The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship of leadership for innovation, technology acquisition, and support mechanisms on innovation performance in the textile industry, focusing on Santa Catarina, a significant region in Brazil's textile sector. Drawing from a sample of 128 participants across five textile firms, we analysed the data using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) for hypothesis testing. The findings highlight the positive influence of innovation-centric leadership on technology acquisition. Additionally, technology acquisition improves the effectiveness of companies' support mechanisms and directly enhances innovation performance. Support mechanisms also have a direct positive relationship with innovation performance. In a highly competitive and evolving textile sector, the outcomes of this study guide textile company stakeholders toward more strategic innovation initiatives, which are essential for economic growth and sustainable competitive advantage.