International Journal of Recent Innovation in Engineering and Research

Scientific Journal Impact Factor - 3.605 by SJIF

e- ISSN: 2456 – 2084

@IJRIER-All rights Reserved -2017 Page 26

INDIAN TEXTILES: ITS SUSTAINABILITY AND GLOBAL

SOURCING

Mrs. Prunal Khawani1 and Dr. P.A. Khatwani

2

1Registered PH.D. Scholar : JJTU,India

2Dean Textile department, SCET, Surat-395001,India

Abstract-Textile and apparel industry have a huge contribution in export business but at the same

time it creates big wastes on the earth which can be replaced by working on sustainability model. As

industry gives importance to global sourcing, designers will get lots of new varieties of raw materials

to work upon by maintaining environment, society and economy.

Keywords- Global sourcing, sustainability, textiles, export, environment, forecast

I. INTRODUCTION

As the world is growing and every person want to reach sky limits, we humans are using

natural resources and making the earth polluted. Same like every other industrial field textile and

fashion also creates lots of pollution on earth. New and upcoming concept is roaming around the

world. That is sustainable design. Fortunately, current textile industry responds to the changes, which

are suggested by sustainable committee. Clothing and textile industries are serious about

environment, society, and economic. Even it consciously associates with sustainability.

It is important to understand consumer’s tendency towards sustainability. This model includes

Renting and swapping

Repair and alteration

Sale of redesigned clothing [1]

II. STRATEGIES OF INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND RECENT TRENDS

Textile industry is the major export oriented industry. It holds the command over Indian

economy. The textile industry is the oldest industry around 3000 BC. According to Government

survey textile industry grows at the rate of 18% per annum. India is one of the largest manufactures

and exporter of textiles second to China. In India textile contributes 11% of total export. The Indian

textile industry is estimated around US $108 billion, is expected to reach US$ 141 billion by 2021.

The main strength of textile industry is to use different range of fibres, like natural fibres to range of

man-made for example cotton, silk, wool, polyester, nylon, and viscos.

The cost of production increases due to some reasons like increase in raw material price,

increase interest rate, decreasing value of Indian rupee etc.

III. MARKETING TOOLS

E-marketing is the easiest and cost effective marketing tool in today’s business. E-marketing

helps to create awareness of sustainable textiles like organic textile products. Even this marketing

helps customer to get organic and environment friendly product at their door step.

More than 1000 contemporary design are hosted on website of NCTD. (National Centre for

Textile Design) According to textiles ministry, Flip kart helps handloom weaver to connect with

direct consumer and helping them to generate more remuneration for their handcrafted products.

The weavers can sell their product directly to consumer under their brand label. In 2003

Indian textile industry made total exports of around 13%. New markets were created to promote

exports with respect to markets like European Union and United States of America.

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IV. TEXTILE FORECAST

According to a report by techno park advisor, the Indian textiles and apparel industry is

expected to grow to a size of US $223 billion by 2021. In India these is a big source of raw materials

available like cotton, wool, silk, jute etc. This helps India to turn out to be a sourcing hub. Indian

textile industry can grow its exports by improving their innovations in ideas, quality control and

branding of products. [2]

V. GLOBAL SOURCING

Global sourcing is now a big and new concept for sourcing. This concept got popularity after

world war two. As the development of technology and transportation took place now it become very

easy to transport finished and unfinished goods across the borders. Because of big source of raw

material and low cost labours are available at developing countries. Developed countries are inspired

to move towards developing countries since last 20th

century. Today apparel industry is the most

globalized of all, and global sourcing is become one of the most important key-factor.

This concept of global sourcing changed the business strategies of the industry. Many

important things like nature of job, the purpose and focus of business and internal and external

parameters of business strategies have magnificently changed to respond to new markets. This

globalization trend changed consumer approach towards product evaluation. Multi-national or hybrid

products have become more popular. Now consumer is more interested in the origin of raw materials

than the origin of the manufacturing.

Due to these fundamental changes in apparel industry many things change like government

policies, research topics, education etc. New market finds solutions in the areas of sourcing strategies,

trade policy and successful outcome of global sourcing. Global sourcing affects much big decision

like merchandising, product development or marketing.

Global sourcing changed the scenario of import and export also. The developed countries

such as, Germany, Japan, France and UK and developing countries like China, Italy, Bangladesh and

Hong Kong are involved in apparel export activities. This import and export trade is noticeable that

shifted since 1963. The most developed countries were engaged in apparel exports, while today they

are the world’s leading apparel importers.

5.1 Global sourcing and current industry

In today’s industries global sourcing is more prevalent business than apparel manufacturing.

Generally sourcing means business acquiring and delivering components or full finished

products from outside the organization. If sourcing takes place beyond national borders, it become

global sourcing. Sourcing includes finding the right suppliers who could produce the products at the

right time and the right cost. Specific talents and knowledge like design skill even business

relationships can also be sourced.

It will become a most important roll of source to co-ordinate complex supply chain to produce

products at the price what merchandisers want, the quality what designer requires, in the condition

what consumer demands and it should follow all legal terms and conditions.

