Bangladeshโs textile and apparel industry must shift from low-cost, mass production towards higher-value manufacturing, innovation and efficiency to remain competitive in global markets, industry leaders said on Monday at a press briefing for the Textile Innovation Expo 2026.
The expo, scheduled for November 12โ14 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka, will bring together manufacturers, technology providers, brands, buyers, researchers and industry professionals to showcase new products, production processes and sustainable manufacturing solutions.
The call for innovation comes as pressure on apparel prices threatens Bangladeshโs traditional cost-based competitive advantage. Data from Eurostat cited at the briefing showed that the average European Union price per kilogram of Bangladeshi apparel fell 8.47% between January and July 2026, while Vietnamโs rose 11.76%.
Bangladeshโs ready-made garment exports have hovered around $38 billion, according to the briefing statement, as manufacturers face rising input costs and pressure from buyers to maintain competitive prices.
โThose strengths still matter, but are no longer enough,โ Enamul Hafiz Latfee, strategic and reporting lead at Textile Innovation Exchange (TIE), said in his press briefing statement, referring to the industryโs historical reliance on scale, cheap labour and low-cost energy.
The industry now needs to reduce production costs while improving productivity, developing higher-value products and changing Bangladeshโs image from a low-cost manufacturing base to a value-driven sourcing destination, he said.
The press briefing at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka brought together representatives of textile engineering, garment manufacturing and industry associations to discuss the expo and Bangladeshโs manufacturing priorities.
Participants included Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain, president of the Institution of Textile Engineers and Technologists (ITET) Bangladesh; Eng. Imran Kader Turjo, director of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA); Md. Abdul Hamid, president of the Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association (BGBA); Eng. Sumayel Mohammad Mallik, senior vice-president of ITET; Eng. A.S.M. Hafizur Rahman Nixon, secretary-general of ITET Bangladesh and a member of the TIE Steering Board; and Eng. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser, chairman of TIE and executive chairman of Textile Today Innovation Hub (TTIH).
The briefing highlighted innovation as a potential route to higher productivity, improved resource efficiency and stronger positioning in international markets. It also emphasised collaboration between manufacturers, technology suppliers, researchers, universities and industry associations.
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TIE organised theย event, co-organised by the Textile Innovation Center (TIC)ย in collaboration with ITET, in association with BKMEA and BGBA, and implemented by TTIH.
The expo will feature four thematic zones: Dyeing and Printing Innovation, Textile Materials Innovation, Garment Automation Innovation, and Green and Sustainable Technology Innovation.
Factory Innovation Pavilions will give local manufacturers an opportunity to present innovative products, factory-level programmes and practices aimed at improving production efficiency, productivity and sustainability.
An Open Innovation Area will provide a platform for researchers, universities, start-ups, innovators and factory engineers to demonstrate solutions to challenges facing the textile and apparel industry.
Organisers also plan to publish an innovation manual featuring examples and stories from exhibitors, highlighting how manufacturers and technology providers are responding to changing market requirements.
The expo is intended to go beyond product displays by connecting exhibitors with brands, buyers and other stakeholders to encourage business partnerships and the adoption of new technologies.
Six technical seminars will address sustainability management, synthetic and new fibres, digital product passports and traceability, textile recycling and blended products for circularity, productivity improvement, and energy conservation and green technology.
A separate plenary seminar will examine strategies for implementing systemic innovation across the industry.
Organisers expect the programme to feature around 14 keynote presentations and more than 40 local and international speakers from across the textile and apparel value chain.
The discussions are expected to cover ways to improve manufacturing performance, prepare for emerging traceability requirements, develop circular products and reduce energy consumption.
The Textile Innovation Award 2026 will run alongside the expo to recognise organisations and individuals contributing to factory-level innovation, technological advancement, product development and sustainable management.
The award will cover eight categories: Process Innovation, Manufacturing Innovation, Technology, Product Development, Marketing and Market Development, Environmental Sustainability, Social Sustainability, and Human Resources and Organisational Development.
The final categories and winners will be announced after the designated evaluation and selection process is completed.
Organisers expect approximately 50 textile, apparel and accessories factories and around 200 technology and solution providers to exhibit at the event. Attendance is projected at about 5,000 visitors, including 100 brands and buyers and more than 200 international delegates from over 30 countries.
TIE was inaugurated by Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on May 16, 2026. Its implementation arm, TTIH, has conducted more than 270 innovation projects across more than 80 factories over the past seven years, according to the organisers.
TIE operates through four wings covering innovation, research, self-readiness assessment and recognition, and exhibitions. Its factory-based programmes aim to build innovation capabilities among mid-level managers and improve productivity, efficiency and environmental performance.
Through the expo, organisers aim to strengthen collaboration between industry and research institutions and help Bangladesh compete in medium- and high-value market segments.