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Article 2022-09-05

Fashion space & start-ups

04 September 2022, Mumbai:

The way we shop is changing thanks to fashion entrepreneurs. A lot is occurring in the fashion business, from tech-savvy customers to the industry's walls being broken down by technology given that the Post-Covid fashion industry is started to find its feet. The new paradigm is pushing companies to align and adapt to new consumer preferences on the back of the growth headroom digital/tech intervention is providing necessitating them to raise more money and embrace technology earlier than ever.
Fashion entrepreneurs are increasingly expanding outside eCommerce. The business is getting hotter. The advent of ‘Fashion Startups’ is changing the way consumer buys n shop. The trade is coming to a realization, of how Startups' arrival will be etched in history unraveling how fashion is produced distributed, and consumed by consumers of the day. Experts anticipate that the fashion industry will continue to grow and that fashion startups will play significant roles in this modernization process as the industry moves toward modernization and more startups emerge in the sector.

The approach to fashion trade is shifting thanks to fashion entrepreneurs. Many fashion startups are emerging, helping to transform the sector. Previously, these sorts of businesses were constrained by their enormous risks. Fashion startups are the newest businesses that market apparel/clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and other items that may be used to seem fashionable or nice. These firms continually bring about improvements challenging the established fashion industry business model to become a center of the newest and finest fashion. The semblance is that 'Fashion Startups' are been seen to drive innovations in the space such as VR fashion, AR apparel, AI & IOTs of the world.

Simplistically how do we describe what luxury means to you can be," very rich, pleasant, and comfortable surroundings". Most cutting-edge fashion businesses today have transformed from being an exclusive luxury of high society to a means of expressing personal style for people from various backgrounds. The technology here solves the issue of finding apparel/garments that suit one's body form, skin tone, and personal taste. As a result, fashion entrepreneurs now focus on producing unique items for each consumer. With new technology making it simpler for everyone to acquire what they want at a price they can afford, fashion companies are predicted to rule the globe in 2022. So let's explore the most recent developments and the businesses influencing the fashion industry's direction.

The evolving fashion business today contributes to the success of individuals in a society that is becoming more and more image-conscious. Catwalk events clearly are a communication funnel/a convergence between fashion designers & end consumers allowing designers exhibiting ideas, and merchandise on live models to live up to the experience.
Of late, Indian fashion startups are been witnessed to have reinvigorated the Indian fashion market because of inherent advantages, for instance, start-up costs are modest, and as in many cases, you won't require employees or even an office.

Fashion startups hack for curating niches in order to start getting a better fit is to try on. The desires of men and women who have trouble fitting into conventional clothes stores are the same. The cliche goes is," Fashion defines our personality and distinctively we as a person/persona/an embodiment". If you've ever had trouble finding the right fit or have a passion for bringing fashion to everyone, starting a plus-size apparel/clothing store may be a significant business venture.

It is anyone's guess that the entry barrier here is factors like attaining economies of scale (given little money/no capital in hand) in a space wherein its cottage industry/business may be conducted from a home in many cases on the one hand and product differentiation on the other. Undeniably the innate advantage of a home-based business is that fittings are more private and comfortable.
Pulse Check
The fashion industry today is grappling with multiple headwinds amid rising geo-political risk concerns fuelling supply-chain disruption, and slackened demand.
As per one McKinsey report,” From a geographic perspective, China was the standout performer over 2021, as its economy recovered much faster than those of other countries. In 2022, the industry’s growth will likely be driven by both China and the United States, while Europe lags behind”.
India has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing fashion markets over the past few years. It is projected to grow at 15 percent CAGR by 2022 and become a $102 billion market for apparel, as per a recent report.

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Article 2022-09-05

Indian exporters: Set to ramp up production capacity

03 September 2022, Mumbai:

Indian exporters are ramping up their production capacity. This includes getting into the manmade fiber segment, lowering their cost of production, and working on meeting global standards.

According to one PIB report published earlier," Merchandise exports from India have reached USD 417.8 billion in the current financial year. This figure excludes the figures from non-EDI Ports and adds that it is likely to exceed $418 billion, an all-time high in India’s export history.

