The world of textiles is well-established, generally sophisticated and expanding globally in recent years. While one side innovations are happening on materials including woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics in forms from natural, synthetic, inorganic, including bio-polymer materials, on the other side, companies are adopting new technologies that are helping the factories smarter, efficient and more productive.
Business Standard recently held a webinar ‘New Learnings in Textiles Technology in the post-COVID World’ along with TEXPROCIL. Speakers are of the view it is time to look at new possibilities, leveraging technology.
K V Srinivasan, Chairman, TEXPROCIL said that we have come a very long way and many innovations have led to improving efficiency and productivity levels through the years. As we speak today much has been said about how the nation can use the COVID-19 opportunity to redefine its future. The industry needs to join hands to reinvest and modernise to improve efficiency and productivity. It is time for the industry to introspect, move away from the lament-stuck narrative of the textiles sector and bring in scientific temper. It is time to look at new possibilities, leveraging technology.
Ashwini K. Agrawal, Institute Chair Professor and Head Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at IIT Delhi said factors of growth would be fashion and lifestyle, rising demand from new application areas, varying consumer preferences, environment/climate change and global warming. He presented some case studies of Indian and global companies and also said that cotton is going to stay here as it is soft and breathable, safe to wear and easy care.
He concluded saying innovation, sustainability, social responsibility, verifiable claims (tracking) and branding should be the new thinking to create a special space.
After narrating and giving examples of how AI and IoT can reduce cost and improve efficiency, Prof. Asim Tewari from Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai said AI can provide a decisive business advantage, while IoT is needed to generate data to feed AI Domain knowledge is needed to monetize AI Cheaper, better, faster. MSME is best suited for IoT AI deployment for local customised solutions (supervised learning), cost-effective, technology agile.
Rohan Patodia, Co-founder, Ducit Materials said that like every sector and industry globally, the textile sector needs to evolve and move forward with the times, it has done so in the past and will do so in the future. People usually compare India with China, massive capacities and mass production. Barring a few players who have reached that scale in India, the MSME sector can benefit by creating and innovating through technology. This technology can be defined by AI and IOT systems which make factories smarter, more efficient and operationally better.
The second is product technology, unique finishes and partnerships can help India use its Raw Material base advantage and promote products in niche markets and niche brands which are starting to dominate the foreign landscape. Customers want smarter clothes, more multi-functional wear. There are more markets than just the fast fashion markets to compete in.
"I hope the MSME sector rises to the challenge and create immense value for its customers with the existing infrastructure they have. These value additions will create in the long-term competitive and strategic advantages for the entire value chain from cotton farming to garment making," he said.