The 5th edition of the Fabrics, Accessories & Beyond (FAB) Show 2025, organized by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), concluded successfully at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, from April 21 to 23, 2025. The event garnered robust backing from the Government of Maharashtra, The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI), and 15 major industry associations from across the country, reinforcing its status as a pivotal platform for the textile and apparel sector.
This milestone edition of the FAB Show highlighted the dynamic transformation of India’s textile and apparel industry—where innovation and sustainability take center stage, and heritage integrates seamlessly with modern technology. With over 250 exhibitors and approximately 12,000 trade visitors representing more than 350 Indian cities, including 1,750 platinum dealers, the event drew significant domestic engagement. It also saw notable international participation, with 90 overseas buyers from 23 countries including Bangladesh, the US, Egypt, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Ecuador, Portugal, Hong Kong, Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Mr. Santosh Katariya, President, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), shared, “The overwhelming response to the 5th FAB Show reaffirms CMAI’s commitment to shaping the future of India’s apparel and textile industry. This platform is not just about business generation, it is about enabling transformation. From sustainability booths to AI-led business solutions, the show reflected the industry’s readiness to evolve, collaborate, and lead with purpose. We are proud to witness the convergence of innovation, policy support, and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that will undoubtedly accelerate India’s journey to becoming a global sourcing hub.”
Highlighting the significance of global trade shifts and India’s evolving role in the apparel supply chain, Mr. Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), expressed, “The recent hike in U.S. tariffs on apparel imports from countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam has opened a strategic window for India to strengthen its position as a global sourcing hub. This shift in trade dynamics couldn’t have come at a better time. The FAB Show 2025 comes at an ideal moment to showcase India’s comprehensive capabilities across the textile value chain. From cutting-edge fabrics to sustainable solutions, the show reflects how our industry is gearing up to not just meet, but lead the next wave of global apparel sourcing.”
This year’s FAB Show also placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, with the overall theme, ambience and dedicated pavilion with over 20 vendors showcasing eco-conscious innovations in textiles, accessories, and production processes. The FAB Show also featured a vibrant sustainability Fashion Show, where designers and brands showcased collections crafted from eco-friendly materials and responsible production methods. The show highlighted how fashion can embrace sustainability without compromising on style or innovation.
Commenting on the significance of this year’s edition, Mr. Naveen Sainani, Chairman of FAB Show, CMAI, said, “CMAI has always been committed to driving the sustainability agenda within the textile
and apparel industry, and the FAB Show is our flagship platform to reinforce that vision. This year, sustainability wasn’t just a topic, it was the very theme that shaped the entire show. From thoughtfully designed pavilions to knowledge sessions and product showcases, every element of the show was curated to inspire and accelerate the shift towards responsible manufacturing. As the industry comes together at FAB, it creates the perfect momentum to reimagine the future, one that is collaborative, innovative, and above all, sustainable.”
Sharing his experience at FAB Show 2025, Dhaval Desai, Vice President, Ichalkaranji Shuttleless Fabrics Manufacturers Association (ISFMA) & Managing Director, Desai Textiles, spoke about the success of the event, and highlighting the introduction of their pavilion for the first time this year. He said, “The FAB Show 2025 was a truly rewarding experience for us. It was a super successful event marked by fantastic footfall and high-quality, business-oriented visitors. As an exhibitor, I was thoroughly impressed not only by the scale of the show but also by the impeccable arrangements, especially in terms of hospitality and overall experience. The introduction of our pavilion this year added great value, offering a fantastic platform for meaningful industry engagement and business generation.”
Adding immense value to the FAB Show 2025 were a series of thought-provoking knowledge sessions that addressed the evolving landscape of the textile and apparel industry. The sessions covered a wide range of topics from sustainability and certifications to AI integration and business recalibration, drawing participation from leading voices in the sector.
Discussions ranged from “Transforming the Value Chain: A Brand’s Take on Sourcing & Standard” to “Road to Revenue for Textile Waste: A Decarbonization Journey,” offering valuable insights into sustainable practices and business innovation. Panel discussions led by UNIDO explored “Sustainable Material: Terms, Certification, Packaging and More,” bringing together experts to demystify evolving green norms. Talks like “Transform Your Apparel Business with the Power of AI” by Ragini Verma, “The Fashion Ecosystem Effect: Why It’s a Gamechanger for Manufacturers” by Mayur Suchak, and “Time to Recalibrate Your Textile & Apparel Business” by Vishal Trivedi further empowered attendees with futuristic strategies. The sessions served as a robust platform for dialogue, learning, and collaboration among industry leaders.
Talking about the industry trend, one of the exhibitors, Sunny Jain, from Girnar Fabrics India Pvt. Ltd. (Ludhiana), said, “We have just joined CMAI this year and this is our first FAB show that we have participated and it has been phenomenal to say the least. So, what we see is that people are expecting shorter lead times, a lot much different fashions, the fashion is changing quite frequently and we need to keep pace with it and people are actually focusing on getting everything under one roof so an integrated group which has all the capabilities at one place is something what people are preferring.”
Divesh Gulecha from Manidari Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd., Surat, shared his experience as a first-time FAB Show participant, said, “We’ve been in the industry for 40 years, but this is our first time participating in the CMAI’s FAB Show, and the here response is tremendous. We are getting new opportunities to explore. People are getting new opportunities to explore by watching our fabrics. We’re seeing a strong shift in trends; earlier, digital prints were in demand, but now placement digital prints are gaining traction. In fact, placement embroideries and all our embroideries are picking up very well here. So, I believe this year it’s going to be placement prints and embroideries.”
Echoing the sustainability trend, Lakshman Shinde of Jindal Textiles, said, “In our category, basically all the customers are looking for sustainability range, basically they are interested into the new concept
new based fabrics new trends which are running all over the globe. So, we are also trying to focus on the buyers focus what they want like in sustainability. We have developed different fabrics, different bases, different print techniques which I feel that it will be useful going forward for the market trends.”
One of the key highlights of the event was the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, who attended as the Chief Guest for the MoU Signing Ceremony between the Government of Chhattisgarh and CMAI on April 23. As a State Partner at the FAB Show 2025, the Department of Commerce & Industry – Government of Chhattisgarh created a dedicated pavilion, showcasing leading textile and apparel manufacturers from the state. The pavilion also highlighted the State’s proactive efforts to enhance ease of doing business for MSMEs through the Chhattisgarh Business Made Easy initiative. These collective efforts aim to drive industrial growth, attract investments, and reinforce Chhattisgarh’s emergence as a dynamic hub for textile and apparel manufacturing.