THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026

The Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision SA, one of the world’s leading international platforms for creative fashion, textiles and sourcing, have entered into a strategic multi-year partnership to deepen India-France collaboration and create new opportunities for Indian textiles in the premium and luxury global fashion market.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on September 2 at the Première Vision exhibition in Paris, seeks to strengthen India’s engagement with the global fashion and textile ecosystem across trade, sourcing, design, sustainability and heritage.

The agreement was signed by Dr A Sakthivel, Core Committee Member, BTTF and Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), and Florence Rousson, CEO, Fashion Division, Première Vision SA.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and Dr M Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), and was attended by industry leaders, leading designers, Export Promotion Council officials, Indian Embassy representatives and BTTF leadership.

The partnership builds on the Letter of Intent signed on July 14, 2026, at Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi in the presence of Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, translating the earlier vision into sustained institutional cooperation.

Première Vision, which has served as an international benchmark for the fashion industry for more than five decades, will provide Indian textile manufacturers, exporters, designers and artisans with greater access to international buyers, fashion houses and premium sourcing networks.

A key objective of the partnership is to help Indian textile businesses move beyond volume-driven exports towards higher-value, design-led and premium segments. Première Vision’s trend intelligence and global sourcing platforms are expected to help Indian enterprises align products with evolving international fashion trends and connect with buyers seeking sustainable and high-quality sourcing solutions.

The collaboration comes at a significant juncture for India’s textile and apparel industry, following the conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement in January 2026. The agreement provides preferential market access on 96.8 per cent of tariff lines covering 99.5 per cent of India’s exports, with 90.7 per cent of exports by trade value expected to become duty-free once the pact comes into force.

The European Union’s textile and apparel imports were estimated at around USD 292.8 billion in 2025, while India’s textile and apparel exports to the EU currently stand at around USD 10.4 billion. The proposed zero-duty access across textile and clothing tariff lines is therefore expected to open substantial opportunities for Indian exporters of garments, textiles, yarns and home textiles, while strengthening the country’s competitive position in the European market.

Rao said Bharat Tex, envisioned under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 5F Vision, has emerged as the world’s largest integrated textiles event, with a strong focus on trade, sustainability and investment.

 “This partnership with Première Vision is a natural progression, creating new opportunities to showcase India’s luxury textiles and rich heritage to Europe and the world, while benefiting artisans, weavers, designers, women entrepreneurs and MSMEs across the country,” she said.

Sakthivel said the partnership would bring Indian textiles closer to global markets while highlighting the country’s heritage and strengthening its sustainability credentials.

 “This partnership with Première Vision will connect Indian textiles more closely with global markets while showcasing our rich heritage and advancing sustainability, reinforcing India’s position as a competitive and responsible textile hub,” he said.

Rousson said the partnership would foster creativity, innovation and responsible sourcing while creating new opportunities for Indian and French stakeholders across the textile value chain.

Under the MoU, a Joint Steering Committee will oversee cooperation across several areas, including reciprocal participation of exhibitors, delegations, speakers and experts at both trade shows. The two organisations will also facilitate joint export promotion programmes, buyer-seller meets and reverse buyer-seller meets, besides exchanging market intelligence and developing stronger market linkages.

Sustainability will form another key pillar of the collaboration, with the partners working to promote circularity, traceability and responsible production and supporting sustainability initiatives at their respective events.

The agreement also places strong emphasis on India’s textile heritage and craftsmanship. Under an initiative described as the “Eternal Crafts Collaboration”, Indian and French heritage textiles and craftsmanship will be showcased to the international luxury and creative fashion community.

The initiative will include “A Living Thread”, scheduled for January 2027, bringing together artisans and ateliers to showcase Indian hand embroidery, handloom and allied heritage techniques alongside French textile heritage.

The partnership brings together India’s large manufacturing base, diverse textile ecosystem and centuries-old craft traditions with Première Vision’s international fashion, sourcing and trend network. It is expected to provide Indian enterprises with a stronger gateway to higher-value markets and reinforce India’s positioning as a sustainable, innovative and premium sourcing destination for the global fashion industry.