Bharat Tex 2026 has brought together India’s vast textile ecosystem on a single global platform, showcasing everything from traditional handlooms and handicrafts to advanced textile technologies while creating new business opportunities for artisans, manufacturers and exporters.
Held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from July 14 to 17, the third edition of the event follows the government’s 5F vision—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. The exhibition spans the entire textile value chain, including fibre, yarn, fabric, apparel, home textiles, technical textiles, handlooms and handicrafts.
The event has attracted over 6,000 buyers from more than 130 countries and over 1.3 lakh trade visitors. Spread across 1.6 million square feet, it features more than 20,000 textile products, reinforcing India’s position as a global textile manufacturing and sourcing hub.
Beyond its scale, Bharat Tex has emerged as a platform where traditional craftsmanship, innovation, sustainability and global commerce converge, offering artisans and enterprises opportunities to reach new domestic and international markets.
Live demonstrations highlight traditional craftsmanship
One of the key attractions at the exhibition was live demonstrations of fabric-making and block printing, allowing visitors to witness traditional textile techniques firsthand.
Kashyap Kedia, manager at Weaves, said the enterprise represents six generations of textile craftsmanship and works with around 200 artisans, producing nearly 2.5 lakh metres of block-printed fabric. The company specialises in traditional printing techniques such as Dabu, Bagru and Batik.
He noted that the live demonstrations attracted significant international interest, with potential buyers from Qatar, Sri Lanka and Myanmar visiting the stall.
Tikuli art gains global visibility
Bharat Tex also provided a platform for regional art forms such as Bihar’s 800-year-old Tikuli art.
Arundhati Mahato, a Tikuli artist from Patna, said the art form has evolved from decorative forehead ornaments into enamel paintings on wood, fabric and everyday products.
She said she provides free training to around 25 women, enabling them to produce handicrafts from home and earn a livelihood. According to her, the exhibition has helped introduce Tikuli art to visitors who were previously unfamiliar with the craft.
Indie Haat celebrates India’s craft heritage
Running alongside Bharat Tex, Indie Haat 2026 at the National Crafts Museum showcases India’s handloom and handicraft traditions.
The exhibition features 48 artisans and weavers along with 12 design-led brands, presenting crafts such as Gulabi Minakari, Dokra, Usta Kala, Pichwai, Sozni embroidery, Blue Pottery, silver filigree, Cheriyal painting, Mata Ni Pachedi, papier-mâché, Bagru block printing, Jamdani sarees, Muga and Eri silk, and Odisha Ikat.
Tribal weaves find contemporary expression
Jharkhand-based brand Johargram is presenting contemporary apparel inspired by traditional tribal textiles, transforming handwoven shawls into shirts, jackets and trench coats.
Creative and Operations Head Pawan Kumar said the designs are based on traditional weaving patterns of the Uraon and Munda communities. Around 80 weavers are currently associated with the brand, and growing international demand has helped expand production.
He said Bharat Tex has enabled the company to connect with buyers and exporters from different markets.
Handloom cooperative expands buyer network
Kanpur-based Niryaatak Handloom Cooperative Society Limited is showcasing rugs, carpets and home décor products made from cotton, wool and recycled PET yarn.
The cooperative, which works with around 120 weavers, has received encouraging buyer interest, including enquiries from Iraq and Algeria. Participation through a subsidised stall provided by the Handloom Export Promotion Council has enabled the cooperative to engage with international buyers and explore export opportunities.
Circular economy solutions in focus
The exhibition also highlighted sustainable textile practices through companies such as ReFiber, which has developed a technology-enabled system for collecting post-consumer textile waste.
Chief Operating Officer Manoj Wanvari said collected garments are channelled to partner NGOs for recycling, while ReFiber provides a marketplace for upcycled products.
The company reported strong interest from visitors representing Bangladesh, Spain, the United States, Portugal and Sri Lanka, and plans to expand its textile collection network across India.
A platform for India’s textile ambitions
By bringing together artisans, cooperatives, manufacturers, technology firms, designers and global buyers, Bharat Tex 2026 reflects the diversity and strength of India’s textile sector.
The event demonstrates how traditional craftsmanship, sustainable practices and modern manufacturing can work together to enhance livelihoods, promote exports and strengthen India’s position in the global textile value chain.
