The 53rd Edition of the India International Knit Fair (IIKF) was organised by the India Knit Fair Association (IKFA) and the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) from 16 to 18 September 2026 at the IKF Complex, Tiruppur. The fair was held with the central theme, “The Future of Fashion through MMF, Innovation and Sustainability.”
The fair was inaugurated by Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC & IKFA and Honorary Chairman, TEA, in the presence of Shri. K. M. Subramanian, President, TEA; Ms. Rohini Suri, Patron, IKFA; Shri. N. Chandran, Chairman, Eastman Exports Global Clothing Pvt. Ltd.; Shri. V. Elangovan, Vice President, TEA; Shri. N. Thirukkumaran, General Secretary, TEA; Shri. R. Gopalakrishnan, Treasurer, TEA; Shri. Kumar Duraiswamy and Shri. M. Anand, Joint Secretaries, TEA;Executive Committee Members of TEA Shri. R. Ramu and Shri. K. Mezhi Selvan; and Mrs. Sruthika Sethu Madhavan, Chairman, Women Empowerment Sub-Committee of TEA along with members of AEPC and TEA, buyers, buying agents, exhibitors and trade members.
Around 50 leading exporters from Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Mohali, Noida, Ludhiana and other major textile clusters participated in the fair, showcasing a wide range of garment products.
During the press meet, Dr. A. Sakthivel Chairman, AEPC & IKFA and Honorary Chairman, TEA, and Shri. K. M. Subramanian, President, TEA highlighted that most exhibitors had showcased MMF products. He noted that global textile consumption comprises around 65–70% synthetic/MMF products, whereas India’s textile production is predominantly cotton, with around 70% cotton and 30% MMF.
He also highlighted the opportunities emerging from India’s FTAs and the expected implementation of the India–EU FTA in January 2027. He stated that the Tiruppur cluster needs to strengthen its MMF manufacturing capacity and ecosystem, as the industry is currently dependent on imports of MMF fabrics. He emphasised the need to develop and strengthen the MMF ecosystem in India to meet the growing requirements of the global apparel market.
