TAI Mumbai Unit Seminar Highlights Innovation, Sustainability And Growth Potential In Technical Textiles

The Textile Association (India) (TAI), Mumbai Unit organised a one-day seminar on Future Trends in Technical Textiles on August 22, 2026, at Hotel Fortune Park Galaxy, Vapi, Gujarat, bringing together more than 200 industry professionals, experts, speakers and delegates to discuss the emerging opportunities and challenges facing India’s technical textile sector.

The seminar was inaugurated by Pramod Khosla, Chairman & Managing Director, Khosla Profil Pvt. Ltd. The event focused on the growing role of technical textiles across sectors including healthcare, infrastructure, automotive, defence, agriculture, aerospace, filtration, sports and marine applications.

Welcome Address by Mr. R. R. Patil, Vice President, TAI, Mumbai Unit.

Welcoming the gathering, R. R. Patil, Vice President, TAI Mumbai Unit, welcomed Khosla, keynote speaker Dr Ing. Mohit Raina, Managing Director, Raina Industries Pvt. Ltd., Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Vipan Kalra, Chairman, Madura Industrial Textiles Ltd., Industry Excellence Award recipient Chakresh Jain, Group President – Technical, Supreme Nonwovens Industries Pvt. Ltd., along with speakers, members of the press and media, and delegates.

Address by Mr. R. K. Vij, President, TAI

Addressing the seminar, R. K. Vij, President, The Textile Association (India), underlined the increasing importance of technical textiles in healthcare, infrastructure, automotive, defence, agriculture and aerospace. He said the future of the sector would be shaped by high-performance materials, smart textiles and sustainability.

Vij stressed the need for stronger collaboration among industry, academia, research institutions and government to accelerate innovation, testing, skill development and commercialisation. With its established textile manufacturing base and large domestic market, he said India has a significant opportunity to emerge as a global hub for technical textiles, innovation and advanced applications.

He called on industry stakeholders to convert ideas into partnerships, new products and commercial opportunities, expressing hope that the seminar would lead to greater collaboration and concrete action.

About Seminar by Dr. Gurudas Aras, Seminar Advisor & Trustee, TAI, Mumbai Unit

Dr Gurudas Aras, Seminar Advisor and Trustee, TAI Mumbai Unit, highlighted the transformative role of technical textiles in the Indian textile industry. He said the sector was shifting textiles from conventional products towards high-performance engineering solutions for infrastructure, healthcare, defence, agriculture, automobiles, filtration, sports and other advanced applications.

Aras pointed to India’s strong textile manufacturing base, skilled capabilities across the value chain and large domestic market as key advantages. He called for increased investment in research and development, indigenous technology, industry-academia collaboration, testing, certification and start-up innovation.

Inaugural Address by Chief Guest Mr. Pramod Khosla, Chairman & Managing Director, Khosla Profil Pvt. Ltd.

He said India’s ambition should extend beyond import substitution to becoming a global innovation and manufacturing hub for technical textiles. According to Aras, the transition from “textiles as products” to “textiles as solutions” would define the next chapter of the Indian textile industry.

In his inaugural address, Pramod Khosla highlighted the journey of innovation over the past four decades and India’s growing penetration into key international markets for high-performance textiles, particularly filtration fabrics and allied technical textile segments.

Dr. Ing. Mohit Raina, Managing Director, Raina Industries Pvt. Ltd. delivering the Key Note Address.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Ing. Mohit Raina, who said innovation in technical textiles requires a performance-driven and interdisciplinary approach to harness textiles for specialised applications in building materials, construction, infrastructure and the marine sector.

Mr. Vipan Kalra, Chairman, Madura Industrial Textiles Ltd. receiving The Lifetime Achievement Award by the hands of Chief Guest.

Raina also highlighted the importance of developing specialised raw materials and yarns, particularly for textile-reinforced concrete technology in India. His work in this field of technical textiles has received a national award.

Mr. Chakresh Jain, Group President-Technical, Supreme Nonwovens Industries Pvt. Ltd. receiving The Industrial Excellence Award by the hands of Chief Guest.

During the inaugural session, TAI Mumbai Unit felicitated Vipan Kalra, Chairman, Madura Industrial Textiles Ltd., with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Chakresh Jain, Group President – Technical, Supreme Nonwovens Industries Pvt. Ltd., received the Industry Excellence Award for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields in technical textiles.

Release of Book of Papers: Standing (L to R): Mr. Haresh B. Parekh, Mr. R. R. Patil, Mr. R. K. Vij, Mr. Pramod Khosla, Dr. Gurudas Aras, Dr. Ing. Mohit Raina, Dr. G. S. Nadiger.

Haresh B. Parekh, Convenor of the seminar and Hon. Secretary, TAI Mumbai Unit, proposed the vote of thanks.

Vote of Thanks by Mr. Haresh B. Parekh, Convenor & Hon. Secretary, TAI, Mumbai Unit.