India achieved the highest monthly value of merchandise export in March 2022 amounting to USD 40.38 billion, an increase of 14.53% over USD 35.26 billion in March 2021 and an increase of 87.89% over USD 21.49 billion in March 2020.

The exports have witnessed significant growth in non-petroleum goods also in April 2021-March 2022 which was USD 352.76 billion, an increase of 32.62% over USD 266.00 billion in April 2020-March 2021, and an increase of 29.66% over USD 272.07 billion in April 2019-March 2020.

Apart from a diversified range of merchandise goods exported during 2021-22, India’s merchandise exports have also seen a significant increase in different countries, especially, developed countries. Exports to USA, UAE, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, UK, Belgium and Germany grew by 46.4%, 66.9%, 64.5%, 90.5%, 26.8%, 7.8%, 28%, 90.4% and 21.1% respectively over April 2020- March 2021".

At one of the forums Hon'ble Textile Minister, Piyush Goyal said, " Notwithstanding the challenges posed by successive waves of Covid (2nd and 3rd wave), India’s merchandise trade performance has shown impressive growth and exports remained above USD 30 billion for twelve consecutive months from April 2021 to March 2022".

As per one fashionatingworld.com report," Indian apparel exports rose by about 32 percent from April to June this fiscal as against the same period last year. Free trade agreements with countries including the UAE, Australia, and the UK are expected to help neutralize the advantage which India’s competitors used to enjoy in some of the important markets. Now the apparel sector is awaiting the new Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme and the production-linked incentive scheme.

As per Niti Aayog's EXPORT PREPAREDNESS INDEX 2021 report," Despite the global factors, it is also heartening to see the success of our Hon’ble Prime Ministers’ economic Vision, AtmaNirbhar Bharat. The increase in domestic manufacturing capacity and competitiveness is helping India’s exports grow at a record pace. Case in point is Apparel & clothing (knitted or crocheted) - are some of the sectors with significant export growth rates this year".

Efforts are being made toward promoting the brand India on various global platforms as a trusted supplier by showcasing its strength in sustainability, circularity, and ethical sourcing. The demand for Indian textiles in the domestic and overseas markets is high. Especially after the pandemic, one sector under textiles that has really got a boost has been home textiles.

The seven mega textile parks that have been launched are aimed at reducing the high logistics costs as well as the fragmented value chain which obtains now. Most of India’s major exporting destinations like the US and EU are going for a China plus one strategy, which will prove to be beneficial for India.

As per one of the recently published articles,” Naren Goenka, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), has appealed to the garment industry to grab the emerging global opportunity by revamping production capacity, reducing cost, focusing upon MMF, and embracing best sustainable practices”.

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Article 2022-09-03

Possible value addition in Textile Industry

01 September 2022, Mumbai

The days when a consumer would simply choose a product based on its quality are long gone. There was a time when domestic market competition was comparatively relatively limited. The conventional wisdom cliche is," The world marketplace is continuously changing and so is the demand of people changing".

However, as globalization took hold in recent years, the level of competition and quality consciousness increased. Consumer needs gradually increased due to the constant advancement of technology and application standards. And to meet that standard, producers must add something to their goods to increase the value of those goods.

A product must be able to include additional features, and this has brought the market in the present day to a point where it appears very challenging for a manufacturer to market his product until he offers consumers something fresh, which not only rewards him for his innovative idea but also tempts him with a significant increase in profit.

This desire to create something innovative to boost profits, get a more significant market share or satisfy a craze might likely be described as adding value to textiles.

No gainsaying that without value addition finishes of textile products today it is no more viable/feasible to sustain in the given fiercely competitive global marketplace. In the same direction, the global apparel industry is also started to undertake new initiatives with all new zeal factoring in increased competition from other corners.

Change is the only constant

The need for individuals is always shifting, much like the global marketplace. Everyone wants to see some change. i.e., something fresh & different. Change must be implemented successfully and effectively in the market.

Through the use of this paper, we have made a sincere effort to present you with a thorough analysis of the value addition performed in the current finishing industries such as textiles by some of the new value addition processes in chemical finishing and mechanical finishing that have exploded this industry with opulent value added finishes and forced manufacturers to disregard all those antiquated finishing treatments that previously ruled this Industry.

