India Apparel & Accessories Fair 2026 Opens in Tokyo, Showcasing India's Export Strength to Japanese Buyers

The India Apparel & Accessories Fair (IA&AF) 2026 has opened in Tokyo, bringing together 156 Indian exhibitors and Japanese buyers to strengthen apparel trade, promote long-term business partnerships, and expand India's footprint in one of Asia's most significant fashion import markets.

India has reinforced its apparel export ambitions in Japan with the inauguration of the India Apparel & Accessories Fair (IA&AF) 2026, one of the country's premier business-to-business sourcing platforms for the Japanese market. The three-day exhibition, which opened on 29 July at Sankaku Hiroba, Shinjuku Sumitomo Building, Tokyo, brings together Indian manufacturers, Japanese buyers, retailers, importers, wholesalers and fashion industry leaders to strengthen commercial partnerships and expand bilateral trade in the apparel sector.

Organised by Japan India Industry Promotion Association (JIIPA) and supported by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), the fair reflects India's continued efforts to deepen its presence in one of Asia's most sophisticated and quality-conscious apparel markets. At a time when global supply chains are diversifying and Japanese buyers are actively exploring reliable sourcing destinations, the exhibition offers Indian exporters a strategic platform to showcase their manufacturing capabilities, innovation and commitment to international quality standards.

The exhibition was inaugurated by H.E. Ms. Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Ambassador of India to Japan, in the presence of Shri K. M. Subramanian, Chairman (EP), Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Executive Committee Members Shri Lalit Thukral and Shri Dilip Trivedi, representatives of the Japan India Industry Promotion Association (JIIPA), and other distinguished industry stakeholders from both countries.

Addressing participants, the event underscored the growing importance of India-Japan economic cooperation in the textile and apparel sector. With Japanese buyers increasingly seeking dependable manufacturing partners offering quality, sustainability and supply chain resilience, Indian exporters are well positioned to meet evolving market requirements through their diverse product offerings and globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem.

A major highlight of IA&AF 2026 is the participation of 156 Indian exhibitors across 159 stalls, representing a wide spectrum of apparel and fashion accessories. The exhibition showcases India's strengths in woven and knitted garments, women's and men's fashion, children's wear, home textiles, fashion accessories and value-added products, reflecting the country's expanding capabilities in design innovation, sustainable production and export readiness.

Following the inauguration, Ambassador Mallick toured the India Pavilion and interacted with exhibitors from across India. During her visit, she discussed opportunities for expanding business engagement with Japanese buyers, strengthening long-term commercial partnerships and enhancing India's competitiveness in Japan's premium apparel market. The interactions also focused on understanding Japanese consumer preferences, product quality expectations and emerging market trends that can help Indian manufacturers develop more market-specific offerings.

Japan remains one of Asia's largest apparel importing nations, presenting significant opportunities for Indian exporters looking to diversify beyond traditional markets. Unlike many global sourcing destinations where price often dominates purchasing decisions, Japanese buyers place considerable emphasis on quality, consistency, craftsmanship, timely delivery and long-term business relationships. This makes the market particularly attractive for Indian manufacturers that have invested in quality production, compliance standards, innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices.

The fair also serves as an important platform for direct buyer-seller engagement. Beyond immediate business transactions, exhibitions such as IA&AF enable Indian exporters to receive valuable feedback from Japanese retailers and importers, better understand evolving consumer preferences and establish relationships that can translate into sustained export growth over the long term.

The inauguration of IA&AF 2026 follows the successful momentum generated by India Trend Fair Tokyo 2026, further reinforcing India's expanding commercial engagement with Japan's fashion and lifestyle industry. Together, these dedicated trade platforms demonstrate India's strategic approach towards strengthening market access, promoting high-value exports and building resilient supply chain partnerships with one of its most important partners in East Asia.

As India and Japan continue to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, trade-focused initiatives in sectors such as textiles and apparel are assuming greater significance. They complement broader bilateral efforts to enhance manufacturing collaboration, encourage technology exchange and promote sustainable industrial growth. With Japanese companies increasingly exploring India as both a sourcing destination and manufacturing partner, the apparel sector is emerging as an important pillar of the expanding economic relationship.

The India Apparel & Accessories Fair 2026 therefore represents much more than a product exhibition. It serves as a strategic platform connecting manufacturers, buyers, retailers and policymakers while showcasing India's capabilities as a trusted global apparel sourcing destination. Through focused buyer engagement, institutional collaboration and long-term market development, the fair reinforces AEPC's vision of expanding India's global apparel exports and strengthening enduring trade partnerships with Japan.

As the exhibition continues through 31 July, Indian exporters are expected to engage with a broad spectrum of Japanese buyers, laying the foundation for new business opportunities and contributing to the steady growth of India-Japan textile and apparel trade in the years ahead.