India is emerging as a global powerhouse in technical textiles, a growth recognized by the organizers of the world's leading technical textiles and textile processing trade fairs. Ahead of the Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 event in Frankfurt, Messe Frankfurt's Director Brand Management, Sabine Scharrer, highlighted during a lunch meeting addressing to the media, during Techtextil India, the strategic importance of India, declaring the country's technical textile sector is "important for the world."
Scharrer underscored the nation's rapid expansion and its growing role as a crucial market for innovative and high-tech textile applications.
Surging growth and market leadership
Citing impressive figures, Scharrer pointed to the significant participation from India in previous events, stating, "Last year, we welcomed 64 Indian companies, a total of more than 600 visitors." The momentum is driven by fundamental market strengths. The technical textile sector in India is experiencing a strong growth rate of up to 10 percent, with the segment's market value standing at a significant $29 million USD. Furthermore, India is identified as one of the leading export markets, excelling particularly in the segments of Inditech (Industrial Textiles) and Pactech (Packaging Textiles). Other sectors like Geotech (Geotextiles) and Home Tech (Home Textiles with technical functionality) also play a substantial role in the country’s high-tech textile landscape.
"Especially the technical tech sector is growing in India and that's why this country is so important for us and, frankly, important for the world," Scharrer emphasized, noting the sector's pivotal role in India, mirroring its importance in various European countries.
Focus on innovation and skill development
The sector's growth is supported by a strong foundation in research and development. Scharrer noted the "clear commitment" and industry meetings in India dedicated to R&D projects in technical textiles, which helps "grow the skills and the ethic of figures in the technical tech sectors." This focus is yielding tangible results in the form of smart innovations. India is seeing "a lot of smart innovations coming up," such as integrated services applied in fields like agriculture, defense, or medicine. Additionally, the country is setting a "big example" by enhancing standard products with advanced functionality.
"We're excited to see what the Indian producers will bring in the next edition also in April, frankly, and in the future," Scharrer concluded, anticipating strong engagement from the Indian technical textiles industry at the upcoming global fair.
Global gateway in Frankfurt
Techtextil and Texprocess 2026, scheduled for April 21-24, 2026, serves as the premier international platform, bringing together the entire value chain under one roof in Frankfurt, Germany. As one of the world's largest platforms for technical textiles, advanced fabrics, and garment machinery, the combined fair allows visitors to explore the full textile chain, from fiber production and advanced machinery to innovative fabrics, end-use applications, and recycling technologies. The global nature of the event, with 1,600 plus exhibitors in the last edition (65% from abroad), provides Indian participants with unparalleled access to international trends and technologies. On the Techtextil side, the event showcases high-tech materials across diverse applications, including medicine, mobility, construction, military, and security purposes.
Meanwhile, Texprocess focuses on the future of textile processing, featuring cutting-edge machinery, 3D/4D applications, scanning, optimization, and AI solutions. The event is further enriched by specialized areas, including the newly dedicated segments for textile chemicals/dyes and performance apparel textiles, and the expanding Nature Performance area which highlights sustainable, bio-based, and bio-degradable materials.
Dedicated focus on ‘Textile Chemicals & Dyes’
Techtextil 2026 will feature Textile Chemicals & Dyes as a separate, independent product segment for the first time, reflecting its growing economic importance and technical relevance, especially in performance textiles. This new area will be strategically located in Hall 9.0, placing it in immediate proximity to the Fibres and Yarns and Performance Apparel Textiles segments. This deliberate co-location is designed to create new synergies, facilitating direct dialogue between suppliers of pre-treatment, dyeing, and finishing agents and the users of technical and functional textiles. This centralized hub will emphasize the importance of chemicals and dyes in providing essential functions to textiles—such as water-repellent impregnation for outdoor wear, sterilization for medical fabrics, UV protection for construction materials, and flame-resistance for protective apparel—and will serve as a platform for addressing increasing demands related to environmental regulations and sustainable supply chains.
The Frankfurt fairs offer Indian companies a critical opportunity to expand their international reach, explore global trends, and solidify their position as leaders in advanced, value-added textile manufacturing on the world stage.
