Textiles are among humanity’s oldest industries. Few sectors carry such a deep historical legacy—and few remain as strategically relevant today as they were in antiquity.


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Like many Jewish families who arrived from Europe, my family history was rooted in textiles. It was through this industry that they were able to rebuild their lives in South America after being forcibly displaced. Textiles formed a core pillar of Jewish economic life in the diaspora, enabling survival and mobility. Yet many of these businesses did not survive in the long run, weakened by reliance on a single source, unreliable partners, and sustained price pressure.

Some will argue that textiles are a low-margin, non-strategic sector, best left to the cheapest available supplier. But history, personal and national, suggests otherwise. Israel today imports nearly all of its textiles, a reality that makes it worth asking not only where we buy from, but how wisely. India is uniquely positioned to be a natural textile partner for Israel, combining centuries-old textile knowledge with modern industrial capacity, strong government support, stable political relations, and the ability to supply both raw materials and advanced textile categories at scale.

Israel’s textile imports are highly concentrated. In 2024, most of Israel’s textile imports came from China, accounting for 45.5% of total imports, followed by Turkey at 8.3%, Bangladesh at 7%, and India at 6.4% of Israel’s total textile import market. This highlights a concentrated sourcing structure, with China as the dominant supplier and India firmly positioned among the top four partners—yet still with significant room to expand its role in Israel’s textile supply.

That direction is reinforced by India’s current policy framework. The 2025–26 budget raised textile sector spending by nearly 20%, alongside an investor-friendly regime that allows 100% foreign direct investment. Policy support is broad-based, including efforts to boost cotton productivity, strengthen manufacturing, and develop integrated textile parks. This momentum is reinforced by concrete platforms on the ground, from fully funded B2B meetings organized by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations to Bharat Tex 2026, organized by India’s Ministry of Textiles. Looking ahead, initiatives such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor further enhance long-term logistics and supply-chain reliability between India and Israel.

India is the world’s second-largest textile exporter, combining scale with skilled manpower, cost-efficient production, and technical expertise in a way few producers can replicate. That advantage is reinforced at the source. Abundant availability of key raw materials, gives India control over the earliest and most sensitive stages of the textile value chain. This integration is particularly relevant for Israel, where regulatory and procurement frameworks emphasize protecting local manufacturing, especially in security-related supply chains.

Defense and security-related sectors depend heavily on advanced technical textiles, performance-driven materials used across healthcare, automotive, construction, infrastructure, and defense applications. In 2024, India’s technical textiles market was valued at approximately USD 29 billion, ranking it as the fifth largest globally, with steady annual growth of around 10%. Supported by targeted government programs and industry investment, India is rapidly expanding its capacity in high-performance textiles, positioning itself as a reliable supplier in categories where quality, consistency, and compliance are critical. Israel, meanwhile, requires a steady supply of specialized raw and semi-processed textiles. Domestic regulations encourage local manufacturing of certain garments and equipment, and this production depends on imported raw materials that meet strict standards.

India’s strength in home textiles reflects centuries of specialization and craftsmanship. Regions across the country are associated with distinct techniques and materials, from Gujarat’s intricate embroidery to Kashmir’s fine woolen shawls and rugs, and industrial clusters such as Ludhiana and Panipat that anchor large-scale production. This capability is also scaling. Today, India accounts for around 4% of global home textile trade, with the sector projected to grow at nearly 9% annually, reaching approximately USD 23 billion by 2032. For Israel, this presents a practical opportunity to diversify sourcing in fabrics such as cotton sheeting, towels, bedding textiles, upholstery fabrics, and selected technical fabrics used in institutional and commercial settings. A natural starting point is direct engagement, encouraging Israeli importers, manufacturers, and designers to participate in trade fairs and structured B2B platforms in India, where long-term partnerships are built face to face.

Textile trade between India and Israel can do more than grow in volume; it can become a strategic pillar of their economic relationship. Textiles once built Jewish commerce. Today, they can guide more resilient sourcing decisions for Israel’s future.

Suzy Donskoy was born and raised in Colombia and moved to Israel at 18. She served in the IDF International Relations Unit. After her military service, she traveled to India to pursue yoga instructor training. Suzy graduated with honors from Reichman University’s Government School, where she was part of the Shlomo Argov Fellowship in Diplomacy and Leadership. She currently serves as Commercial Officer at the Embassy of India in Israel.