TBT DESK: Textile Talent Hunt (TTH), a leading platform for nurturing young innovation in Bangladesh’s textile and apparel sector, on Tuesday launched its landmark 10th season, marking a decade of fostering research-driven ideas and industry-academia collaboration.

The new season was unveiled at a ceremony held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka under the motto “A Legacy of Innovation”, with sustainability positioned as the central theme. The launch followed the conclusion of Season 9 on November 12, reinforcing TTH’s growing role as a catalyst for innovation across the country’s textile ecosystem.

The programme is chaired by Professor Dr Md Zulhash Uddin, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX), who formally declared the opening of Season 10, highlighting the initiative’s strong academic foundation.

The event drew a wide cross-section of industry leaders, academicians and partners, reflecting the platform’s rising influence within the textile and apparel value chain. Among the special guests were Mijanur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Fashion Power Group and vice-president (finance) of BGMEA; Eng Ehsanul Karim Kaiser, executive chairman of Textile Today and convener of ITET; Moyeen Hyder Chowdhury, country manager of Puma Bangladesh and Pakistan; Engr Abdus Sobhan, managing director of Auko-Tex Group; and Faizah Mehmood, deputy managing director of Anwar Group of Industries and director of BTTLMEA.

The judging panel for Season 10 is headed by Prof Dr Engr Ayub Nabi Khan, acting vice-chancellor of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, as chairman, with Dr Mohammad Abbas Uddin Shiyak, assistant professor at BUTEX, serving as member secretary.

A key highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of a new Textile Talent Hunt logo, symbolising the platform’s evolution over the past decade. The launch concluded with a celebratory cake-cutting session, marking Season 10 as a significant milestone in TTH’s journey.

Centro Tex Ltd is the title sponsor for the new season, while Archroma is the “powered by” sponsor. Dysin Group and CHT have joined as platinum sponsors, Apna Organics Pvt Ltd as diamond sponsor, Sameet Dye Chem as gold sponsor, Denim Solution as silver sponsor, and Pure Chemical as bronze sponsor.

Participants of Season 10 will also be eligible for the Engr Akhtar Hossain Research Scholarship. COATS is supporting the prize money, while SGS Limited is the quality partner. Engr Akhtar Hossain was the founder and chairman of Swiss Colours Bangladesh Ltd and a widely respected figure in the textile industry.

A dedicated partners’ session at the event brought together representatives from global chemical brands, textile solution providers and manufacturing groups, underscoring the importance of collaboration in transforming innovative ideas into scalable industrial solutions.

With sustainability placed firmly at its core, Season 10 aims to promote innovations focused on resource efficiency, circularity, cleaner production and responsible manufacturing—aligning Bangladesh’s textile ambitions with global priorities.

As Textile Talent Hunt enters its tenth year, organisers said the platform would continue empowering the next generation of textile professionals, ensuring the country’s apparel industry remains future-ready, responsible and globally competitive.