The global apparel industry is in the midst of major disruption. Supply chains are being redrawn. Tariff wars are rewriting sourcing maps. Free trade agreements are opening new doors, global players like SHEIN are deepening their India play, manufacturing is formalising, and both demand and opportunity are rising across segments. And if there’s one place where this transformation is not just being discussed but experienced live, it’s the 5th edition of Apparel Sourcing Week (ASW), being held on 2nd-3rd July at the Sheraton Grand, Bengaluru. Today, Day 1 opened to a sea of buyers, brand leaders, manufacturers, and dreamers — all converging to build the future.
And this year, ASW came back not just bigger, but bolder. It wasn’t content being a sourcing platform anymore. It became a complete ecosystem.
For the first time, it hosted Textile Sourcing Week (TSW) alongside, a space dedicated entirely to yarns, trims, fibres, fabrics, and materials that are becoming as critical to a brand’s story as design itself. For material innovators and fibre suppliers, TSW became an exclusive stage they’ve long needed.
It’s also becoming apparent that the future of the apparel industry is being rewritten not just by established players, but by bold ideas, agile innovators, and emerging players. That’s where the Leap Summit at ASW comes in. Designed as a launchpad for new-age businesses, the summit gives start-ups, tech disruptors, niche manufacturers, and service providers a focused space to showcase their solutions and connect directly with decision-makers from across the fashion value chain. From curated exhibition pods to insightful masterclasses, Leap Summit is about acceleration, collaboration, and creating real traction in both the Indian and global fashion ecosystems.
Similarly, to celebrate breakthrough thinking, creative risk-taking, and the bold spirit of next-gen fashion minds, The ASW Designathon was created as an exclusive platform for designers, apparel brands, and students to showcase breakthrough fashion ideas.
After a rigorous evaluation process, where every single entry was reviewed in depth, we shortlisted 7 standout concepts for the grand finale. Each idea was judged on four key pillars: Creativity, innovation, practicality, and market relevance.
But the soul of ASW still beat strongest on the show floor, where over 150 of the most respected and forward-looking names in fashion manufacturing and solutions drew packed crowds and serious attention. Dollar Industries, Madura Coats, Vardhman Textiles, Vardhman Yarns & Threads (A&E), Inviya Spandex by Indorama, KS Spinning Mills, Lenzing Fibers, Nahar Industrial Enterprises (NIEL), Neelam Thread, Pratibha Syntex, Threadify, Usha Yarns, and Atam Graphics were just a few of the standouts commanding buyer attention. Alongside them, a strong line-up of solution providers showcased cutting-edge tools reshaping the business — including Coats Digital, Fynd, Fittex, Jaza Software, Jenixcloud, SIZIFI, SmartCommerce by Amazon, STITCH OPTECH, Streamoid, Tukatech, Turnkey91, UL Solutions, and many more.
Retail majors and buying houses — both Indian and international — had their teams doing walk-throughs, making notes, setting up follow-ups. Conversations weren’t about “ifs”, but “how soon”.
The action on Day 1 of ASW wasn’t just on the show floor — it was also in the conversations that shaped the day’s agenda. With over 100 speakers lined up across the two-day event, today’s panels tackled the industry’s most pressing questions head-on.
“Sustain It to Lead It” explored how sustainability is no longer a choice but a baseline — with traceability, transparency, and measurable accountability now expected from every serious supplier. “Shaping Garment Manufacturing in a Changing Landscape” brought out hard truths about cost pressures, automation, tech integration, and the need to reinvent skillsets. In “Future of India’s Fashion Retail,” leaders dived into the rise of private labels, data-led merchandise planning, and how Bharat-focused strategies are redefining store expansion and consumer experience. Meanwhile, “Small Order Quantities: Right Strategies for Startups” offered a grounded perspective on how younger brands can build efficient supply chains, even without large volumes, by leaning on trust, agility, and long-term thinking.
Moreover, the masterclasses, like last year, weren’t tucked away in some backroom. They happened right in the open. The setup was raw, immediate, and electric — no stagecraft, just substance.
Under the banner of Deconstructing Retail, the sessions cut straight to the core. The Gen Z playbook for 2025–26 was laid bare — shifting priorities, shorter attention spans, higher expectations. The audience didn’t just listen, they nodded, scribbled, recorded. Then came the deep dive into value fashion… not just about price, but about building smart assortments that balance aspiration with accessibility. And when the talk turned to Bharat — the rise of small-town retail models and how they’re shaping everything from store design to staffing.
But it wasn’t all business. As the sun dipped and the chandeliers came alive, guests filtered into the Gala Networking Dinner. Plates were full, but so were notebooks and calendars. Deals were discussed over drinks. Collaborations were seeded between conversations. For many, this was the real value — not just leads, but relationships.
As day one wrapped, the feeling was clear: this isn’t the India of cautious ambition anymore. The industry is moving. Together. And ASW 2025 — in scale, in curation, in energy — captured that beautifully.
