Interview with Arvind Arora

Arvind Arora
Arvind Arora
CEO
Taurus Tex
Taurus Tex
Team handling garment orders should be given decision-making powers
Taurus Tex is one of India's leading textile sourcing companies specialising in yarns, fabrics, garments and home textiles. Arvind Arora, CEO of Taurus Tex discusses the current trends in textile sourcing point-to-point with Fibre2Fashion.com.

What are the latest trends in textile sourcing, according to you?

The latest trends in textile sourcing are: digital prints on polyester fabrics - both knits and wovens; sublimation printing on polyester fabrics for activewear - both with and without Lycra; 100 per cent cotton and poly cotton - Jaspe effects; 100 per cent cotton and poly cotton - melanges are back in fashion; and, performance fabrics being more in demand.

How big is the garmenting industry in India?

For exports, it is around US$ 12 billion. The total industry size in India is unclear to us.

What, according to you, are the challenges that India's garmenting industry is facing? As an outsider-insider, what steps need to be taken to address those?

First, support-industry related to embellishments, embroidery, labels, accessories - not close to production and limited capacity is available - need to develop within India with both increase in size and easy accessibility like in China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Second, the scale of the garment industry in India in comparison to China is very small - we need big textile houses to put up good capacities in garments and backward integration of fabric supplies. Third, the mindset of big textile houses, especially who own spinning mills, is not yet ready to accept the way garment businesses need to run. In garments, greater autonomy, authority and decision making is in the hands of merchandising, which is contrary to managing yarn businesses and running spinning mills. Unless the mindset (of giving decision-making to the team handling garment orders) changes, the industry will not progress. Last is the lack of interest in working with textiles among the new generation because of changing lifestyles. This industry is no longer giving a high to youngsters as it involves processes. Image makeover is required where current and future generation sees this as a fast emerging trend connected with youth to attract talent and resources. Otherwise, the industry will face a crunch.

What are the trends in fabric that are likely to prevail next summer and winter?

The trends in fabric likely to prevail next summer and winter are:
  • Active wear
  • Floral wear
  • Performance fabrics and garments
  • Prints
  • Lurex - shiny effects

Which is your biggest market?

We operate globally for all products. Our biggest markets are China and the Far East for yarns; Bangladesh for fabrics; and India and Europe for garments.

Which are the new markets you plan to explore?

We want to explore Bangladesh for yarns, Vietnam for fabrics, and the US for garments.

What are the challenges that the global home textiles market is currently facing? What about the scenario in India?

The challenges that the global home textiles market is facing globally is low demand worldwide. In case of India, I am not very familiar with home textiles, but definitely see wider-width looms not being available in big capacity.

By what percentage has the export market grown for the home furnishings division? Which new markets do you look to capture? What is your export turnover? What percentage increase do you foresee in next fiscal?

Home textiles is an area to which we are very new. We are looking to strengthen the Indian manufacturing sector in yarns and fabric innovations, apparels, home textiles, etc, by helping them set up and establish their supply chain for new products, and then continuing to innovate through raw materials and designing. With new emerging mindsets and focus on growth, companies are increasingly hiring our services for upgrading their current product profile. Our company is being acknowledged for the international experience our team possesses, and the manner in which we conduct our working to develop and upgrade our business partners with total commitment and dedication to set up supply chains. We foresee a 30-40 per cent growth of our company for the next fiscal.
Published on: 24/07/2015

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.