ITAMMA And SITRA To Host International Conference On AI In Textiles
AI – A Friend & Not Enemy of Textile Industry will be the theme of an International Conference being jointly organised by the Indian Textile Accessories & Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (ITAMMA) and the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) on September 25, 2026 in Coimbatore.
The conference aims to create awareness about the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the textile value chain and help industry stakeholders understand how AI can be effectively adopted in manufacturing, quality control, design, marketing and supply chain management.
According to ITAMMA, AI is rapidly transforming India’s Rs 12 lakh crore textile industry by improving efficiency, reducing waste and enhancing productivity. Applications such as AI-powered fabric inspection, automated design systems, predictive maintenance, digital catalogue creation, product visualization and inventory optimisation are increasingly being adopted by textile businesses.
The association believes AI-powered solutions could generate significant value for the Indian textile sector in the coming years through improved operational efficiency and wider market access.
The conference will address key questions surrounding AI adoption, including why, when, where and how AI should be implemented in textile operations. It will also examine the growing complexity of textile manufacturing, particularly with the increasing use of man-made fibres (MMF), which now account for nearly 72% of global fibre consumption compared with 28% for natural fibres. This shift is creating new opportunities for innovation while increasing the need for advanced digital technologies and intelligent process control.
International speakers from MAS Holdings (Sri Lanka) and Smartex.ai (Portugal) are expected to share global perspectives on AI implementation in textiles. The conference will also feature a keynote address by Dr. Sridhar Chitraju, Director and Chief Technology Officer, Center of Excellence (CTO CoE), Kyndryl and former IBM executive.
Senior representatives from leading textile companies including Raymond Lifestyle, KPR Mill, Arvind Limited, TT Ltd., and Krios Global are expected to share practical experiences of AI deployment in textile manufacturing. Research organisations and academic institutions, including SITRA, KCT, PSG and SVPIT, will present developments in AI-based research, pilot projects and industrial applications.
The organisers expect participation from more than 250 delegates, including textile mill owners, machinery manufacturers, component suppliers, industry professionals and academicians from across Southern India. Government officials from the Ministry of Textiles and MSME are also expected to participate and discuss policy initiatives supporting digital transformation and AI adoption.
ITAMMA stated that the conference is intended not only as a knowledge-sharing platform but also as a catalyst for innovation, start-up development, technology collaborations and business opportunities within the textile engineering and manufacturing ecosystem.