One Research gate study mentions," Imagination, innovation, and technology take textiles to the extreme specialty applications".

Technology has limitless uses in industrial composites, electronics, medical apparel, protective gear, and performance outerwear and equipment. Super performance fibers most likely to replace metal parts for augmented functional properties are very evident.

The method produces breathable, soft, and compressible water and wind protection textiles for sportswear and equipment. Thermally conductive, conformal materials with exceptional handling properties are used in semiconductor and electronics applications, as well as flexible, lightweight reinforcing textiles with outstanding adhesive properties for the aerospace and automotive sectors.

As per one Research gate study," Beyond the basic demand, our appetite for smart T&A and our quest for comfort and a quality lifestyle seem to drive the growth of the T&A/T&C sectors from country to country".

Need of the day

The Indian textiles sector needs on a sustained basis to rewire, refocus, reimagine and concentrate on enduring sustainable value addition as nothing less than that shall do. There are no areas where water may hide, thanks to the encased fibers and the polymer barrier between the fiber bundles. As a result, the textiles are very windproof, water resistant, and breathable.

A sour point still remains is, " Unsustainable textile industry growth with the mindless impact it has on environment". As it is no more a well-kept secret that the Textile sector is a water-thirsty industry wherein exponential amounts of water are used throughout textile manufacturing processes. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, textile production uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually — the equivalent of 37 million Olympic swimming pools.

The popular acceptance today is that textiles also maintain their softness and flexibility in cold temperatures since there is no coating. Stretch fabric is a given, especially in women's apparel. For "body fitting apparel/clothes and figure regulating reasons whereas stretch yarns and fabrics are employed,".

Therefore, an electrometric core is added to basic yarns during spinning to generate core spun yarn, i.e., weaving stretch textiles for bottom weights and even shirting fabrics is no less than conspicuous value addition. Nowadays, lifestyle apparel/clothing impacts market segments that were once stable, like basic suits and shirts.

Trading economics one reports reveals," Textiles and clothing (% of value added in manufacturing) in India was reported at 8.5792 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators".

The general trade experts' observation & reflection is that" the textile industry per se is unable to tap its potential in accordance with its inherent capacity".

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Article 2022-09-01

Sustainable is achievable

31 August 2022, Mumbai

Sustainability today is a business imperative and yes an achievable goal too. To identify the issues and find solutions, brands and retailers must collaborate with their suppliers.

Adopting more sustainable practices & materials in textiles would be the first start. However, it may have a load factor & might increase base prices by 5–10%. It is a domino effect on the rest of the sector.

Larger orders will result from large businesses sourcing more ethical fabrics & responsibly for their collections, lowering the total production cost and making the product more affordable for the general public.

The case in point is H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, the Swedish Brand is making remarkable attempts to integrate sustainability into every aspect of its operations and attempting to lessen its activities' environmental effects. The fashion brand has undoubtedly realized that carrying on with business as usual, concentrating exclusively on short-term profits, utilizing raw resources inefficiently, disrespecting human rights, and taking without giving back are not the ways to build a successful company in the future.

ZARA, a Spanish retailer, is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly companies in the world. In addition, building ecologically friendly stores outfitted with cutting-edge energy-saving technology to reduce CO2 emissions has brought the retailer to the forefront of being among the top global brands working towards a sustainable future. Sustainability and environmental management have been among Inditex's strategic variables since 1995. In response to public criticism and Greenpeace's Detox campaign, the apparel brand has agreed to eliminate hazardous chemical discharge from its supply chain and product by 2020.

Shahi Exports, one of GAP's most prominent suppliers in India, promised to give P.A.C.E. training to all 60,000 employees by the end of 2020. Along with Walmart and The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc., US is one of the first three US businesses to donate $ 40 million to help those affected by the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh In April of 2013, which resulted killing 1,132 people and maiming more than 2,500 others it & such events can't continue for long.

The retailers these days closely supervise the production of clothing at various locations and how it is packaged and sent to the design of the stores in terms of environmental responsibility.

