{"id":53899,"date":"2026-04-10T14:49:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/cmai-and-su-re-eco-stitch-sustainability-conclave-drives-textile-and-apparel-industrys-shift-from-intent-to-action\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T14:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:19:45","slug":"cmai-and-su-re-eco-stitch-sustainability-conclave-drives-textile-and-apparel-industrys-shift-from-intent-to-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/cmai-and-su-re-eco-stitch-sustainability-conclave-drives-textile-and-apparel-industrys-shift-from-intent-to-action\/","title":{"rendered":"CMAI and SU.RE ECO-STITCH Sustainability Conclave Drives Textile and Apparel Industry\u2019s Shift from Intent to Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 10:<\/strong> The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), in collaboration with SU.RE, successfully hosted the first edition of the ECO-STITCH Sustainability Conclave on April 3, 2026, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, alongside FAB Show 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The conclave was inaugurated by Smt. Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner \u2013 Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. <\/strong>Speaking at the inauguration, she expressed, <\/strong>\u201cI am really very happy that we have a day -long conclave, where all industry leaders and stakeholders would be putting in ideas of how to make strides for a more sustainable and ecological environment and how to make India more Atmanirbhar. Internationally \u2013 circularity and sustainability are the buzzwords and if we have to make good use of the FTAs and promote our exports, we will have to integrate sustainability as a core business strategy<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The by-invitation conclave brought together over 250+ key decision makers from the textile and apparel value chain, including leading brands, manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, international buying houses, Startups and Innovators. ECO-STITCH Sustainability Conclave was supported by Global Alliance For Textile Sustainability Council (GATS), Brands & Sourcing Leaders Association, and UNIDO<\/strong>. The event marked a significant step forward in advancing industry-wide alignment on embedding sustainability into core business strategies.<\/p>\n

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Speaking on the success of the conclave,\u00a0Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI<\/strong>, said:
\u201cThe ECO-STITCH Conclave has reaffirmed that the industry is ready to move from intent to implementation. The quality of discussions, combined with the strong participation across stakeholders, reflects a collective commitment to embedding sustainability at the core of how we design, source and manufacture. This is the beginning of a long-term movement to build a more responsible and globally competitive Indian apparel ecosystem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Naveen Sainani, Hon. General Secretary & Chairman, ESG Committee, CMAI<\/strong>, noted:
\u201cWhat sets ECO-STITCH apart is its focus on actionable pathways. The exchange of real experiences, solutions and business-led approaches has created a strong foundation for accelerating sustainability adoption across the industry.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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A key highlight of the conclave was its experiential 3R Zones\u2014Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle<\/strong>, which showcased real-world applications of circularity. From upcycled collections to integrated waste-to-wardrobe supply chains, the installations offered tangible demonstrations of how sustainability can be operationalised across production systems. The event also featured a dedicated Automation and AI Showcase<\/strong>, underlining the growing role of technology in enabling responsible manufacturing, improving efficiency, and driving traceability across the fashion value chain.<\/p>\n

Designed as an action-oriented platform, ECO-STITCH moved beyond dialogue to focus on practical, scalable solutions. Through a mix of leadership panels, speakers engaged in discussions on topics like Future Ready India: Competing in a Sustainable Global Economy; Leading the Shift: CEOs Building India\u2019s Most Trusted Supply Chains; Sustainable, Sellable, Scalable: India\u2019s Brand Adoption Playbook; UNIDO & India Programs: One UN + Cluster Exchange Mechanism; Scaling Brands Globally: The Sustainability Imperative; Green Finance & Social Inclusion; AI & Tech in Fashion<\/em>, among others. <\/p>\n

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Participating in panel discussions were sustainability leaders such as Roop Rashi – Khadi & Village Inds. Comm., Dr. Naresh Tyagi \u2013 ABFRL, Subir Mukherjee \u2013 Bhaskar Denim, Abhishek Raj \u2013 Lacoste, Vineet Gautam – 91 Brands, Puneet Dudeja \u2013 WGSN, Dr Tapan K Rout \u2013 (Director \u2013 Textile Committee, Ministry of Textiles), Parvinder Kadyan, GATS, T. Jayaraman \u2013 Classic Polo, Dr. Pankaj Kumar \u2013 UNIDO, Tanmeet Thukral \u2013 World Bank Group, Sunder Belani \u2013 Ramsons, Sanjay Shukla & Tapan Bansal \u2013 BSL, Dr. Smita Honade Bait \u2013 ZDHC, <\/em>Darshana Gajare \u2013 Reliance Brands\/SU.RE,<\/em> <\/em>Raja Harbinder Singh \u2013 Pantaloon, Vinod Sharma \u2013 Country Manager, OVS, Manmohan Singh \u2013 Grasim, Anand Muthuswamy – Tirupur Exporters Association, Kritika Chouhan – Shahi Exports, Naveen Sainani, Hon. General Secretary & Chairman, ESG Committee, CMAI<\/em> among many others.<\/p>\n

