The 40th Garment Technology Expo (GTE) 2026 Bengaluru concluded on a highly positive note, bringing together the garment manufacturing ecosystem for three days of technology showcases, business interactions and industry engagement. Held from 18–20 September 2026 at Gayatri Vihar Palace Ground, the exhibition attracted over 13,000 buyers and trade visitors, with 225 brands showcasing their solutions across 70,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.
Co-located with the Leather & Footwear Technology Expo (LFT), the event provided a comprehensive platform for manufacturers, exporters, brands and industry professionals to explore the latest machinery, technologies and solutions across garment, leather and footwear manufacturing.
Focus on advanced manufacturing technologies
The 40th edition of GTE was centred on bringing global and indigenous technologies closer to India’s manufacturing clusters, enabling industry professionals to evaluate equipment and solutions through live demonstrations and direct interactions with technology providers.
The exhibition featured a wide range of innovations, including AI-enabled systems, automation, robotics, digital garment development, smart sewing solutions, advanced cutting and spreading equipment, embroidery technologies, sustainable finishing processes, cloud-based factory management and quality control systems. These solutions reflected the industry’s growing focus on improving productivity, operational efficiency, manufacturing precision and resource utilisation.
The event opened in the presence of prominent representatives from apparel manufacturing, garment technology and the exhibition industry. Their participation underscored the increasing importance of technology adoption, automation, sustainability and access to advanced manufacturing solutions in strengthening India’s apparel industry.
A meeting point for the garment manufacturing value chain
GTE Bengaluru 2026 extended beyond a conventional machinery exhibition, emerging as a meeting point for stakeholders across the garment manufacturing value chain. Garment manufacturers and exporters, apparel brands, production and technology heads, sourcing professionals, machinery manufacturers, solution providers, designers, students, educators and industry organisations participated in the three-day event.
The diverse participation encouraged meaningful discussions on factory modernisation, productivity enhancement, quality improvement, automation, sustainability and investment in next-generation manufacturing technologies. Visitors benefited from the opportunity to compare multiple solutions under one roof, while exhibitors gained direct access to manufacturing professionals seeking practical answers to their production challenges.
Live demonstrations drive technology evaluation
The exhibition floor remained active throughout the three days, with live machinery demonstrations, technology comparisons and buyer–seller interactions forming an integral part of the event. Manufacturers explored solutions designed to reduce downtime, improve material utilisation, maintain consistent quality, address skill shortages and increase production flexibility.
A notable feature of the exhibition was the growing emphasis on integrated manufacturing workflows rather than standalone machinery. Exhibitors demonstrated how connected systems, digital tools and automated processes could support better production planning, real-time decision-making and more efficient factory operations.
The technologies on display reflected a broader industry transition towards smarter, more connected and resource-efficient manufacturing, with manufacturers increasingly evaluating investments in terms of productivity, flexibility, quality and long-term operational value.
Strong participation from southern manufacturing clusters
The encouraging participation from southern India’s garment manufacturing clusters reinforced GTE’s relevance as a technology sourcing platform for the region. The interest in both international technologies and indigenous machinery highlighted the importance of accessible, application-oriented solutions for manufacturers with varying production requirements.
Indian machinery and technology providers also demonstrated their growing relevance in addressing domestic manufacturing needs and supporting evolving production demands. The opportunity to engage directly with manufacturers and evaluate equipment in a live exhibition environment further strengthened the business value of the event.
Strengthening the industry’s technology adoption journey
With its combination of live demonstrations, technology showcases and industry interactions, GTE Bengaluru 2026 provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and business engagement. The event highlighted the growing role of automation, digitalisation and integrated production systems in helping garment manufacturers respond to changing market expectations and increasing demands for efficiency, quality and sustainability.
The successful conclusion of the 40th edition reaffirmed the importance of industry platforms that connect technology providers with manufacturers and enable informed investment decisions. By bringing together established solution providers, emerging technologies and a diverse manufacturing audience, GTE Bengaluru 2026 contributed to the continuing evolution of India’s garment manufacturing ecosystem.
Shri Inderjit Singh Sahni, Chairman & Managing Director, Garment Technology Expo, said, “Bengaluru represents an important milestone in our journey of taking advanced garment technology directly to India’s key manufacturing hubs. GTE has evolved into a pan-India platform connecting technology providers with manufacturers within their regional territories. The response in Bengaluru reinforces the need for greater technology awareness and access to advanced manufacturing solutions among Indian garment manufacturers.”
Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Limited, said, “GTE provides regional manufacturers with direct access to technologies that can enhance global competitiveness, productivity and sustainability. The Bengaluru edition brings together regional manufacturing strength and global technology leadership while creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange, technology adoption, business networking and industrial growth.”
Smt. Rathi Sahni, Joint Managing Director, Garment Technology Expo, said, “The 40th edition reflects GTE’s continued commitment to serving the growing demand for advanced machinery, automation and smart production systems. Manufacturers visiting the exhibition experienced the latest technologies through live demonstrations and understand how these solutions can be integrated into their existing and future production facilities.”
Mr. Ambrish Chopra, Director, Garment Technology Expo, said “Bengaluru has shown that manufacturers are ready to move decisively towards smarter production. The strong response to AI, automation and live machinery demonstrates the region’s appetite for technology-led growth and gives us confidence to deepen GTE’s engagement with South India”