'Sustainable development for the planet is not a luxury anymore but it is a necessity now.' Living sustainably is now a need to protect the environment for future generations. It is the responsibility of every one of us to change the way we live to be able to lessen the carbon impact. The same is true for the textile and fashion industries. Embracing sustainability is like asking the fashion industry/luxury to become more disciplined & go down a path in terms of being responsible and resilient.

The fashion industry is seeking alternatives to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Utilizing eco-friendly materials can help to attain sustainability in the textile and fashion industries & quite a few major manufacturers have now started using recycled fabrics & so and so forth. They are developing eco-friendly materials with a reduced carbon footprint via deliberate cooperation to close the gap between fashion and other sectors.

A Sustainable Future Is Possible

The overarching theme of planet sustainability certainly starts with you, around you, and influencing & inspiring others. The big talking point is that a circular economy is going to be the bedrock of any trade be it luxury/fashion business(es) & forceful, rapid actions are the need of the day.

This article presents an illustration of these ideas and highlights the tradeoff between sustainability and challenges in the achievement of this goal.

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Article 2022-08-31

Brand acquisition & house of brands

03 September 2022, Mumbai:

The brand acquisition seems to be the flavor of the day. Aditya Birla and Reliance Group, two of India’s prominent business groups have recently invested in designer brands like Manish Malhotra, House of Masaba, Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi, and Anamika Khanna.

Both groups seem to be more inclined towards luxury brands, though they have also invested in a few premium ones, says an Inventiva report.

BRANDED HOUSE VS HOUSE OF BRANDS

As per Mahesh Singh, Founder and Managing Director, Singhi Advisors these acquisitions will give Reliance Brands and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL), a chance to expand their product lines while offering the designer brands an opportunity to open more stores, introduce new products, etc.

Steady growth in the fashion industry

The Indian fashion industry has been growing at a steady rate despite a curb on weddings due to the pandemic. As per the market research company Euromonitor International, the Indian fashion market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15 percent between 2021 and 2026.

Both Reliance Brands and ABFRL have been trying to get a piece of this growth pie. For the last few years, they have strengthened its position through new acquisitions and partnerships.

For instance, ABFRL invested in the House of Masaba to boost its beauty and personal products range. The acquisition helps the company acquire a well-known brand and a well-established consumer base.

Through these acquisitions, both these groups plan to widen their price range to include consumers from all social and economic strata. For instance, ABFRL offers a mix of brands like Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Jaypore, and Sabyasachi Couture for women.

One ET study refers," In Q1 2021, $1.3 billion of VC funding was raised by D2C brands in the US, with India at $500 million. The hyper-accelerated D2C Brands explosion made way for many disruptions, with The hyper-accelerated D2C Brands explosion made way for many disruptions, with ‘‘.

Widen products and market reach

Such collaborations benefit designer brands by allowing them to sell and distribute products across the world through big companies. They help brands consolidate their market position and unlock some value. Meanwhile, conglomerates like ABFRL and Reliance Retail are able to offer more choices in clothes, points out Aditya Chaudhury, Partner, and Argus Partners.

Investing corporate money into the designer clothing industry also offers more expansion opportunities to designers. For instance, known for its bridal lehengas, Sabyasachi Couture launched its jewelry line in 2017.

The designer brand also launched a fast fashion range in August 2021 in collaboration with H&M. Designers can also explore new markets by introducing affordable clothing or jewelry range. This ensures their clothes are bought by more number people.

Build omnichannel networks

Brand acquisition by corporate houses also helps them build omnichannel networks and adopt a direct-to-consumer approach. For instance, the strategic purchases of Genesis Luxury and Brooke Brothers help Reliance form partnerships with Burberry, Coach, Jimmy Choo, Diesel, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, etc.

The paper intends to explore the basics of Brand Architecture getting readers valuable trade insights with a handful of examples. However, corporate acquisitions aren’t limited to luxury brands alone as affordable brands like Clovia, were bought by Reliance for ten times its sales this year and Amante for the same amount in 2021. Similarly, ABFRL bought Phillipe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England, Forever 21, etc.

Both groups prefer to buy brands rather than make them. To sustain its growth momentum, they need to widen its price range to serve a wide range of consumers. They also need to retain the core value of couture brands while growing them.

