The eighth edition of a talent grooming competition titled Textile Talent Hunt was launched today by Textile Today Innovation Hub, a platform of a textile industry-based magazine Textile Today.

The organiser is expecting over 2,000 applicants for this year's contest, who will work on different sectors of the garment and textile industry throughout the year to innovate new products.

Finally, 100 will be selected as winners of the 2023 edition and they will be called Innovation Masterminds, according to the Textile Today Innovation Hub, which has been organising the contest since 2008.

The organiser opened the door for application submissions today at the contest's launch at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka.

Innovation and sustainability are no more optional issues in the 21st century, Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said at the event.

Now, it is necessary for the industry to continuously evolve with innovative products, he said.

The talent hunt competition is important for Bangladesh's apparel industry, which aims achieving the $100 billion export target by 2030, said Mohammad Ali Khokon, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.

Textile Talent Hunt in its previous season was successful in bringing out the right talents for the industry, said Tareq Amin, founder and CEO of Textile Today Innovation Hub.