The 13th Asian Textile Conference was held in Hyderabad on April 2 to 3, convened by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry and the Government of Telangana.
Key Takeaways
At the 13th Asian Textile Conference (ATEXCON 2026) in Hyderabad, India, leaders from across the global textile value chain came together to explore how the industry can move from ambition to measurable progress. Convened by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry and the Government of Telangana, the event focused on “Reimagining the Future of Global Textiles,” offering a clear emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and practical execution.
Cascale’s Prasanth Nandakumar, stakeholder engagement manager
for APAC, contributed to a panel titled: “Advancing Circularity Through Shared Responsibility,” examining whether circularity is a vision, obligation, or business opportunity. The discussion reinforced a critical shift: circularity must move beyond pilot projects to scalable, commercially viable models.
Anjali Krishnan, director of cotton, circularity and decarbonization at IDH moderated the conversation which also brought together industry perspectives from Sundar Senthilnathan of H&M Group, Prasad Pant of Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), Vijaya Krishnappa of Kosha, N. Thirukkumaran of the Tiruppur Exporters’ Association, Girish of Sulochana, and Astha Kubele of Fashion For Good.
During the session, Nandakumar highlighted how the Higg Index tools support standardized measurement and benchmarking, helping organizations translate circularity goals into facility-level improvements. He also emphasized the role of policy alignment, referencing Cascale’s APAC Policy Priorities as a pathway to more enabling regulatory frameworks.
Across sessions, a consistent message emerged: the industry is entering a new phase shaped by both pressure and opportunity.
Participants pointed to several structural shifts. These included ongoing trade uncertainty, geopolitical dynamics, and margin pressures which are challenging traditional sourcing and production models. Global supply chains are becoming more diversified and resilient, with increased focus on speed, flexibility, and regional strategies. At the same time, transparency is becoming a baseline expectation. Growing regulatory requirements, particularly in the EU, are accelerating demand for traceability, verified data, and lower-impact production.
Noted during the session, technology is also redefining competitiveness. Speakers acknowledged a shift from cost-led models to speed, intelligence, and adaptability, driven by AI, automation, real-time data collection, and digital integration across manufacturing.
Despite structural gaps, there is progress being made. India’s strong performance in pre-consumer recycling highlights what is possible at scale, but post-consumer waste continues to present a significant challenge. This reinforces the need for coordinated action across the value chain, supported by credible data and aligned standards. India is positioning itself for significant growth in the textile sector by 2030, with a focus on man-made fibers, technical textiles, and value-added production. And regional hubs like Telangana are playing an important role in advancing manufacturing capabilities and innovation.
ATEXCON 2026 reflected a broader industry shift that Cascale is monitoring closely. The focus is moving from conversation to coordinated action, grounded in data, enabled by technology, and supported by regional partnerships and insights.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week marked its most international event to date, with sustainable Spanish designs also a highlight.
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff attended the “Design for Compliance: Textile EPR in California” event during Los Angeles Climate Week.
The Hong Kong event convened 130 senior executives from across the consumer goods industry highlighting shared supply chain risk and unmet manufacturer solutions.