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Article 2022-09-03

Fashion Industry & Digitisation

01 September 2022, Mumbai

The case of the fashion industry is that ‘The prime economic driver is the fashion sector’. Fashion firms and enterprises have been accelerating their pace and incorporating sustainability into their operations to keep up with the current market trends. The fashion sector has difficulties due to sudden shifts in customer wants. As per one Deloitte report," Many fashion brands take a fragmented approach to digital transformation, focusing on digitizing processes or isolated functions.

For a fashion brand, digitization means re-imagining how shopping in a digital world should play out, rather than merely digitizing the shopping process for a physical world". The digital transition is greatly impacting almost every industry. Effective data management or business management are just two aspects of this transition: cost savings and improved productivity.

After studying the possibilities of digital technologies, fashion firms have started integrating technology into every aspect of their operations, from manufacturing to post-production. Geographical limitations are no longer an issue thanks to technology, as customers can now shop anywhere.

Influencers in fashion often purchase items for a single shot. Trends in fast fashion change swiftly. It ultimately hurts the ecosystem. Albeit for a fine fashion brand, there is a case that geographical location is still the cornerstone for critical mass physical space retail demand. At the same time, virtual apparel/clothing may only be worn digitally and is represented by a file of code.

Following the paradigm changes for any fashion brand, the consumer-facing user experience starts with touch points. It is highly likely that the smart consumers of this digital era will be provided with tech interventions like using virtual fashion, also influencers may save money while experimenting with different looks and standing out from the crowd.

By using virtual fashion, designers may test out novel and unusual materials that aren't often utilized in the actual world. Wood, diamond, liquid silver, and even fantastical materials like belts made of unicorn or dragon skin can be used for experimentation. The business is thus one step closer to sustainability thanks to virtual fashion.

Fashion brands mostly employ digitalization in the business to produce digital apparel before producing actual items. Brands can produce more designs in less time without having to wait for manufacturing with its assistance.

Digital apparel/clothes may also be used to overlay or superimpose clothing items on images of humans or individuals in movies. Even if digitization is not yet widely used in the fashion sector, it may be by the end of the next ten years as the big revelation is that Digitalization is an integral part of the daily lives of any fashion consumers. Reports one McKinsey study," Amid the pandemic, the apparel, fashion, and luxury (AF&L) industry has moved quickly to address urgent consumer needs on the back of business enterprises digitizing".

A deepening digital divide

Another Mckinsey report states," Our consumer-sentiment surveys, conducted in April, show declines in purchase intent of 70 to 80 percent offline and 30 to 40 percent in online in Europe and North America, even in countries that haven’t been under full lockdown". For them, embracing digital transformation is a pressing matter of time as consumer expectations are at an all-time high.

They expect an experience to go along with their purchases rather than just a straightforward transaction, and the digital technologies they are exposed to are to blame for this. They want to engage with, be a part of, have an impact on, and personally represent the businesses they purchase from.

They give greater thought to their appearance in public and on social media and how others perceive the brands they use and possess. There is no denying that most consumers utilize social media platforms to advertise their purchases before, during, or after making them.

One of the McKinsey studies underlines the message," Digitization won’t be a panacea. Companies should make direct investments to the areas in which the highest business value lies—which might not be in sales but rather elsewhere in the value chain".

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Article 2022-09-01

Autumn/Winter 2023: Color forecast

31 August 2022, Mumbai:

Whether edgy, eccentric, or subdued, fashion varies with the season. The epidemic and worldwide lockdowns will allow Autumn/Winter 2022–23 to break free and provide a variety of hues that have been modified for fashion. As we put the troubled times behind us, it's time to make a fresh start and weave new perspectives into our lives and wardrobes.

Autumn winter colors

The preponderance of actual colors for fashion shops for Autumn/Winter 2022–23 has been released by WGSN (the global authority on trend forecasting) and Coloro (Universal Color System). According to trend predicting authority WGSN, the gorgeous color palette for Autumn/Winter 2022–2023 will consist of orchid blossom, honeycomb, lazuli blue, jade, and dark oak.

