Desk Report:
The ‘Textile Innovation Award 2026’ is set to be held to recognize contributions to innovation, technical excellence, sustainable development, and product diversification within Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry. The awards will be presented on November 13. The event was officially announced for the second time during a press conference held on Wednesday (October 14) at the multipurpose hall of Dongyi Sourcing Limited (DSL) in Dhaka.
The primary objective of this award is to recognize innovative initiatives and organizations that have made a significant impact on the textile and apparel industry—covering areas such as production processes, technology, product development, environmental and social sustainability, market expansion, and organizational transformation. Through this initiative, the organizers aim to encourage effective innovation within the sector and create opportunities to scale up successful ventures.
In the inaugural edition of the Textile Innovation Award, held in 2024, several organizations in the country were recognized for their innovative activities. In that edition, Urmi Group received an award in the ‘Product Development’ category, Shasha Denims in ‘Marketing or Market Development,’ Masco Group in ‘Garment Processing,’ and Coats Bangladesh in ‘Human Resources and Organizational Development.’
Building on the success of the first edition, this year’s awards will evaluate innovative initiatives across eight categories: Process Innovation, Manufacturing Innovation, Technology, Product Development, Marketing or Market Development, Environmental Sustainability, Social Sustainability, and HR & Organizational Development. The organizers state that the initiatives will be evaluated not merely on the novelty of the underlying concepts, but also on their tangible impact, scalability, creativity, sustainability, and market relevance. Particular emphasis will be placed on initiatives that contribute effectively to enhancing productivity and product quality, optimizing resource utilization, fostering environmental improvements, unlocking business potential, and strengthening organizational efficiency.
A notable feature of this year’s event is the focus on identifying innovative initiatives directly from within industrial facilities. Factories participating in the ‘Textile Innovation Expo 2026’ will automatically be considered for these awards. Additionally, other factories that have implemented significant innovations may also be nominated directly. The final winners will be selected through a structured evaluation and screening process.
According to the organizers, while many factories across the country have already implemented effective innovative initiatives, these often remain unrecognized outside the respective organizations. By identifying, evaluating, and acknowledging these efforts, opportunities will be created to replicate successful solutions in other factories and scale them up to a broader level.
Dongyi Sourcing Limited (DSL)—a multinational apparel sourcing and exporting firm—has joined as the title sponsor for the ‘Textile Innovation Award 2026.’ The company provides a range of services, including international market sourcing, product development, manufacturing, quality control, and supply chain management. Mohammad Pabel, the CEO and Managing Director of DSL, has long been associated with the apparel sourcing and buying house sector in Bangladesh. Highlighting the importance of innovation, Mohammad Pabel stated, “We frequently discuss achieving an export target of $100 billion. However, reaching this goal cannot rely solely on increasing export volumes or producing conventional goods. The textile and apparel industry in Bangladesh requires a concrete action plan, enhanced research and innovation capabilities, and a greater focus on design and product development. Initiatives like the Textile Innovation Award will encourage manufacturers to transform novel concepts into practical solutions—a process that can boost the industry’s competitiveness while ensuring higher value addition for the country.”
A jury board, comprising industry leaders, academics, and professionals, has been formed to evaluate entries for the award. The board is chaired by Professor Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT).
Other members of the jury board include Md. Fazlul Haque, Administrator of the FBCCI; Dr. Md. Hasib Uddin, Director of the BGMEA; Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser, Chairman of the Textile Innovation Exchange (TIE); Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain, President of the ITET; Dr. Mohammad Hasan, Executive Editor of Bangladesh Textile Today and Managing Director of the Cotton Group; Engr. Tareq Amin, Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Textile Today; and Enamul Hafiz Latifi, Head of Strategy and Reporting at the Textile Innovation Exchange.
Speaking at the event, Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser remarked, “We must integrate innovation into our industrial culture. The Textile Innovation Award can serve to recognize practical solutions implemented within factories, promote promising new concepts, and inspire industry stakeholders to adopt fresh perspectives and pursue more ambitious goals.”
Professor Dr. Engineer Ayub Nabi Khan stated that such recognition would encourage the industrial sector to pursue innovation. Noting that similar initiatives are common abroad, he commended the organizers for undertaking this timely initiative.
Once the evaluation and selection process is complete, the final nominations, the various award categories, and the names of the winners will be officially announced.
The organizers anticipate that the Textile Innovation Award 2026 will contribute to fostering a culture of innovation within Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry. This, in turn, will enhance the industry’s competitiveness, add value to products, promote environmental and social sustainability, and create new opportunities for long-term growth.
