In a remarkable union of innovation and global expertise, the world’s largest fibre innovation congress, the Dornbirn Global Fibre Conference (GFC) Asia, successfully made its debut in Mumbai on November 18, 2025. The prestigious event was hosted under the banner of the Techtextil India Symposium 2025.
Under the theme ‘Shaping the Future: Sustainable Growth in Fibre Solutions and Innovations’, the conference served as a dynamic confluence of ideas, research breakthroughs, and collaborative exchanges, aimed at propelling the textile industry into a new era of responsible growth. The event was supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu as a Partner State.
The day-long conference featured the latest research on sustainable fibres, innovations in eco-friendly manufacturing, breakthroughs in recycling and circular economy practices, and the evolution of smart technical textiles. Discussions also explored global fibre market shifts, policy frameworks shaping the industry, and strategies for integrating sustainability into business models. These topics highlighted pressing imperatives and emerging opportunities for manufacturers, designers, technologists, and policymakers alike.
The Dornbirn Global Fibre Conference is a collaboration between organisers Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd and the Austrian Fibers Institute, cementing India’s position as a hub for textile innovation, sustainability, and fibre technology. Against the backdrop of India’s ambition to elevate its textile and apparel exports to USD 100 billion by 2030, Dornbirn GFC Asia emerged as a seminal platform for industry visionaries to share pioneering discoveries and collaborate on building a greener, smarter, and more resilient textiles future.
Key excerpts from dignitaries during the conference:
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Chief Guest – Hon’ble Ms V Amuthavalli, IAS, Secretary – Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi, Department of Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu expressed:
“Tamil Nadu has already established itself in natural fibres (cotton) but we feel that industries shall diversify more into man-made fibres as well. Being a Partner State to Dornbirn GFC Asia, we look forward to exchanging knowledge and building Tamil Nadu’s technical textiles industry.” -
Guest of Honour – Mr Uday Paul Singh Gill, Senior Partner, Gherzi Consulting stated:
“I am happy that Dornbirn GFC Asia is here, as it will benefit the Indian industry to learn about new trends and innovations in Europe. The Indian industry has huge potential with applications in baby diapers, automotive airbags, hygiene products, and more. Globally, circularity, sustainability, and AI will significantly impact the sector.” -
Mr Bhadresh Dodhia, Director- International Trade & Finance, Dodhia Group & Co-Chairman- Bharat Tex Committee 2025 in his keynote address said:
“Dornbirn GFC Asia is regarded as the platform for fibre innovation. Attendees explore new developments in the industry. India is becoming an epicentre for man-made fibres and circular supply chains. Textile-to-textile recycling in India is below 1%, which is not a gap but a huge opportunity to harness waste as raw material.” -
Mr Murugan Thenkondar, President – Marketing & Global Head – Business Development, Aditya Birla – Grasim Industries Limited – Birla Cellulose, elaborating on regenerative innovation, shared:
“This platform brings global perspectives to India and fosters meaningful industry interactions. With India’s growing population and increasing per capita income, engaging here helps stakeholders understand each other better and realise the industry’s full potential.” -
Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, stated:
“We are pleased to welcome the industry to this insightful platform, marking Dornbirn GFC Asia’s debut in India. This event complements our Texpertise Network, connecting over 500,000 textile professionals worldwide. Dornbirn GFC Asia discussed advanced technologies and innovative processes to enhance sustainability, strengthen India’s export potential, and position the country as a hub for technical textiles. We thank the Austrian Fibers Institute for their collaboration in bringing this international experience to India.” -
Mr Matthias W Gluth, Managing Director, Austrian Fibers Institute, added:
“This collaboration aims to strengthen Dornbirn GFC’s global presence, engage with new sectors, and create year-round opportunities for knowledge exchange. Dornbirn GFC Asia was more dynamic than ever, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and digital transformation as essential for competitiveness. The conference facilitated critical industry conversations and shaped the future direction.”
Conference highlights and industry potential:
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India is leading in converting post-consumer waste compared to many developed countries.
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Recycling of bottles into yarn and plastic is gaining momentum.
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India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic waste can accelerate recycling into fibres.
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Technology-driven collection and sorting can streamline the circular supply chain.
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India shows strong potential to become a hub for recycled polyester.
The India edition of Dornbirn GFC Asia uniquely blended global expertise with India’s vibrant textiles sector—a market advancing rapidly in technological innovation, sustainability efforts, and export ambitions. Leading brands at the conference included Dodhia Group, Lenzing, Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions, Birla Cellulose, Erema Group GmbH, High Performance Textile Ltd, Pan Healthcare Pvt Ltd, TextileGenesis, Bekaert, FibreCoat GmbH, and others.
The conference’s alignment with Techtextil India (19–21 November 2025) ensured seamless integration with the broader ecosystem of technical textiles and allied technology innovations.
