Interviews

This is your second year. What was the response last year that encouraged you to continue with Nayaab this year as well? The first edition of Nayaab took place in Delhi and then Chennai. We received a phenomenal response from the patrons. We garnered a lot of appreciation and glory for the initiative we had taken. It’s not only an exhibition to showcase the latest fashion trends, but also an effort to exhibit old textiles. The positive feedback and the love encouraged us to go ahead with another...

Fibre2Fashion (F2F): At which stages of the value chain, will the Goods and Services Tax (GST) have an impact on the retail sector? Which of these would be the most crucial? Rohan Sharma (RS): The GST envisages the taxation based on the destination principle, which means tax will be payable at the place of supply and consumption end of the retail chain is where the tax credit will stick. What is essential to note is that the cascading tax input at the input goods and services level shall be...

How did the idea translate into something as tangible as an organisation? During my training and career as an architect—spread between India and England for over thirty-five years, I was closely involved with various aspects of green, energy-efficient and sustainably-built environment projects. I was passionate about conservation programmes and heritage support to buildings, people and places. I had opportunities to conduct extensive research, as well as head community-based action programmes...

Researchers at Birmingham City University (BCU) in the United Kingdom (UK) are working on a connected wardrobe that addresses the problem of unworn clothes by reminding you to wear them—or just to give them away to charity. The idea is to create an 'Internet of Clothes' that wherein garments will be tagged using washable contactless technology, known as radio-frequency identification (RFID). The project has been made possible by Maker Monday, an open innovation project from BCU that brings...

Do you think the fashion education system in India is able to meet industry requirements at all—both in terms of numbers as well as quality? For an industry that is forever-growing, quality fashion institutes need to be established much more than they are. Do you agree? Darlie Koshy: The world over, various segments of the textiles-apparel industry do not see themselves as just 'raw materials' of fashion, but as an 'integrated global fashion system' in which cotton growers/manmade fibre...

The statement issued by Evrnu and Levi's on the launch of the prototype talked about a circular economy. Are you planning to keep the concept / technology to yourself? Or, are you thinking of expanding to other brands and companies too? Paul Dillinger: Levi’s is deeply committed to research and development efforts that will reduce the resource impact of apparel manufacturing. With Evrnu, we see a potential solution to reduce overall impact of Levi Strauss & Co, and for the industry as a whole...

Sustainability has been a business buzzword for a while. On the face of it, most brands seem sincere when talking about it. Given that, it comes as a surprise that big brands have failed so miserably. Is it because brands still see sustainability as just one way of doing business, rather than the only way of doing business? Richard Holland: The Cotton Ranking Report shows that a relatively small number of companies with consumer-facing brands are serious in word and deed. IKEA, C&A, H&M, Adidas...

How have oil prices affected polyester yarn business, both in India as well as at the international level? Pinkesh Jain: Oil prices have been dropping all over the world for almost a year now. But we realise that this price (the current price) is rock-bottom; it can't go lower than this. The market has been improving only of late. The prices of yarn and fibres have been improving a bit. All spinners and manufacturers know that these prices (of crude oil) are the lowest. So, that offers a scope...

Senior journalist Salil Tripathi has long-standing experience in advancing the business and human rights agenda. As a researcher at Amnesty International (1999-2005) he participated in negotiations that created the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and represented Amnesty in the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights process from its inception until 2008. Tripathi is a contributing editor at Mint and Caravan, and was formerly a correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review...

F2F: In what way can the textile-apparel industry benefit from maintaining fairtrade ethics? Abhishek Jani: Until now Fairtrade's primary focus has been on the cotton farmers, who are often the hidden link in the textile-apparel supply chain despite the need for companies to address sustainability issues at the level of cotton production and ensure farmers get a fair deal. Nearly 70% of farmer suicides in India take place in the cotton producing regions. Over the past couple of years, we have...