation of Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who visited the Madhya Pradesh State Pavilion and interacted with representatives showcasing the State's textile heritage, manufacturing capabilities and investment potential. He subsequently participated in the Madhya Pradesh State Session organized by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, which highlighted the State's strengths across the textile value chain and its potential to attract investment, expand manufacturing, generate employment and support industry-led growth.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology-led discussion "Indian Trends to Global Taste: Forecasting for Billion Consumers (VisionNxt)" featured Shri Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Chairman of Jaipur Rugs Company Private Limited, and Shri Riccardo Rami, Founder of Riccardo Rami Studio, Italy, highlighting India's potential to shape global fashion trends by combining consumer insights, indigenous knowledge and contemporary design.
Sustainability and circularity remained central to the programme with multiple sessions addressing these themes. The United Nations Development Programme session on the India Sustainable Textile Mark featured Ms. Nalini Shekar, Co-Founder of Hasiru Dala, and focused on establishing a credible social and environmental benchmark for Indian textiles and apparel. The session "Wheat Straw to Wardrobes" featured Dr. Ravinder Tuteja, Material Program Lead at H&M, and explored the development of next-generation textile fibres from agricultural residue.
The roundtable "Circular Textile: From Dialogue to Deployment" featured Shri Archish Kansal, Director of Respun, focusing on translating circularity commitments into practical and scalable solutions. The discussion "Fair Commodity Pricing: An Industry Model for an Equitable and Resilient Organic Cotton Value Chain" featured Shri Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director of IDH India Hub Private Limited, and Ms. Danique Lodewijks, Sustainable Raw Materials Manager at Bestseller, underlining the need for transparent pricing, protection of farmer interests and long-term partnerships across the organic cotton value chain.
The Better Cotton Initiative roundtable "Dialogue for Sustainable Sourcing Solutions to Drive Textile Trade" brought together representatives from PDS Limited, Shahi Exports Private Limited, Marks and Spencer, and IKEA Group, focusing on responsible sourcing, traceability and stronger collaboration among brands, manufacturers and suppliers to support sustainable textile trade.
The e-commerce masterclass "From Bharat to the World" featured Shri Pulkit Nanda, Head of New Seller Recruitment at Amazon Global Selling, highlighting how export preparedness and digital marketplaces can help Indian textile enterprises reach global customers. A fireside conversation with Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, and Ms. Priyambada Jayakumar, Author and Historian, reflected on India's handloom heritage and the importance of connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary markets.
The day concluded with the "Sustainability Conclave: Learnings and Takeaways — Closing Plenary Session" featuring Ms. Aarti Mohan, Co-Founder and Partner of Sattva Media and Consulting Private Limited, which consolidated the day's key insights and called for coordinated action across finance, sourcing, technology, skills and circularity.