Smt. Roop Rashi, CEO, Khadi and Village Industries Commission,<\/strong> said, \u201cKhadi by default is among the most resource-efficient systems as it uses much less water and energy. So, the question is: how do we bring in the new-gen factor and new-gen aspiration for Khadi? We need to create a demand pull, and design is the most important element in drawing the new generation towards Khadi. We have created a Centre of Excellence for Khadi, and launched \u201cNavu Khadi\u201d initiative last year.\u201d Dr. Pankaj Kumar, National Project Coordinator, UNIDO<\/strong>, highlighted, \u201cUNIDO has developed a technology innovation roadmap, which has one common platform to see all the information available, and enables connect to the Textile Committee as well as the UNIDO for whatever support anyone needs, whether technical or financial. Textile is the only sector where we need to think about energy, environment, UN empowerment, and land improvement. So the idea is support for clusters through a clustered approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Naresh Tyagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, ABFRL,<\/strong> said, \u201cIndia as a country matters immensely because, as we move towards becoming the third-largest economy after the US and China, textiles will be one of the key contributors. In this context, adopting sustainability in textile and apparel manufacturing processes becomes even more imperative. Therefore, this is a significant moment for us to participate and scale our efforts in a larger, more impactful way.\u201d Speaking about circularity, Kritika Chauhan of Shahi Exports<\/strong>, expressed, \u201cWe often think that circularity is something that comes at the grave stage, at the end of the life cycle. However, circularity starts when your material is actually very simple in the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

A major milestone at the conclave was the debut of the CMAI SU.RE Sustainability Awards<\/strong>, recognising excellence across the industry value chain.<\/p>\n

Award Winners:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
No.<\/strong><\/td>\nCategory<\/strong><\/td>\nWinners<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nSustainable Brand of the Year – MSME<\/td>\nIndo Era<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nSustainable Brand of the Year \u2013 Large Company<\/td>\nAditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nCircular Fashion Champion<\/td>\nKS Spinning Mills Pvt. Ltd.; Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nSustainable Manufacturing Excellence Award \u2013 Large Company<\/td>\nBhaskar Denim<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nTextile Recycling Innovator Award<\/td>\nHSN Ecotex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nStyle Meets Sustainability Award<\/td>\nSpykar Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nUpcycling & Repurposing Innovation Award<\/td>\nBunko Junko<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nSustainable Materials Innovation Award – MSME<\/td>\nSowtex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nSustainable Materials Innovation Award \u2013 Large Company<\/td>\nBirla Cellulose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nDigital Innovation for Sustainability Award<\/td>\nMKS Otterri Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nTraceability & Tech Champion Award<\/td>\nGreen Story<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nFactory of the Future<\/td>\nAadi Sustainability Solutions Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nSocial Impact & Livelihoods Award<\/td>\nReCircle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nSustainability Startup of the Year<\/td>\nRePut.ai<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nSustainability Leadership Award (Individual)<\/td>\nManmohan Singh, VP, Grasim<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nResponsible Fashion Brand Award – MSME<\/td>\nBhagwan Enterprise Textiles Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/td>\nResponsible Fashion Brand Award \u2013 Large Company<\/td>\nEd-a-Mamma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nCollaborative Sustainability Initiative Award<\/td>\nEnviu<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nRising Sustainability Champion of the Year<\/td>\nChirag Tyagi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nSpecial Recognition Award – Leadership in the Green and Circular Transformation of the Textile Sector<\/td>\nDr. Pankaj Kumar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nSustainable Fabric Manufacturing Excellence Award <\/td>\nGokul Texprints Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nCircular Fibre Innovation Champion <\/td>\nCanvaloop Fibre Pvt. Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

The Jury for the awards included stalwarts like <\/strong>Dr. Naresh Tyagi, CSO, ABFRL; <\/strong>Sanjay Rastogi, Business Head, Trent Ltd.; Radhika Kaul, Chief of Staff, UN RCO India; <\/strong>Manohar Samuel, SU.RE; <\/strong>Parvinder Kadyan, Chairman, GATS; <\/strong>Naveen Sainani, Hon. Gen. Secretary & Chairman, ESG at CMAI; <\/strong>Ankur Gadia, Vice President, CMAI; <\/strong>Darshana Gajare, Head of Sustainability, Lakm\u00e9 Fashion Week, SU.RE, Circular Design Challenge; <\/strong>and <\/strong>Prof. (Dr.) Meenakshi Tomar, Vice Dean, Jindal Global Business School.<\/p>\n

Further elevating the event was a Grand Sustainable Fashion Showcase<\/strong>, featuring 8 curated sequences that brought together AI-driven design, sustainable fabrics, and Indian craft traditions. The showcase saw participation from leading fashion institutes including NIFT Bengaluru, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, SOFT Pune, and IDT Surat, highlighting the role of emerging talent in shaping the future of responsible fashion.<\/p>\n

By convening stakeholders across the ecosystem\u2014from MSMEs to large exporters, brands, designers, and technology providers\u2014the ECO-STITCH Conclave has laid the groundwork for sustained collaboration and measurable progress, positioning sustainability as a shared industry mandate rather than a standalone initiative.<\/p>\n

If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 10: The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), in collaboration with SU.RE, successfully hosted the first edition of the ECO-STITCH Sustainability Conclave on April 3, 2026, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53898,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,32],"tags":[2759,2696,2760,2700,856,2761,2762],"class_list":["post-53899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-press-release","tag-roop-rashi","tag-clothing-manufacturers-association-of-india-cmai","tag-naresh-tyagi","tag-naveen-sainani","tag-santosh-katariya","tag-su-re","tag-vrunda-desai","rishi-post"],"rishi__cb_customizer_meta":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedeccanmessenger.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}