StitchWorld Editorial Issue March 2019

Already so many garment manufacturing technology fairs happen in India, but the focus is still not realistic India is a mega country with diverse needs and every state is as big as Bangladesh if not bigger, so why question the number of garment manufacturing technology fairs happening in India…

Looking at it from another perspective, each Indian state has so many garment manufacturing hubs that every one of them deserves a separate fair… consider Meerut, Panipat, Jaipur townships in North of India that are still unrepresented at such fairs, and on similar lines, there are many townships in South and East of India which require a technology fair to bring the local industry up to date on latest hardware and software technologies.

The understanding is that these townships comprise smaller players whose needs are also met by very basic technologies, and at most through automation at basic level.

But the factors that are still ignored at these technology fairs are the technologies of the future and the knowledge forum, which start with Industry 4.0, moving on to AI, Data Analytics, VR, additive technology to robotics… a missing platform for understanding how these new systems/ technologies are going to impact the way the industry will work in the future.

Though technologies and discussion forums need not be part of every technology fair since only the big and organised companies would be keen to take cognizance of the newer set of systems and processes at present; for them, having one big technology fair which showcases a route map for the future in any one place within India would be very much reachable.

If today, we do not start updating ourselves on such solutions, in no time, we will find that the industry is left with only small producers that are largely unorganised and unable to cater to the demands of the growing retail in India… Hence, leaving the space empty for import of garments from global manufacturers that are hungry for work and are ready to invest time, energy and resources to meet the needs of an evolving Indian retail market

We are very clear on the future directions and soon you will find StitchWorld fulfilling the role of guiding the industry to address the future… a future which is sustainable and growth-oriented!

StitchWorld Editorial Issue February 2019

ASW is launched to give impetus to our journey as industry’s knowledge partner

Did you notice the change from the usual routine... We have for the first-time ever in the history of the magazine put on the front cover our sourcing show – Apparel Sourcing Week 2019. This highlights our thrust as a group, which understands the apparel industry and its intricate details comprehensively to give qualitative, industry-focused shows to India...

From our years of interaction and involvement with the global apparel and retail industry, we are well aware that it’s not just about manufacturing at a certain price, offering good quality or timely delivery but also about the marketing and product that make the merchandise sell and become the preferred choice for buyers... Apparel Sourcing Week is a boutique show that will provide a platform for such products.

We aim to fill in the requisite gaps and become the much needed bridge to bring Asian manufacturing under one roof for Asian markets along with the traditional markets, besides, allowing companies to interact and discuss business in an atmosphere that is charged and engaging.

No, we have not lost our focus to be the knowledge partner to the industry! In fact the focus is now even stronger and ASW is the first in the series of our planned shows. You can see everything related to ASW at www.apparelsourcingweek.com

With time, you will see many more shows coming up which will be niche and focused and targeted to specific group of people within the industry,based on the inherent understanding and needs of the segment. And technology can never be behind when talking of industry’s directions. In this issue, Team StitchWorld takes a closer look at today’s trend of how apparel businesses are working and being driven by technology trends like Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Beacon technology and a lot more.

Significantly, retailers have been making substantial investment in these technologies to be able to provide a seamless experience to their customers and manage business like never before. The first part of the article –‘Technology trends driving seamless retail’ – will take its readers through 15 retail technologies available in the market that are driving the current retail trend. The second part of the series covering the next set of 15 more such technologies will be included in the upcoming issue of StitchWorld.

The current issue also captures details on the recently concluded technology fairs – DTG and Garmentech – held in Dhaka and the interesting technologies that were there on display. The momentum towards technology in Bangladesh is indeed noteworthy and an inspiration for all manufacturing nations, including India.

Stitch World Editorial Issue November 2017

CISMA – the technology fair that takes place in Shanghai, China – is not what it used to be. In the last two editions, it has changed its character from being a technology fair for basic machines to matching international standards of automation and moving towards industry 4.0 and showing signs of integrating robotics..., probably reflecting the signs of maturity in the Chinese garment manufacturing industry that is now demanding automation and moving towards robotics all because of the increase in wages and infrastructure cost...

Observing the shift, I also found that while some of the technology is being developed recently, some are decade old technologies making reappearance. All this is becoming possible today due to the increasing affordability of those technologies to cater to the demand for high productive machines.

Auto Bobbin Changer (ABC) – developed in 1995, but phased out from commercial machines due to exorbitant cost, is now making a reappearance; 3mm thread by UBT – developed in 1993, but phased out from commercial machines (probably cost of labour was cheaper to trim after sewing) is making a come back due to wage increase; Real time data from sewing machine – developed in 2003 by Efka has reappeared as cost of networking and data flow is becoming negligible. The CAM (computerized cutter), which came to India in 1997 (installed by Sewa International) with Rs. one crore investment, is still costing the same, but after two decades, the CAM now has multiple and better features… making it affordable.

In this editorial, I am just giving a glimpse of ‘affordable’ technology. Watch out for the next issue, wherein I will give my readers an ‘affordable article’ as food for thought!

In this issue, we have covered technologies displayed at CISMA and have also highlighted the ten top sewing features added to the machines in the recent past. Further, two garment exporters from Tirupur have been interviewed and their manufacturing best practices are highlighted. The common thread between the two is that both have imbibed the lean solution as the core driver for their growth.

Stitch World Editorial Issue September 2017

The Indian lion is now starting to roar!
Having attended two technology fairs, almost back to back – Gartex and GTE Ahmedabad – one fact that emerged loud and clear from these shows was that Indian-made technology is finally finding its footing.

I have never seen Indian companies that manufacture technologies so proudly displaying their products. Even the industry is looking at them with a fresh perspective.

The ‘Make in India’ lion was displayed prominently at all booths presenting some Indian technologies and even accessories. I could actually feel the difference in the attitude of the company’s owners and their teams.

It was obvious that the PM’s thrust on manufacturing has finally brought these companies out of the shadow of their foreign counterparts…No longer are they ‘poor cousins’ in technology, being popular with those who cannot afford European/Japanese technologies, but they are rather finding an admirable place among the best.

The range of technologies being made in India covers a wide spectrum now from testing equipment of Delhi based Paramount to eco-friendly washing solutions from Xcel Stiro and Ramsons to fusing machines and sublimation printers from Cheran Machines to paper solution for cutting rooms from Krishna Lamicoat, besides many flat and circular knitting machines being produced in Ludhiana, not to forget a host of IT solutions available from Indian companies…, the list goes on.

It was indeed a treat to see indigenously made sewing machines available with few of our technology providers being proudly placed along with other ‘foreign’ brands on display at the events.

These manufacturers have for time immemorial been convincing customers that they are second to none and the fact that they are cheaper is only because of local manufacturing and ‘not’ because of any defect or inadequacy in technology.

It seems that finally the moment has come for them to become bigger players and I can very well anticipate that many of the technology providers who have been itching to get into local manufacturing, are finally going to take the plunge.