Topic
textiles
Manufacturing India’s Next Fashion Opportunity Lies in Profitable Premium Brands, Not Scale at Any Cost
Vineet Gautam of 91Brands and Rajesh Narkar of Confluxe told the ETRetail ShopFWD Summit that India's fashion future depends on profitable premium brands, disciplined positioning, unit economics and technology rather than scale. They said demand is emerging beyond metros, with consumers in cities like Ajmer, Indore and Gorakhpur willing to pay for value-for-money propositions.
Manufacturing Merino Wool Yields 4-5 Pounds per Sheep Annually, New Guide Shows Textile Buyers
WIRED's merino wool apparel guide shows textile buyers how to specify the fiber by GSM, maps merino weights to fleece equivalents, and details Nuyarn, a merino-nylon hybrid yarn. It also warns that cheaper wool may carry a higher carbon footprint. For apparel manufacturers, the report frames merino as a renewable but naturally limited input, with per-sheep yields of 4 to 5 pounds per year.
Commodities China's Cotton Yarn Demand Fuels India's Cotton Consumption Growth, USDA Says
Indian cotton yarn exports to China tripled in the first 10 months of the 2025-26 marketing year, raising India's share of China's yarn import market from 7% to 21%, the USDA reported. The surge is fuelling record Indian cotton consumption, forecast at 26.5 million bales in 2026-27. Global consumption is set to hit a six-year high of 122.9 million bales.
Commodities Indian domestic cotton prices rise on global cues, firm mill demand
Indian domestic cotton prices strengthened, with Cotton Corporation of India raising prices by ₹700 per candy on firm mill demand amid depleting stocks. Cotton acreage has caught up at over 106 lakh hectares, while ICE futures hover near 84 cents per pound. India's closing stocks are projected to decline to 75-80 lakh bales by end-September.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces E-commerce Platforms Could Expand Global Reach of India's Handloom Products, President Says
President Droupadi Murmu emphasised e-commerce platforms as a channel to expand the global reach of India's handloom products, according to ET Retail. Speaking at the 12th National Handloom Day, she said the sector engages about 35 lakh people, over 25 lakh of them women.
Manufacturing Charity rebrands more than 1,000 surplus garments a year to save them from landfill
Swindon-based clothing charity Dressability alters and redistributes more than 1,000 branded garments a year, saving new coats, fleeces and other apparel from landfill. The project, launched after a delivery of coats from a company that ceased trading, now supplies organisations in Liverpool and Ukraine, with surplus garments sourced from Osnic Embroidery.
Manufacturing Govt aims to raise weavers’ annual income to Rs 6 lakh, launches handloom tech centre
The Indian government has launched a Centre of Excellence for Handloom Technology at IIT Delhi, aiming to raise weavers' annual income to at least Rs 6 lakh. The centre will focus on loom modernisation, AI tools and skill development, training 1,000 professionals over five years. Five digital initiatives, including Handloom 4.0 and Threads of Valour, support the modernisation push.
Commodities Rising cotton costs and shrinking supply strengthen the case for man-made fibres: Nuvama
India's cotton surplus is narrowing, with production down from 6.31 billion kg in CS21 to an estimated 4.95 billion kg in CS26 and Shankar-6 prices moderating to around ₹155/kg after peaking at ₹221/kg in CS23, according to Nuvama Institutional Equities. Imports have tripled while exports collapsed, and a temporary duty waiver — reinstated January 1, 2026 and waived again June 1–October 31, 2026 — has pushed domestic prices to global parity. Nuvama says the shrinking surplus strengthens the case for expanding man-made fibre capacity.
Trade US Section 301 Tariffs Unlikely to Hit India's Exports, Textiles Need Close Watch, Says FIEO Chief
The US announced Section 301 tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on 60 economies on July 24, 2026, with India placed in the lower 10% category. FIEO chief Sahai stated the tariffs are unlikely to impact India's overall exports but noted that textiles need close watch as India was excluded from the textile TRQ exemption granted to some competitors. Products under Section 232 remain unaffected.
Trade Textile sector to sew loose ends as FTAs kick in
The operationalisation of the UK-India free trade agreement eliminates tariffs up to 12% on textile exports, bringing parity with competitors. Industry body Indian Texpreneurs Federation expects exports to double to a 12% share in 4-5 years, but experts caution about structural challenges.
Manufacturing Export Diversification Fuels Textile Sector Resilience; India Ready to Compete Globally: Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated Bharat Tex 2026, stating that India's export diversification strategy targeting 40 key nations has sustained textile export growth despite global uncertainty. He announced India aims to build a $350 billion textile market by 2030, with $100 billion in exports and $250 billion domestic market. The event saw buyers from 130 countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and Russia.
Manufacturing Aastha Spintex secures ₹77 crore cotton yarn order, boosting production visibility
Aastha Spintex has reported a ₹77 crore order book for cotton yarn for July–October 2026, representing over 21% of FY25 revenue. The orders, backed by repeat customers, follow the acquisition of Falcon Texotube which doubled spinning capacity to 17,457 MT.
Business Raymond in talks to acquire German aerospace engineering firm Deharde
Raymond is in discussions to acquire Deharde, a German precision engineering company that supplies aerostructures to Airbus and other OEMs. If completed, the deal would be Raymond's first overseas acquisition since its 2024 restructuring and would expand its aerospace manufacturing footprint, adding a European certified supplier relationship.
Trade India targets $100 billion textile exports by 2030, focus on sustainability, FTAs
India targets $100 billion in textile exports by 2030, with a focus on sustainability and leveraging free trade agreements. Union Minister Giriraj Singh and commerce officials outlined the strategy at a two-day summit, emphasizing traceability, recycling, and district-level export hubs.
Trade US buyers keen to stitch deals with Indian apparel exporters
Despite strong interest from US buyers, Indian apparel exporters face pricing pressure with discounts demanded up to 10%. India's readymade garment exports fell for the sixth straight month in May 2026, down 14.1% year-on-year, primarily due to weak US demand. Competing sourcing destinations like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia are outperforming India, though Free Trade Agreements with the UK and Europe offer some relief.
Trade India Denies Textiles and Steel Overcapacity, Says USTR Probe Lacks Evidence
India has rejected U.S. allegations of structural overcapacity in its textiles and steel industries, telling the USTR that per capita consumption remains among the world's lowest. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) stated that overcapacity is not recognized under WTO trade remedy laws and accused the probe of targeting specific countries without evidence.
Manufacturing Water-from-Air Textile Research Opens New Manufacturing Possibilities
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a textile capable of harvesting atmospheric water, producing 400–900 ml of drinkable water per day in a jacket prototype. The technology could be applied to other products like backpacks and tents, with potential for medical or emergency use in remote areas.
Trade Indian Cotton Prices Drop as Import Duty Suspended
India suspends import duty on cotton from June 1 to October 31, easing domestic prices and benefiting the textile industry. The Cotton Corporation of India adjusts prices amid increased import options.
Trade India Waives Cotton Import Duty to Boost Supplies
The Indian government has waived the import duty on cotton until October 30, 2026, to enhance supply and reduce input costs for the textile industry. This policy aims to stabilize domestic prices and support the sector amid global supply chain challenges.
Trade India Waives Cotton Import Duty to Boost Textile Exports
India's Finance Ministry has waived the 11% import duty on cotton from June 1 to October 31, 2026, to support the textile industry. This move aims to stabilize input costs and enhance competitiveness in global markets.
Commodities CCI resumes cotton sale, cuts prices by ₹2,300
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