Global sources influence the material development stage. For example if the desired fabric for

a given product is very expensive and so it becomes difficult to use for target market. Global sourcing

could help find alternative fabric options that can be affordable for the target market. Global sourcing

can help design students in following questions.

What type of high and low quality of raw material customer will accept at the price they pay for.

Do they have any significant cultural differences?

How designer should negotiate between quality and affordability.

5.2. Global sourcing and marketing /merchandising

Merchandising is defined as planning which includes production, prices, and sales. Marketing

creates a relationship with consumers by satisfying their needs and wants. The main function of

Volume: 02 Issue: 07 July– 2017 (IJRIER)

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merchandising is to plan their apparel production for consumer at the price they are willing to pay,

and the size what they want and time when they want to buy.

Perfect forecasting is the most important factor to success in any apparel company. Trade

forecasting also differs with product categories. For example women’s and kids wear markets are

under high pressure where as it is not so pressurised in sleep wear or men’s wear.

5.3 Importance of global sourcing

The thorough knowledge of global sourcing would help designers and product developers to

select the proper raw material like fibre and get the better option out of it. That gives you better

product performance. This knowledge will help designers and developers to become experts of the

product which they design. Knowledge of global sourcing helps merchandiser to become effective

forecasters and planners in highly unpredictable market. [3]

VI. SUSTAINABILITY: THE MAJOR POINT IN APPAREL AND TEXTILE INDUSTRY

In fashion industry sustainability can be defined as taking care of environment, social justice,

Economic and cultural validity. Cultural flavour of fashion has little been influenced by global

sourcing. Big available market of low quality clothing allows overconsumption and deposition of

fashion products. Textile and fashion industries are having very bad impression for wasting resources

and un-sustainability.

Here craft and contemporary fashion has gained much attention due to its more sustainable

future. Craft is promoting sustainable fashion not only in production but consumption also. Like

India, Sri Lanka is also known as the home of rich fashion craft industry and it has fashion

manufacturing base also. Craft industry in Sri Lanka was mainly dominated by handlooms batik,

beeralu and embroidery. Handloom is a traditional weaving art which is highly labour oriented and

environment friendly. Sri Lankan handloom textile products are of high premium quality. Here export

market for handloom product includes Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, USA, Thailand, UK,

Norway etc.

As the Scenario changed, consumers demand the product, which are ethically made and

environmentally safe. So market is shifting towards environmentally sustainable and ethical products.

Textile and apparel industries use huge amount of raw materials and energy and during the process of

manufacturing it creates huge wastes, which creates pollution in the environment. So achieving zero

material waste is the biggest change in industry. If zero waste system is implemented then apparel

manufacturing industry could convert all waste into something creative, useful and economical. Hand

loom industry could be a sector which helps to develop local economy, promoting ethical trade and

producer sustainable products.

6.1 Best method for zero waste

With this method we can achieve zero material waste. Waste fabrics from one manufacturing

process are used as input materials for other process. Hand loom materials are having simple designs

even in apparel also as it has its own beauty of colours and rich texture. This makes its suitable for

many occasions. Waste materials are generated from its apparel manufacturing process. This waste

material is used systematically to get beautiful and purpose solving product from it. These materials

are used to create table runners, pillow cases or table cloths etc. Small size of waste material are used

to make table mats, soft toys, purses, patch works etc.

As the company works on zero waste policy, even a small piece of waste fabrics are used to

make thin layers of sheets like quilts. Even the small wastes of fabrics stick together and make a

colourful thin layer of sheet. Those sheets are very much in demand in Sweden to be used for

decorative and packaging purposes. Even waste threads are reused to make creative lamps.[4]

6.2 Basic advantages of sustainability

The three basics of sustainability are economic, society and environment. Here are the

advantages of sustainability.

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Human well-being

Minimum price leads to a stabilization in income

More accessibility to export market

Respect for the environment[5]

VII. CONCLUSION

In current scenario, time will come that sustainability will not be consider as option but it will

become a necessity. As the global demand increases for sustainability and ethical products, handloom

products can help local market as well as global market to get recognition.

REFERENCES

[1] Kim y. hiller connecll, Joy M.Kozar/ Introduction to special issue on sustainability and the triple bottom line within

the global clothing and textiles industry / Fashion and textiles / Doi 10.1186/s 40691-017-0100-6

[2] Pramod Raichurkar, M.Ramachandran,/ Recent trends and developments in textile industry in India/ International

Journal on Textile Engineering and processes/ ISSN: 2395-3578/vol-1/issue-4

[3] Jung Ha-Brook shire 2015 / Global sourcing :new research and education agendas for apparel design and

merchandising / Fashion and textiles/ DOI 10.1186/s40691-015-0039-4

[4] D.G.K dissanayake/ 2017 / sustainable and ethical manufacturing :a case study from handloom industry/ Textiles and

clothing sustainability/ DOI 10.1186/s40689-016-0024-3

[5] Bairagi N/ Recycling of textiles in India / Textile science and Engineering/ ISSN:2165-8064