Autumn Winter Core Classic Colors for 2022

There is a trend toward experimenting with bright, vivid colors to contrast the neutral tones of winter and fall. According to Pantone Color Institute experts, colors for Autumn/Winter 2022–23 emphasize offering tranquility and restoring serenity, celebrating life, and reflecting the chaotic era of a pandemic.

As per one new tess report," Pantone's fall/winter 2021-2022 colors have been dubbed 'energizing' and 'uplifting' and appear brighter and less restrained than last fall's". The vibrant shades and colors are ideal for fashion companies to invest in since they symbolize a celebration of life and vigor. For Autumn/Winter 2022 - 23 fashion shops should concentrate on five color trends 2022.

The pink color is calming, lively, and delicate, complementing the autumn's earth tones and winter's stark white background. To make the air more cheerful in 2022, fashion merchants must invest in creating and acquiring pastel pink clothing. Muted pastel colors are now again popular and are no longer just associated with ladies.

Designers may add a unique spin to the pink color by adding quirky images, geometric forms, or elaborate patterns to clothing. A fantastic and enjoyable method to play with fashion is to pair the soft pastel pink with bold hues or neon colors. Soothing, comforting, and evoking familiarity, pastel pink is.

Jade green is one of the 2022 color trends to take into account for A/W. The hue has a strong tone that fosters good harmony and calm as well as healing and purifying energies.

Jade's natural green nourishes both physical and mental health and has a grounding effect. It liberally incorporates the winter mist and mixes in wonderfully with the deep, autumnal color palettes. Jade green is a great option for fashion companies looking to branch out from their classic green hues. For uncomplicated designs, fashion items and accessories in jade are calming and soothing colors.

Every season, blue continues to be popular in many tones. Lapis blue, however, is one of the fantastic color trends for 2022 for fashion investors.

The striking hue conveys regal and therapeutic qualities and weaves the enchantment of colors as the leap from summer to fall to winter. It has a vivid blue color and the ideal amount of darkness. Its rich, powerful hue draws attention with its vibrant, captivating appearance.

Lazuli blue's deep, rich colors are inspired by the priceless pigment ultramarine and exude luxurious delight.

Investors in fashion should put their money on the many tones of red. Red is constantly in trend thanks to its powerful, bold, and vibrant hue. A hue that connotes joy and celebration also connotes bravery and confidence. Red that is bright, saturated, and muted is known as "jewel tone" red. Red is a vibrant winter hue that should be incorporated into the clothing. Although there are many shades of yellow, fashion merchants must invest in the appropriate one to create the trend for A/W 2022–23.

The color forecast for the coming winter shows that yellow knitwear will probably be popular. The year 2022 began with pastel yellow hues in the spring and is anticipated to change into more robust, brighter yellow shades by the year's conclusion. Yellow is a cheerful, upbeat hue that makes you feel good. Here are two yellow shades in which fashion shops must make an investment to set the trend.

Fall winter color trends 2022

Fashion shops must always watch for popular hues and use the color forecast to choose the appropriate tones. All the aforementioned color hues mentioned in the essay are vivid and vibrant and immediately catch readers' eyes.

A wonderful approach to rejuvenate, revitalize, and freshen the enduring colors with a small adjustment is to use the seasonal palette, which includes five important colors according to the prediction. To create the greatest fashion apparel/garments and accessories on the market, fashion merchants must draw inspiration from color tones.

In retail businesses, the colors follow trends and highlight the best designs. It's time to experiment, investigate, and perk up the atmosphere with a feeling of novelty and new viewpoints.

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Article 2022-08-31

Srilanka: Offers competitive advantages in lingerie manufacturing, Wacoal reports

02 September 2022, Mumbai

Wacoal, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality, plus-size lingerie and bra-sized swimwear for the European market, eyes for one location in particular – Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an integral part of Wacoal’s manufacturing Strategy.

The Company, a market leader in the plus-size lingerie categories, promotes inclusivity and body positivity via women’s intimate wear with its extensive brand portfolio for Wacoal Europe which includes Wacoal, Fantasie, Freya, Elomi, and Goddess.

“We initially came to Sri Lanka in 2005 through a partnership with a leading Sri Lankan manufacturer,” recalls Supply Chain Director of Wacoal Europe Andrew Yeomans. “We have been continually upscaling our operations in Sri Lanka and now employ more than 1200 in our team.”

