Apparel Online India Magazine August 2nd Issue 2018 | Page 14

SUSTAINABILITY
‘Sustainability’ in the denim industry…
The journey continues
Denim is one of the most
integral parts of the
Indian textile industry and
sustainability is at the forefront
in the denim segment today.
Like any other product
category, even in denim,
there are corporate/organised
structures as well as totally
unorganised set-ups. Overseas
brands are setting standards
in sustainable initiatives
which are motivating India’s
popular as well as small
brands to continuously invest
in ‘sustainable concepts’. At
a recent event of the denim
industry, Arvind Ltd.’s booth
was exquisitely presented
with a catch line – ‘What
is sustainability?’ (see the
first picture). Similarly, many
more companies have set
their focus on the same. It
is now more than 10 years
since ‘sustainability’ became
a buzzword, and denim mills
and international brands are
still coming up with new and
interesting initiatives. But
what is interesting is that the
concept is now increasingly
inclined towards organised
retail (policies as well as
market sentiments) also.
Apparel Online explores what
various stakeholders are doing
to promote this concept and
their thoughts on sustainability
in the denim industry.
C
ompanies across the globe are
involved in the sustainable
movement, be it yarn or fabric
industries, chemical or dye
manufacturers, washing companies
or the jean manufacturers. In fact
their mutual support and collective
efforts are giving positive results;
some companies are even going
one step forward. Jeanologia, a
respected name in the denim industry
for its laser and eco-technologies
for fabric and garment finishing,
which are helping to be ahead in the
sustainability arena since day one,
claims that its ‘disruptive technologies’
are contributing to attain an ethical,
us sustainability is in-built. We are
focusing on digital garments, meaning
using maximum technology in order
to be competent, more efficient and
sustainable,” he added.
Arvind, India’s most admired
denim company has done a lot in
sustainability too. Abhishek Bansal,
Head of Sustainability, Arvind
Limited and Board Member, ZDHC
shared that right from increased
use of recycled cotton to eliminated
use of hazardous chemicals from
textile production to using renewable
energy, replacing 50 per cent of the
coal usage by biomass, setting up
a rooftop solar power…, there are
Arvind Ltd.’s focus on sustainability and efforts to create awareness about the same
sustainable and eco-efficient textile
industry. Jordi Juani, Asia Division
Director of the company is of the view:
“As now everybody is aware about
sustainability as a concept and trying
to improve, so for us sustainability is
no more a category. We need not talk
more about it as a concept as it is an
important part of our manufacturing
process and must be taken as given.”
He further adds that for Jeanologia,
sustainability means that products
are more effective, cost-efficient and
the industry is using the same without
damaging the environment. “For
14 Apparel Online India | AUGUST 16-31, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com
many more initiatives which are being
taken by the company. “We are moving
from linear to circular economy, an