'We need to look at T&G sector from multi-disciplinary angle' – Dr Roy, Visionary

06 Feb '09

6 min read

The recent pattern of progress tends to give us some idea of the strategies followed though differently, both by the advanced economies and the emerging ones. Advances in science & technology and as applied to textiles certainly gave an edge to the western world and also to Japan to move away from manufacturing of traditional textiles in a big way and thus creating a fresh leadership position through the advent of large range of technical textiles.

Japan on one side and the US-EU on the other adopted a different strategy in applying new knowledge and skills. Japan attacked the man-made fibre as their core activity whereas the western world looked at the development of newer dyes & chemicals auxiliaries as steps to sustain their leadership. For both, environment remained a major concern. The potential of using such products has been become, so all pervasive that, all emerging economies have started having a serious look at it.

Even under the present meltdown scenario, the advanced knowledge based textile countries are expected to follow a similar path and look at automation, robotization and application of micro-electronics, both in textiles & apparel as chosen paths to retain their supremacy. India, even before the present development has always been a slow starter in textiles and perhaps a poor believer of its own capability. India has also been a poor interpreter of the likely global development scenario of the post quota world.

In the process, choice of products, market mix, technology up-gradation, improving the academic and research inputs and finally creating a talented force and then taking advantage of all these factors, has remained highly questionable. Large scale unemployment, postponing investment decisions, major cost cutting approaches and a wait & watch attitude would have perhaps influenced the Indian textile stalwarts in a big way.

Of course, it is hoped that there are bold, unconventional leaders influenced by the 'Blue Ocean Strategy' who would be able find a new path perhaps less competitive to march ahead. India needs to look at the textile and apparel industry from a multi-disciplinary angle and bring in its huge talents, available in the other disciplines into productive actions and in turn benefit the textile industry.”

We then asked Dr Roy to gaze through a crystal globe and tell us the trends he foresees in technological development in textiles in the future, to which he expansively replied by saying, “As discussed above, the challenges confronted and the opportunities identified would obviously influence the technology developments. Historically, the onus has been on the western advanced economies to develop technology whether it is in the field of machinery development or in the field of man-made fibres, dyes, chemicals, auxiliaries, bio-technology, material science, micro electronics, sensor development in particular, application of IT, nanotechnology, plasma applications, etc would continue to be the focus.

More Textiles News - Global...