Despite the recent challenges faced by the island nation, production volumes of Wacoal Lanka – the Sri Lankan entity – have been maintained. Wacoal is eyeing further expansion of its manufacturing base in Sri Lanka, with two additional production lines being added in the coming months. In tandem, the company continues to invest in new technology.

Sri Lanka recently initiated a dedicated fabric processing zone in its Eastern Province, which conforms to high standards of environmental protection and sustainability.

Besides strengthening the supply chain and sustainability measures, this move will also enable the country’s apparel exporters to make greater utilization of preferential tariff schemes, by increasing local value addition.

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Article 2022-09-02

Cutting edge: 3D Printing in fashion design

31 August 2022, Mumbai

3D printing opens all new avenues & vistas for the fashion industry supporting, adding hack technology to the hitherto adopted conventional techniques. Today various sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical & dentistry, use 3D printing. It is also ideal for use on Merino wool apparel/garments and presents the new potential for fiber.

A case in point is designers can combine the creative flexibility of 3D printing with the comfort, lovely drape, and organic performance to help create relentlessly a line emphasizing graceful, florid shapes of Merino wool & its blend materials. While the fiber's exceptional comfort, wearability, and performance are also maintained offering many new aesthetic options, dynamism & movement all thanks to 3D printing, according to AWI's Research & Development Manager for Europe, Birgit Gahlen.

As per one parametric-architecture report," The efficiency of parametric and generative designs, computational design can be enhanced with the aid of 3D printing tech".

With this technology microscopic precision is produced leading designers to create any intricate forms and textures they wish to choose, curating delicate ornamental elements and intricate detailing using distinctive gradient colors, base fabric can provide novel aesthetic effects such as cryptic shimmer effects & transparency.

Historically when 3D printing initially entered the fashion industry, the procedure took a while the uptake & one of the initial attempts to produce a piece of clothes using 3D printing required the printer to run continuously for 7 whole days as flexible printing materials were also not available at that time for 3D printers. But technology has advanced since then. Flexible printing material is also now available, and no longer it takes as long. Today More & more 3D printed clothing became available to the general public.

The world is well on its way to consolidating introducing it by Stratasys FDM TPU 92A - an elastomer 3D printing material engineered for prototyping, which it can be cleaned and ironed exactly like regular clothing & another flexible material been used to create 3D-printed apparel is FilaFlex. Selective laser sintering is also been used to produce the majority of 3D-printed clothes.

Furthermore, reinforcing the capacity to create elaborate patterns and achieve a high level of intricacy with 3D printing is absolutely critical for the fashion and textile industries of the day.

The smoothness & flexibility of 3D-printed clothes still somehow lag behind that of cotton or Lycra, As a result, accessories make up the majority of 3D-printed clothing and visible use cases are in products including footwear, jewelry, and eyeglasses & early users of 3D printed dresses are shifting their focus toward accessories.

Since designer pricey clothing is tailored to match your figure implying that couture or designer clothing is uncommon, distinctive, and somewhat challenging. All of those equations may be altered by 3D printing enabling the broad adoption of the notion of customized apparel.

The domain of wealthy elite homes is now accessible to the typical homeowner. Additionally, 3D-printed clothes promise to save waste and be eco-friendly. As it is immensely known that many textile scraps are been used in traditional design resulting in destruction & process is also prone to generating significant water contamination from the kind of dyes being used to color apparel/garments.

In the global backdrop of the water crisis & considering the immense water need for the production of textiles and its allied materials. Notwithstanding the innate reality that air pollution is also a significant issue in countries that produce a lot of fabrics, like China. Thus the importance of 3d printing cannot be overemphasized.

The upside of 3D cutting edge is well anchored today & already showing up its good side e.g. imaginative innovation is now possible for designers, faster turnaround & few geometrical restrictions are necessary to create wearable apparel besides eliminating several constraints designers had to deal with in the real world e.g. small batch sizes, etc.

3D Printing & Fashion Space Exploration

On the back of it any fine apparel/garment or fashion firm typically these days can execute orders for anything like a 40-foot container of clothing or shoes, especially in Bangladesh, Vietnam, or China.

