Ahmedabad: Textile traders and manufacturers have reported a robust beginning to the festival and winter booking season at Fabexa-2026, a three-day textile exhibition organized by the Maskati Kapad Market Mahajan in Gandhinagar. The event, which commenced on Friday, was inaugurated by BJP Gujarat president Jagdish Vishwakarma. During the inauguration, Vishwakarma launched a mobile application developed by the association aimed at preventing fraud in textile markets. This digital platform provides real-time details of blacklisted individuals, thereby protecting traders from bad debts. Vishwakarma also encouraged the local industry to expand its presence in international export markets.
Exhibition Highlights and Buyer Participation
Gaurang Bhagat, president of Maskati Mahajan, expressed strong optimism regarding the trade turnout. He stated that the exhibition features approximately 50 local brands from Ahmedabad and anticipates welcoming over 5,000 corporate buyers. To ensure high engagement, the organizers have sponsored air tickets and accommodation for nearly 800 outstation buyers. Bhagat noted that the show will help manufacturers secure business for multiple production cycles, extending from the upcoming festivals and winter 2026 into the summer 2027 season.
Challenges in the Textile Industry
Despite the positive outlook, Bhagat highlighted that profit margins remain under pressure as fabric production costs have surged by as much as 20% over the past year. This cost increase poses a challenge for traders and manufacturers, even as they look forward to a busy booking season. The exhibition is expected to provide a platform for networking and business deals that could help mitigate some of these financial pressures.
