Two-day Mumbai event attracts a lot of industry leaders
INVISTA, the leading fiber and fabric innovator in textile and apparel industry space, successfully concluded the fifth edition of ‘LYCRA RENDEZVOUS’ in Mumbai on October 17. The two-day event witnessed presentation of a host of innovative concepts from INVISTA and its customers. The action-packed event on day 1 consisted of an insightful presentation by Euromonitor International, one of the leading global market research agencies, on the prospering sportswear marketing in India.
Talking about this growing segment in India, Magdalena Kondej, Head of Apparel Research, Euromonitor International, said: “India is a wide market and is driven by production as well as consumption which makes it a dynamic market globally as it presents tremendous opportunities for businesses. Since 2007, India’s sports apparel market has grown three times and is expected to grow at a higher rate in the coming years”.
The first day also saw INVISTA’s launch of the THERMOLITE insulation concept for light weight thermal wear in India. In partnership with Wildcraft the new THERMOLITE insulation jackets were showcased. The jackets are designed especially for extreme cold climates and were received very well for its functional and stylish attribute. This launch was a first of its kind home-grown offering for the Indian market that caters to the evolved consumer who is aware of high-tech functional yet stylish winter wear.
Performance fibers and fabrics in knits was another interesting element of discussion for the first day as INVISTA presented the unique technologies that the company has adapted for the Indian market. With innovations like COOLMAX fabric for sweat management and THERMOLITE fabric for lightweight thermals, INVISTA is looking at tapping specific segments of the Indian apparel industry.
The day also witnessed a showcase of intimate wear offerings from brands like Groversons, Little Lacy and Bodycare Creations, amongst others. Presentations on comfortable shapewear, especially in cotton with innovations like LYCRA BEAUTY fabric, established the brands’ focus on the growing women consumer base in the country. The day concluded with a dazzling showcase of varied collections by brands and INVISTA through a fashion show.
Commenting on the importance of innovation and growing shapewear demand, Mr. Sanjay Dawar, CMD, Bodycare Creations Pvt. Ltd., said: “The industry is growing at a fast pace creating more and more opportunities for product innovation. The Indian consumer too is evolving with more exposure to international brands and styles. There is great demand for trendy and fashionable innerwear which offers all day long comfort. INVISTA is playing a primary role in helping us to meet these demands by bringing in enhanced and breakthrough innovations in the textile space.”
He added: “LYCRA brand Hangtag has a value of its own. Bodycare Creations Pvt. Ltd. is already a big player in intimate wear industry with latest technology and machinery and with LYCRA brand fiber they will soon produce shape-wears too.”
Also present at the event was Mr. Rakesh Grover, MD, Groversons Pvt. Ltd., who said: “The Indian intimate market has undergone a significant change in the last five years. Quality, comfort and functionality have become more important than price. The LYCRA brand fiber-based fabrics have enabled us to create new generation fashionable and performance inner wear without compromising on comfort. INVISTA has been an integral part of our business. They have provided a unique platform for the industry players to come together to showcase their offerings and discuss new opportunities”.
On offering as per consumer needs, Mr. Sanjay Pathare, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Maxwell Industries Ltd., said: “The market for stretch products has seen a tremendous growth. Indian consumers are becoming more demanding, and as manufacturers we need to offer the right kind of products to meet those demands. INVISTA’s technological support is instrumental in helping us meet the end consumer needs. Looking at the increasing demand from our customers, we will soon be introducing an entire collection developed with LYCRA brand fiber”.
The second day of LYCRA Rendezvous witnessed a number of innovations in an exciting product category, DENIMS. Through the day, INVISTA presented several innovations in the performance denim space, especially with TOUGH MAX LYCRA fabric that enables consumers to get better performance out of their denims.
A key highlight of the day was an initiative by which INVISTA is proposing to take stretch to masses. This initiative is for India’s “Ready to Stitch fabric” market, which helps the Indian consumers meet their need of a customized fit. Most often, street tailors find it very difficult to work on stretch fabric on their smaller sewing machines.
INVISTA has come out with a solution to this issue and developed fabric with LYCRA T400 fiber that makes working with stretch fabric more convenient, i
n a way enabling better livelihood for the street tailor community. With this initiative, INVISTA wants to take the benefits and superior fiber quality of the LYCRA brand fiber to the masses and give them better value for money.
Another key session during the day was a round-table discussion with the leaders of the textile and apparel industry on consumer relevant innovation in today’s fashion scenario. The discussion brought to light pertinent questions on whether functional garments really add value to consumers’ wardrobe and how niche segments are becoming relevant. The session highlighted the need for brands and manufacturers to delve deeper into the consumer psyche and develop products that not only look good but also provide functionality to this fashion.
Andrew Evans, Managing Director – South Asia, INVISTA, said: “Innovation is the key to enable the Indian apparel industry to progress. We, at INVISTA, are relentlessly working towards developing solutions to meet the evolving consumer needs. The last two days at the LYCRA Rendezvous in Mumbai have been extremely insightful in showcasing some of the best practices of Indian and global textile brands and manufacturers that can help the growth of the Indian textile market. With breakthrough innovations from INVISTA, we are confident of bridging gaps within the apparel industry by offering consumer-centric innovations that cater to individual needs of comfort, fit and durability.”
LYCRA Rendezvous brought to the forefront challenges and opportunities that the textile and apparel industry is currently facing. The forum highlighted the urgent need for technological advancement and finesse in fiber processing. The event also presented a number of innovations by INVISTA partners to cater to the evolving consumer base in the country, highlighting the need for innovation and fresh thinking in the textile and apparel space.