IMPRESSIONS from a Cross-section

Our biggest demonstration at the fair was the change in processing. We are trying to bring changes in process innovation and not in products. We have successfully migrated our chemistry to Bluesign approved chemistry. I’m assuming we’re the first in the denim industry to do so, which is our biggest achievement.

We got to see the strength of both international and domestic mills participating at the fair. The show was a good exposure in terms of denim trends and product innovations. Denim is going through a phase where innovation especially in terms of sustainability in fibres used, processed, and manufactured is a must to stay competitive.

The fair also provided for a collaborative space. Innovations done by Arvind Mills were noteworthy. I think a lot of domestic mills will come up with innovative products looking at this.

I hope the fair gets bigger and they get more mills and manufacturers on board. It was also a great place for exchange of ideas.

Overall, the products displayed at the fair have taken a sustainable approach. I was quite impressed by the digital solutions provided by Maya. It is a very useful tool with a very hands-on experience to create products digitally and helps avoid countless prototyping, which is great.

The level and quality of buyers and manufacturers is quite astonishing. My suggestion to the organisers would be to provide large capacities to buyers. I would suggest involving more intermediaries like agents and fulfillment and logistics providers. Also, if you want to achieve innovation and sustainability you need a number of partners. It would be cool to have a more wholistic approach from the exhibitor’s side.

Denim is an inspirational fabric for designers. Me, being a designer, the best part of the show was that it was well organised from the fibre to fabrics, finishes, patterns, and prints. I think it was a complete package, which we don’t find in most fairs. I saw a lot of innovation in denims in terms of finishes (in the yarn) like coolant and stretch fabrics. Today, people look for fabrics that act like a second layer of skin and are not different from the body. I think some eye-catching installations at the fair will be good. Maybe have a denim experience zone. The hospitality at the show was great.

For me, the digital printing on denim was quite exciting. Most exhibitors and mills were the same as last year, some displayed same or similar products. The organisers need to get new exhibitors. They need to get companies especially meeting the sustainability angle with waterless processing and automation technologies. Other than that, it’s a great place to meet new people in the industry and interact with them.

The yarns that Reliance showcased at the fair caught my attention. In India, we’ve been using cotton or PCV for denims. The kind of yarn they (Reliance) have is technically far more superior and sustainable. The Turkish companies that displayed machines for denim finishes were impressive. Denim is a sector that needs a lot of push in India. We are falling behind in this segment. We need more exhibitors and visitors. Hunting in a pack is always easy. They need to get more buyers here. In the morning when I came there were just two buyers from H&M and VF. Once the wolf pack is there, the prey will follow.

A company from Turkey with viscose dyed jackets, trousers, and dress materials was very unique and different. Vishal and Ultra Denim’s dobby stretch denims were interesting. The feel of these fabrics was extraordinary. The product range and use of denim fabrics is completely different by Indian and international companies. In the Indian domestic market, we prefer wider width and knit-dobby denim. International manufacturers are catering to the tastes of export markets. I would suggest the organisers to arrange for an interaction session either in-between or at the end of the fair with entrepreneurs and buyers in this industry.

I am into fashion forecasting. I came to the fair with the expectation of finding something new and out of the box, which I did. I experienced a different flavour here. I came across people who would be interested in collaborating with me. I would definitely like to participate as an exhibitor at the next edition; I see a lot of potential.

I was impressed by an Italian company displaying eco-friendly and sustainable denim fabrics. The fair needs to be publicised more. There are lots of denim companies in Bengaluru, but I haven’t come across any of them at the fair.

We displayed a lot of innovations in weaves. Today, people look for comfort in denims and different colours. Hence we are using a range of colours in the wefts. We have seen a lot of interest in 3/1 with different fabrics and high stretchability. Denim is the fabric of present and the future, hence we see a strong demand for the fabric. However, there is over-supply of the fabric in the market.

The US consumption of a pair of jeans is 2.5 per capita and in India the consumption is 0.5 per capita. But India has a strong growth. Asia is a huge market for Bluesign.

We showcased products focusing on the gender-free concept, i.e. basic fabrics that can be used for both menswear as well as womenswear. The gender-free concept will give an advantage in the market. In womens’ denimwear, boyfriend fits are trending wherein the garments are without Lycra. The trend is 70s inspired. The mens’ denim trends are high on stretchability and skinny fits. The gender-free concept will give easy access to fabric teams to get to the customers. Europe is the biggest market since it’s a huge fashion hub. We at Raymond give a lot of emphasis on sustainability. We have come up with a collection with the help of Jeanologia. We have made jeans using just 1-2 litres of water, where a normal jeans consumes 75 litres of water. We have made huge investments in ETP plants. 95 per cent of our water is recycled. India is a bigger market for denims. Even in remote regions you will see a person in jeans.