Fashionable objects can also be expected to be produced on demand or in small lots thanks to 3D printing as in natural outcome in the journey. With such inherent developments, budgeting & the need for working capital may shift dramatically enhancing business efficiency & productivity.

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Article 2022-08-31

Animal cruelty & shameless fashion brands

29 August 2022, Mumbai

"Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way." - PETA.

The concept of veganism has become popular worldwide, not just in the much-discussed food industry but also in the fashion world, suggesting the aware consumer's emergence. Even while vegan eating habits have been made fun of in the media, incorporating that idea into the design is more than simply a fad to win popularity among peers.

The term "vegan fashion" refers to producing apparel and accessories without inflicting cruelty on animals during production, testing, or product creation. It is essential to highlight that this market, despite catering to a specific demographic, is welcomed with open arms in industrialized countries where market growth is out of this world.

The vegan market is receiving significant investment from nations including the US, UK, Germany, and France. By the end of January 2019, the UK saw a 5% increase in items labeled as "vegan," according to the London-based retail technology company Edited. With just an 11% increase yearly, the US may have lagged behind other economies in displaying such strong growth, but it already offers a much more comprehensive range of vegan goods.

The French economy grew by 12%, but Paris, the world's fashion capital, has pledged to become the center of sustainable fashion by 2024, which will inevitably lead to a rise in the availability of vegan goods on the market. Denmark, which has experienced a 320 percent growth in items labeled as vegan, is another nation keeping an eye on this rapidly growing market.

The luxury market has not been the only one attempting to usher in the transition. One of the first high street businesses to register items with The Vegan Society's Vegan Trademark, New Look debuted a collection of 500 shoes, bags, and accessories. All components that could be present in textiles, threads, glues, dyes, and treatments are excluded from New Look's registered goods. They have also ensured that no animal experimentation was done during the production of the items and their components. According to reports, the corporation has also pledged to change details and lessen its dependency on substances produced from animals to register as many of its non-leather products as they can.

Marks & Spencer has been honored by PETA with the title of "Vegan-Friendly High Street Retailer" in recognition of its efforts to promote veganism. For clients who adhere to the vegan lifestyle, M&S has expanded its product selection to include vegan-friendly alternatives in food and clothes. Over 50 vegan recipes are available in the retailer's Plant Kitchen brand, while M&S debuted an accessible collection of 350 different types of vegan shoes in early March 2020.

These days, wearing items made from animals harms the wearer and the animals. To transform animal skin into completed leather, several more hazardous compounds, such as mineral salts, formaldehyde, derivatives of coal tar, and numerous oils, dyes, and finishes—some of which are cyanide-based—are used. Leather is one of the worst materials for the environment. As a healthier alternative, several companies, like Zara, Stella McCartney, and Bebe, have shifted to high-quality animal-free leather created from various materials, including non-animal microfibres, recycled nylon, polyurethane, and even plants, like mushrooms and fruit.

Owing to more & more talks around vegan/alternate meat, sustained moral pressure & successive sensitization by animal rights groups, many fashion designers and brands have either stopped or started to shy away from using fur, arguably it is no exaggeration that still it is an all-too-common sight in the apparel/fashion sector.

Fast-changing attitudes toward consumerism, especially among young people, resulting from increased concern over the environmental issue and the role fast fashion plays in society. As per surveys, 2/3 of 16 to 24-year-olds claimed that they were attempting to make more ethical fashion choices than before & the underlying aspiration is that ''Animal cruelty has to be opposed & resisted and shouldn't exist anymore/anywhere in our modern and civilized society''.

Animal cruelty essay

The shifting mindset of the consumer creates a massive potential for merchants to tap into this vein quickly.

As per one news18 report on World Vegan Day on November 1, 2021,” World Vegan Day is the day to remember that animals want to live free from suffering, just like us, and do not want to be turned into burgers or shoes,” expresses Sachin Bangera, director of celebrity and public Relations, PETA India”.

As per Panaprium's report," Many well-known fashion brands and designers have stopped using real fur completely. Some of them are Versace, Furla, Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Shrimps, and Vivienne Westwood".

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Article 2022-08-30