Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the potential of India’s textile industry to address the growing issue of fast fashion waste by leveraging the country’s rich heritage of textile recycling and upcycling. Speaking at the Bharat Tex 2025 event on Sunday evening, the Prime Minister highlighted the urgent need to maximize resource utilization and minimize waste in the textile sector.
He pointed out the alarming rise of fast fashion waste, where millions of garments are discarded monthly due to rapidly changing trends, posing severe environmental and ecological challenges. By 2030, global fashion waste is projected to reach 148 million tons, with less than a quarter of textile waste currently being recycled. PM Modi stressed that India’s traditional expertise in textile recycling and upcycling could turn this challenge into a significant opportunity.
The Prime Minister cited examples of innovative practices, such as creating mats, rugs, and coverings from old or leftover fabrics, and crafting fine quilts from torn clothes in Maharashtra. He emphasized that innovation in these traditional arts could unlock global market potential. To support this vision, the Textile Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises and an e-marketplace to promote upcycling, with many upcyclers already registered on the platform.
Pilot projects for door-to-door collection of textile waste are underway in cities like Navi Mumbai and Bangalore. PM Modi encouraged startups to join these initiatives, explore emerging opportunities, and take early steps to establish a leadership position in the global market. He projected that India’s textile recycling market could grow to USD 400 million in the coming years, while the global recycled textile market is estimated to reach USD 7.5 billion. With the right strategies, India could capture a significant share of this market.
Reflecting on India’s historical prosperity, PM Modi noted that the textile industry played a pivotal role in the nation’s economic success centuries ago. As India strives to become a developed nation (Viksit Bharat), the textile sector is poised to once again contribute significantly to this goal. He highlighted that events like Bharat Tex are strengthening India’s position in the global textile industry.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Bharat Tex would continue to achieve new milestones and set records for success each year. Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh and Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita were among the dignitaries present at the event. PM Modi also took a walkthrough of the exhibition, showcasing India’s diverse textile heritage and innovations.
Bharat Tex: A Global Platform for Collaboration
PM Modi emphasized that Bharat Tex has become a strong platform for engagement, collaboration, and partnership among policymakers, CEOs, and industry leaders from around the world. With participation from over 120 countries, the event provides exhibitors with exposure to global markets, enabling them to expand their businesses from local to international levels. Entrepreneurs seeking new markets gain valuable insights into the cultural preferences of diverse global audiences.
Recalling his interactions with exhibitors, the Prime Minister shared that many participants reported significant business growth and new buyer acquisitions after participating in the previous edition of Bharat Tex. He noted that the event is driving investments, exports, and overall growth in the textile sector. PM Modi urged the banking sector to support textile entrepreneurs by catering to their financial needs, thereby fostering job creation and economic opportunities.
Celebrating India’s Textile Diversity
PM Modi highlighted the cultural diversity of India’s textile industry, showcasing traditional garments from across the country. From Lucknowi chikankari and Rajasthani bandhani to Gujarati patola, Banarasi silk, Kanjivaram silk, and Kashmiri pashmina, India’s textile heritage is vast and unique. He emphasized that events like Bharat Tex are crucial for promoting this diversity and fostering the growth of the textile industry.
The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of the five Fs for the textile industry: Farm, Fiber, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign. This vision is now becoming a mission, opening new avenues for farmers, weavers, designers, and traders. India has seen a 7% increase in textile and apparel exports over the past year, ranking as the sixth-largest exporter globally. With current textile exports at Rs 3 lakh crore, the government aims to increase this to Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030.
About Bharat Tex 2025
Bharat Tex 2025, held from February 14 to 17 at Bharat Mandapam, is a unique global event that brings together the entire textile value chain—from raw materials to finished products and accessories—under one roof. As the textile industry’s largest and most comprehensive event, it features a mega expo spread across two venues, showcasing the entire textile ecosystem. The event includes over 70 conference sessions, roundtables, panel discussions, and masterclasses, along with special innovation and startup pavilions.
The event also hosts hackathons, startup pitch fests, innovation fests, tech talks, and design challenges, providing funding opportunities for startups through leading investors. Bharat Tex 2025 has attracted policymakers, global CEOs, over 5,000 exhibitors, 6,000 international buyers from 120 countries, and participation from 25 leading global textile bodies and associations, including the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), EURATEX, Textile Exchange, and the US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA).
Through initiatives like Bharat Tex, India is positioning itself as a global leader in sustainable and innovative textile practices, driving economic growth while addressing environmental challenges.
