Woolmark India promoting wool to the textile trade

Bharat Tex is one of the world’s largest textile trade shows, attracting more than 6,000 international buyers and 120,000 trade visitors from 120 countries during its four days. It is an initiative of the Government of India aimed at showcasing and helping develop the Indian textile industry.

India is already the world’s fourth largest exporter of textiles and apparel. Its textile industry is the country’s second largest employer with 54 million people directly employed. Overall, there are 3,400 textile mills.

As the second largest importer of Australian greasy wool by volume, India is an important market for our fibre. Woolmark first opened its Indian office in 1966 and has operated continuously in the country for nearly 60 years. Today, Woolmark India works with more than 100 supply chain partners in all stages of the wool supply chain, helping cement Australian wool’s ongoing place in the country’s thriving textile industry and growing premium consumer market.

Promoting wool at Bharat Tex

To ensure that Australian wool was well represented at the Bharat Tex trade show, Woolmark participated in collaboration with Austrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission) with a booth highlighting Australia’s dominance in the production of fine Merino wool. This was Woolmark’s second year of collaborative participation at Bharat Tex.

The Woolmark booth was inaugurated by Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, John Southwell; Chairman of India’s Wool & Woollens Export Promotion Council (WWEPC), Romesh Khajuria; and IWTO Secretary General, Dalena White.

Australian and Indian wool industry and government representatives at the opening of the Woolmark booth at the Bharat Tex trade show in New Delhi. The key message highlighted at the booth was ‘Australia. The world’s largest producer of apparel wool. Crafted in India.’

“Woolmark plays a critical role in driving the increased take up of wool in the Indian garment and textile industry and we are pleased to support their endeavours in the country. We are delighted to partner with them all the way to ensure better economic returns to Australia’s woolgrowers – and those who support them,” said John Southwell.

At the Woolmark booth, the company showcased the natural and performance benefits of Australian wool, its latest wool product innovations, and its help for brands to source wool yarn and fabrics (see box below). There were plenty of in-depth discussions and connections with visitors from the textile supply chain to bring wool to the forefront of their minds when considering fibre and fabric choices for their future collections and product ranges.

This year, wool globally had a strong presence at Bharat Tex. In addition to Woolmark, eleven Woolmark-certified supply chain partners, and wool bodies from New Zealand and Britain, had booths. "I enjoyed so many inspiring conversations during Bharat Tex," said IWTO's Dalena White.

Connecting wool buyers and sellers

Indian suppliers and Japanese buyers at the Wool Connect meetings organised by Woolmark.

As well as the Woolmark trade booth, Woolmark India and Woolmark Japan organised an initiative called Wool Connect, which comprised special buyer-seller meetings at Bharat Tex supported by WWEPC. International buyers from Japan and Israel had 25 meetings with thirteen prominent Indian suppliers during the 2½ hour Wool Connect session which proved very efficient and was well appreciated by the Japanese and Indian partners.

The trade show was a success not only for Woolmark but also for its supply chain partners, who received better than expected business enquiries for wool products manufactured in India. There seems to be a strong willingness from brands to shift their textile supply chain to India, in addition to exploring the local consumer market.

“Woolmark’s participation in this mega event underscores its commitment to promoting Merino wool and fostering business connections between Indian manufacturers and global buyers,” said Romesh Khajuria, Chairman of India’s WWEPC.

This article appeared in the Autumn 2025 edition of AWI's Beyond the Bale magazine that was published in March 2025. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.