How Fabric Innovation is Transforming the Apparel Industry

03 May 2023, Mumbai 

India has a long history with textiles that dates back to more than 5000 BC. Archaeological evidence shows that we had a wealth of resources and were at the forefront of supplying the finest textile items to the rest of the globe. Because it is the second-largest sector offering employment opportunities in both organized and unorganized sectors, this sector must be addressed.

What all you need to know

About 51 million people are employed directly, and 68 million are used indirectly by the textile industry. Two significant segments make up the textile industry. First, the unorganized sector includes handicrafts, sericulture, and handloom, all conducted on a modest scale using conventional equipment and techniques.

From Fiber to Fashion

A sector that is making an important transition to sustainability in terms of processing and raw materials. The second is the organized sector, which includes the spinning, clothing, and garments segments and uses modern equipment and methods, including economies of scale.

Innovative value-added fiber with unique features enabling magnificent drape, matt sheen, and lightweight that can be easily blended with other fibers, e.g. be it silk or cotton.

Diversity

With a vast range of textiles, techniques, and colors that reflect the various ethnic groups and cultural traditions found throughout the nation, the Indian textile business showcases the country's rich cultural legacy.

One of India's oldest industries, it spans a wide range of segments, from capital and technology-intensive organized segments on one end to hand-woven/hand-spun, unorganized details on the other. India is the second-biggest producer of silk and cotton worldwide and the most significant producer of jute.

The performance of the Indian textile and apparel industry today, as well as government initiatives and the sector's prospects, are examined in this article.

How Fabric Innovation is Paving the Way

Fabric innovation is revolutionizing the apparel industry by introducing sustainable, high-performance materials. Innovations like recycled polyester, bio-based materials, and biodegradable fabrics check the industry's carbon footprint while improving product durability and comfort.

The Next Wave of Fashion; Technical advancements like 3D printing and smart fabrics are also used to enhance production processes and create new, innovative designs. The future of fashion lies in eco-friendly, innovative fabrics that prioritize/balance both sustainability and functionality.

Making a case for 'Organic cotton' that is supposed to be a 100% natural and biodegradable material for brands having gone down on the brand's sustainability journey.

A New point of materials; dedicated to eco-responsible innovations in terms of technologies, applications, materials, and machines.

The Power of the Indian textile industry

India has one of the largest textile industries worldwide, with a sizable raw materials base and textile manufacture. Along with other essential industries, the manufacturing and trade of textiles play a significant role in our economy. The export of textiles and apparel accounts for about 27% of total foreign exchange earnings.

The textile and apparel industry contributes about 14% of industrial production and 3% of the nation's GDP. The textile sector contributes about 8% of the total excise taxes collected so much so that the textile industry is responsible for up to 21% of all employment created in the economy.

Enormous employment generator

The manufacturing of textiles directly employs around 35 million people. Another 60 million people could be used indirectly, including the workforce involved in trade and handling for producing agriculturally based raw materials like cotton.

Only the fabric's visual appeal, aesthetics, and wearability, as well as its durability, utility, and style, are essential to the consumer. The functional properties of the fabric for garment production and the cost of producing a garment are of concern to the clothing maker.

If the clothing manufacturer is a job worker or a manufacturer who sells clothing to consumers directly or indirectly, he will be concerned with all of the consumer values.

If the clothing producer is a contractor, then all that matters to him is the cost of production. In the case of a fabric maker, he is worried about the quality of the garment production work.

Importance of the raw materials

The primary raw material used to make clothing is fabric. Selecting the suitable fabric is a crucial step in the creation of clothing. The Fabric of Change; The quality of the fabric affects both the garment's quality and how simple it is to create a shell structure out of flat material. The hardest difficulty for the makers is choosing the proper kind of cloth for a specific garment.

The performance demonstrability of the latest trends in fabric development for the functional textile industry is all about the topical issue of current innovations in high-performance fabrics.

The functional fabrics segment is sustainably committed to mitigating & minimize the CO2 emissions for this type of fabric used in the apparel/clothing industry to define & re-imagine the Fashion industry's future.

Revolutionizing the Indian Apparel Industry

Therefore, it's crucial to comprehend how fabric characteristics impact the production process and the quality of the finished product. Overall, the poly-cotton fabric (PCF) market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for breathable, durable, comfortable, and affordable clothing/cost-effective apparel/clothing.

Fabric Innovation is Changing the Face of the Fashion Industry; Traditionally, PCF is supposed to be a product blending typically natural cotton and synthetic polyester and can have a harmonious blend of something as a ballpark 65% cotton & 35% polyester albeit, there is no such sacrosanct & the mix is supposed to keep changing for varied types of the product spectrum.

Setting the proper fabric quality is a crucial component of range construction. It will be costly if the rate is set too high and textiles that can represent at least 50% of the total cost of the garment are used.

Lowering the bar too much means you risk receiving many complaints and losing customers.

How Green Products are Reshaping the Apparel Industry

From Sustainable Materials to Smart Fabrics; Most simplistically sustainability strategy stems from the quest to re-wire, re-think & reimagine businesses for a “greener product” resting on the principles of imaginative/innovative fabrics/raw material and technologies enabling businesses to sustainably derive meaningful gains in the realms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

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