Textile innovation drive gains fresh momentum

Textile Innovation Exchange (TIE) and The Institution of Textile Engineers and Technologists (ITET) have joined hands to give Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry a fresh innovation push, forging a new platform for practical research, technological advancement and industry-ready solutions.

The two organisations signed an In-Collaboration Agreement at a ceremony at Dhaka Regency Hotel on August 20, paving the way for the formation of an Innovation & Research Cell ahead of the Textile Innovation Expo 2026.

Under the agreement, ITET will serve as an “In-Collaboration” partner of TIE, helping bring textile engineers, factory owners, industry leaders, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders onto a common platform.

The Textile Innovation Expo 2026, scheduled for November 12-14 at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka, will remain under the ownership and leadership of TIE.

The expo will put the spotlight on live demonstrations, applied technologies, factory-ready solutions and sustainability-driven innovations. Four dedicated innovation zones will showcase advances in Dyeing & Printing, Textile Materials, Garments Automation & Innovation, and Green & SusTech.

ATM Mahbubul Alam Milton, Executive Director of Masco Group and a member of the TIE Steering Board, underscored the urgency of innovation for the industry's survival and global competitiveness.

“If we genuinely want to make our industry sustainable and remain competitive, there is no alternative to innovation,” he said, stressing that even small improvements in everyday production processes can deliver significant gains.

TIE Chairman Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser said innovation must not be treated as a one-off initiative but as a continuous process. He expressed hope that the new partnership would bridge professional expertise and industrial experience to deliver tangible benefits for Bangladesh's textile sector.

ITET President Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain said the agreement would establish an institutional framework for collaboration in innovation, research, knowledge sharing, professional development and sustainable textile industry development.

The partnership will also encompass an international research conference, technical training programmes, masterclasses, a peer-reviewed international journal, policy research and advocacy, as well as joint applied research initiatives.

The collaboration comes at a time when Bangladesh's textile and apparel industry faces growing pressure to innovate, automate, cut costs, improve sustainability and remain competitive in global markets.