The Global Gap That Led to the Sports Panty Innovation
₹12,000 Crore Activewear Industry Missed This: The World's First Sports Panty Launches After Decades-Long Gap
While global brands invested billions perfecting sports bras (69,555 monthly Amazon searches) and leggings, they completely overlooked sports panties (just 135 searches)—because the category didn't exist.

The Data: Amazon marketplace analysis reveals the gap: - US: 69,555 searches for "sports bra" vs 135 for "sports panties" (515:1 ratio) - India: 17,137 vs 23 searches - Australia: 488 vs no search volume The category wasn't just underdeveloped,it was nonexistent globally.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is pleased to announce National Startup Day 2026, to be observed on 16 January 2026, commemorating a decade of the Startup India Initiative.
National Startup Day 2026 holds special significance as it will feature the announcement of the results of the States’ Startup Ranking Framework 5.0, a flagship initiative led by Startup India, DPIIT. The occasion will also witness the declaration of results and recognition of outstanding startups under the National Startup Awards 5.0.
This landmark occasion will bring together startups, investors, incubators, accelerators, corporates, academic institutions, ecosystem partners, and policymakers to reflect on the journey of the past decade and to collectively shape the next phase of India’s startup growth story.

Padmashri Dr. A. Sakthivel, one of India’s most respected industry leaders and a pioneer of the apparel export movement, has assumed charge as the Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) for the fifth term in January 2026, marking a historic moment in his journey. He has been a board member of AEPC for the last 43 years.  

Through hard work, dedication and innovative trade practices he has sown the seed and nurtured Poppys Knitwear Pvt Ltd. to be one of the leading knitwear exporters of India.

Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, wished the incoming Chairman Dr A Sakthivel and said Dr Sakthivel brings a lot of joy to every exporter through his warmth and affection.

4th Global Textile Trade Fair USA

A unique and growing platform, organised for the Indians – by the Indians.
Connecting Indian textile excellence with the US market—bigger, stronger, and more impactful than ever.

Louisville
Event Dates: 5–6–7 June 2026
Venue: Triple Crown Convention Center, Jeffersontown, KY.

Global apparel trade & retail update report for December 2025.

Apparel Imports in October 2025:
US: US$ 7.4 bn, down 9% YoY (Sept 2025)
EU: US$ 8.4 bn, down 7% YoY
UK: US$ 2.4 bn, up 1% YoY
Japan: US$ 2.4 bn, up 10% YoY. 

India’s Textile Policy Push in 2025: Relief, Reforms and Readiness for Growth

As we wind down 2025: India’s Textile and Apparel Industry.
India’s Ministry of Textiles has highlighted a series of key policy actions in 2025 aimed at easing operational pressures across the textile and apparel value chain while strengthening global competitiveness.

Among the major developments, the ministry has withdrawn several Quality Control Orders (QCOs), rationalised GST rates, recalibrated export incentive.

Wazir Textile Index for H1 FY26.

WTI sales index has decreased by 4 percent
WTI EBITDA index has decreased by 2 percent
Consolidated sales of select top textile companies have decreased by 4 percent l Consolidated EBITDA margin as a percentage of sales has declined by 1 percentage point
Q2 FY26 compared to Q2 FY25

Consolidated sales of select top textile companies have decreased by 5 percent l Consolidated EBITDA margin as a percentage of sales has declined by 1 percentage point

AEPC Chairman's Charge: Apparel's Resilient Surge Amid Global Storms

AEPC Chairman Sudhir Sekhri's address at 'the 24th Edition of AEPC Excellence Honours' last Saturday, compiled by Salil Chawla-Director, DFU Publications, spotlighted apparel export resilience. In November 2025 alone, sports apparel grew 11.3% over November 2023—and 42% cumulatively. April-November 2025-26 R&D sports hit $10.8 billion, defying global headwinds.

He thanked Government of India for PM Mitra Park, GST reforms, labour laws, export missions, and FTAs boosting competitiveness. BharatTex emerged as a global platform with Ministries of Textiles and Commerce, uniting value chain stakeholders and cementing India's sourcing hub status.

Hon’ble Vice President pitches for FTAs and modernization of factories to boost apparel exports   

Confers award to apparel exporters for exemplary apparel export performance     

Indian apparel exports recorded a commendable 10% growth in 2024–25, despite global headwinds.

The AEPC Excellence Honours 2023–24–25 Event to reward outstanding export performances in the apparel sector was held on 20 December 2025 at Hotel ITC Maurya, New Delhi, with Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Vice President of India, as the Chief Guest. The Hon’ble Vice President addressed the gathering and congratulated the award winners. Twenty-seven companies were recognized for their exemplary export performances during 2023-24-25 and two individuals for their notable contributions to the Indian apparel export sector. Harish Ahuja of Shahi Exports Private Ltd. was awarded the gold trophy for the global export champion for 2023-24-25.

The 6TH FABRICS, ACCESSORIES & BEYOND SHOW l Your Gateway To India's Booming Apparel Industry

(India's Largest Fabrics & Accessories Sourcing Show)
Organised by CMAI
Event Dates: on 2ND, 3RD & 4TH April 2026 
Event Venue: at Bombay Exhibition Centre, NSE Complex, Goregaon (East), Mumbai- 400063 (India).

Hon’ble Vice President to be the Chief Guest at AEPC’s Export Awards Function.

The AEPC Excellence Honours 2023–24–25, instituted by the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), will be held on 20 December 2025 at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, with Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Vice President of India, as the Chief Guest. The Hon’ble Vice President will also address the gathering.

The awards celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Indian apparel exporters in building modern export enterprises and fostering a distinctive export culture anchored in quality, innovation, sustainability and diversification.

CTA Apparels applauds the encouraging progress reported by the Government of India on the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with the blueprint now in its advanced stages. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal confirmed that negotiations have been “very positive,” with both sides showing readiness to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement soon.

The European Union is India’s second-largest export destination for apparel, accounting for nearly 27% of India’s garment exports, valued at over USD 7.5 billion annually. Currently, Indian apparel products face import duties ranging from 8% to 12% in the EU—tariffs that key competitors such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Turkey do not face due to preferential trade arrangements.