We Replaced 90% of Imports in 8 Years” – Chetan Agarwal at PHDCCI Conference

As covered by Salil,Chawla, Director DFU Publications in the capacity of delegate on 30th June, 2026 "National Conference on Technical Textiles" organised by PHDCCI. Excerpts from the address by Chetan Agarwal – Activewear Expert, TEDx Speaker, Author & Founder, Positex Group:
"I have been importing a lot of these fabrics into India. What gladdens me most about this session is that for years I have largely spoken about import substitution. Today, the topic is scaling indigenous sport tech for global dominance — and that surely deserves applause.
The last five years have brought a massive shift. Earlier, brands depended on stock lot fabrics from Taiwan and later fresh fabrics from China. Today, India is perhaps the only country after China with a complete ecosystem — from fibre and yarn to garmenting.

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We now have yarn and machine manufacturing, knitting, dyeing facilities, dyestuffs, and all essential chemical finishes including antimicrobial and quick-dry, even at the yarn level. Coupled with our strong garmenting capability and the world’s largest and youngest market (average age ~29 years), we are in a very strong position.
My company, Positex, was 100% import dependent in 2018. In the last eight years, we have replaced nearly 90% of our fabric imports with domestic manufacturing. This journey mirrors the broader ecosystem growth. India now has around 15,000 knitting machines running on polyester — a rapid expansion seen largely in the last 5–8 years.
Reliance Industries has played a crucial role in building our polyester and innovative yarn capabilities. While challenges remain in consistency and scale, we are on the right path. What China achieved in 25 years, we are working to achieve faster as a nation.

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Importantly, today’s sport tech is not limited to the top 1% of Olympians. The real demand is coming from people like you and me. Technical textiles and activewear DNA are now enhancing every clothing category — from performance wear to formal suits and shirts.
The old taboo around polyester is fading, especially among the younger generation. Performance, comfort, and functionality are what matter. This shift, combined with our manufacturing strength and demographic advantage, positions India for significant growth in the sports and technical textiles sector."

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