The Dornbirn Global Fibre Conference (GFC) Asia made its first appearance in Mumbai on November 18, 2025, held as part of the Techtextil India Symposium. Known as the world’s largest fibre innovation congress, the event brought global experts, researchers, and industry leaders together under the theme “Shaping the Future: Sustainable Growth in Fibre Solutions and Innovations.” The Government of Tamil Nadu participated as the Partner State.
The day-long conference covered a range of topics, including sustainable fibre research, eco-friendly manufacturing, recycling technologies, circular economy practices, and advancements in smart technical textiles. Speakers also addressed global fibre market shifts, policy frameworks, and strategies for integrating sustainability into business operations—key areas of interest for manufacturers, designers, technologists, and policymakers.
Organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with the Austrian Fibers Institute, the event reinforced India’s growing position in textile innovation and fibre technology. It also aligned with India’s goal of expanding textile and apparel exports to USD 100 billion by 2030.
Key Remarks from Dignitaries
- Chief Guest, Hon’ble Ms V Amuthavalli, IAS, Secretary, Department of Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu, highlighted the state’s strong presence in natural fibres and encouraged diversification into man-made fibres.
- Guest of Honour, Mr Uday Paul Singh Gill, Senior Partner, Gherzi Consulting, noted that the event would help Indian companies access European trends and innovations, especially in applications such as baby diapers, airbags, and hygiene products.
- Mr Bhadresh Dodhia, Director, Dodhia Group, emphasised the opportunity in textile-to-textile recycling, currently below 1% in India, describing it as a major potential resource.
- Mr Murugan Thenkondar of Birla Cellulose underlined India’s demographic and economic growth as a driver for long-term fibre innovation.
- Mr Raj Manek, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, called the event an important addition to the global Texpertise Network, helping guide the industry toward sustainable growth and stronger export potential.
- Mr Matthias W Gluth, Austrian Fibers Institute, stated that the collaboration aims to expand Dornbirn GFC’s global reach and strengthen year-round industry knowledge exchange.
Industry Highlights from the Conference
- India is ahead of many developed nations in converting post-consumer waste.
- Bottles are being efficiently recycled into yarn and other materials.
- India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy may accelerate plastic-to-fibre recycling.
- Advanced technology for collection and sorting can improve feedstock availability for circular supply chains.
- India shows strong potential to become a global hub for recycled polyester.
The conference featured participation from leading companies, including Dodhia Group, Lenzing, Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions, Birla Cellulose, Erema Group GmbH, Pan Healthcare, TextileGenesis, Bekaert, FibreCoat GmbH, and others.
Dornbirn GFC Asia’s debut tied seamlessly with Techtextil India (19–21 November 2025), integrating global fibre innovation with India’s rapidly advancing technical textiles ecosystem.