Technical sessions

• Varqha Bagwan, Scientific Researcher and Country Representative – India, Fabric Production, ITA – Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University, Germany — From Traditional to Technical Textiles: A Transformation Roadmap for Indian Manufacturers.
• Shridhar Dixit, General Manager – Sales & Marketing, Yamuna Machine Works Pvt. Ltd. — Advanced Coating & Lamination Architectures for Technical Textiles.
• Manish Mashilkar, Sr. Manager – Sales, and Deepak Karade, Deputy General Manager, Textile Engineering Group – Processing, A. T. E. Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. — Warp Knitting Technical Textiles and Coating Technology for Technical Textiles.
• Manjiri Paranjape, Vice President (R&D), Rossari Biotech Ltd. — Elevating Athletic Performance with Textile Finishes.
• Anish Jiwarajka, Executive Director, Jiwarajka Textile Industries — Technical Textiles — From Yarn to Performance.

Technical Session I:
Sitting (L to R): Mr. Deepak Karade, Deputy General Manager, Textile Engineering Group – Processing and Mr. Manish Mashilkar, Sr. Manager-Sales, A. T. E. Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Mrs. Manjiri Paranjape, Vice President (R&D), Rossari Biotech Ltd., Mr. Anish Jiwarajka, Executive Director, Jiwarajka Textile Industries, Mr. Varqha Bagwan, Scientific Researcher | Country Representative – India, Fabric Production, ITA – Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University, Germany, Mr. Shridhar Dixit, General Manager – Sales & Marketing, Yamuna Machine Works Pvt. Ltd.

Technical Session II

• Avinash Misar, Director & CEO, Coreshield Industries Pvt. Ltd. — Emerging Growth Opportunities – Protective Textiles.
• Dayal Mehta Jain, CEO & Business Evangelist, Alliance of Indian Technical Textile Industries & Startups (AiTTiS), Country Head & CGO, AF. Corp., Taiwan — Startup Opportunities in Technical Textiles: From Innovation to Commercialisation.
• Paresh Shah, Business Head, Rabatex Industries Private Limited — Technical Textiles Innovation & Machinery Excellence.
• Abhishek Shankar Kamble, Director, Clean Globe India Pvt. Ltd. — Sustainability in Fashion / Textile & Certification.
• Sudipto Mandal, Regional Sales Director, Barmag India Pvt. Ltd., and Shridhar Dhumal, Regional Sales Director, Barmag India Pvt. Ltd. — Focus on Advance Machinery for Activewear/Sportswear | Bico-Component Yarn Demand, Fiber Architectures, Market Insights | Barmag Bico Spinning Technology & Concepts.

The presentations were well received by delegates, with participants engaging in both formal and informal interactions with the speakers on their respective areas of expertise.

Technical Session II:
Sitting (L to R): Mr. Avinash Misar, Director & CEO, Coreshield Industries Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Paresh Shah, Business Head, Rabatex Industries Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Sudipto Mandal, Regional Sales Director and Mr. Shridhar Dhumal – Regional Sales Director, Barmag India Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Dayal Mehta JAIN, CEO & Business Evangelist, Alliance of Indian Technical Textile Industries & Startups (AiTTiS), Country Head & CGO, AF.Corp., Taiwan, Mr. Abhishek Shankar Kamble, Director, Clean Globe India Pvt. Ltd.

Panel examines future of technical textiles

A panel discussion on Future of Technical Textiles: Innovation, Sustainability & Market Readiness was another key highlight of the seminar.

The discussion was moderated by Avinash Mayekar, Managing Director, Suvin Expo LLP, and featured senior leaders from the technical textile industry. The panellists put forward a number of ideas and perspectives aimed at supporting the future growth of India’s technical textile sector.

Technical Session III: Panel Discussion.
Sitting (L to R): Mr. Avinash Misar, Director & CEO, Coreshield Industries Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Tejas Mashruwala, CEO/President, Fiberglass Division, SKAPS Industries, Mr. Avinash Mayekar, Managing Director, Suvin Expo LLP, Mr. Chandrashekhar V. Kanade, Chief Operating Officer-Technical Textiles, Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Mahesh Bapat, Founder & CEO, Threads Technology India.

The panel comprised Mahesh Bapat, Founder & CEO, Threads Technology India; Chandrashekhar V. Kanade, Chief Operating Officer – Technical Textiles, Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt. Ltd.; Tejas Mashruwala, CEO/President, Fiberglass Division, SKAPS Industries; and Avinash Misar, Director & CEO, Coreshield Industries Pvt. Ltd.

The panel discussion was followed by a question-and-answer session, during which panel members and delegates exchanged views on the prospects for the development of technical textiles in India.

The Distinguished Audience

The TAI Mumbai Unit seminar at Vapi concluded on a positive note and was attended by more than 200 participants, reflecting the growing industry interest in technical textiles and their expanding applications across the Indian economy.