Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) successfully pre-launched its new Apparel Training Centre (ATC) at the Magus Fashion City, Bhiwandi, on October 7, 2025. Supported by Magus Fashion City, this strategic initiative signals a major commitment to enhancing skill development within India’s garment sector. The pre-launch event drew over 50 garment manufacturers and industry representatives.
The ATC is being spearheaded by Naveen Sainani, Hon General Secretary, CMAI and Anand Golecha Chairman-Sub Committee, ATC. The center aims to build an industry-ready workforce, boosting manufacturing productivity and empowering workers through targeted training designed to meet future industry requirements.
At the pre-launch, Sainani emphasized the center’s mission saying, CMAI Apparel Training Centre at Magus Fashion City, Bhiwandi will serve as a strategic hub for upskilling local garment workers, promoting productivity, and developing a skilled workforce prepared to meet global industry standards. CMAI plans to run the center with extensive industry collaboration to uplift the garment manufacturing community.
This latest launch builds on CMAI's impressive history in apparel training, which dates back to 2008. The association has previously trained over 1,600 women sewing operators in Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park, successfully enabling employment opportunities.
Under the government's Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) (Component II of the Ministry of Textiles), CMAI was an appointed Implementing Agency. The organization surpassed its original mandate of training 35,000 trainees, ultimately training a total of 43,645 individuals and successfully placing 33,490 into relevant factory jobs by March 2018.
Established over sixty years ago, CMAI is the most representative association of the Indian apparel industry, boasting over 7,000 members and serving more than 50,000 retailers. Its membership spans manufacturers, exporters, brands, and ancillary industries.
Beyond skill development, CMAI plays a crucial role in advocating on industry policies, issuing Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) to exporters, and guiding members on ESG initiatives. In 2019, CMAI launched the SU.RE initiative to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices. CMAI is the only Indian association that represents the entire apparel sector and trade on prestigious international forums like the International Apparel Federation (IAF) in the Netherlands. The organization also led the creation of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) back in 1978.
