Synopsis
Home furnishing industry has been vibrant and happening
place in the textile industry in the last one decade both in India and elsewhere. Designers, producers and the marketers endeavor to read the consumer
aspirations better. However, many in the Indian exports Industry have their own
troubles and concerns. While explorations and experiments in every possible
direction are continuously taking place, real industry leaders are yet to
emerge. Most of it is due to the design diversity that is engulfing every
product line available and design is increasingly being recognized as the
driving force.
In recent years due to consumer polarization, stiff
competition within the industry and general access to media, role of textile
design has changed in the country and elsewhere, both in terms of practice and
appreciation. People are beginning to question the role and status of textile
design in a broader context.
The paper articulates five different design case studies
that are gathered from the real experiences and touch upon following aspects
while deliberating on several other design related issues and opportunities.
- Creating a product range that is design led and
contextual to contemporary scenarios in the export markets.
- Creating design benchmarks within available commercial
framework to pursue creative superiority.
- Defining role of design in building business
strategies.
- Re-evaluating the process of textile design development
for Indian environment. Can the current state be the creative route to
future?
Several situation specific issues, which relate to design
activity in India that involve many social, cultural and economic perspectives
and have direct bearing on design solutions are evaluated and provided for. In
several of these case studies the approach of design has been to bring in
creative sophistication and reduce the factor of anticipation.
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About the Author:
The author
is Senior Faculty (Textile, Apparel & Accessory Design), Chairperson,
Design Foundation Studies & International Programmes, National Institute of
Design, Ahmedabad, India.
