Apparel Online India Magazine September 1st Issue 2018 | Page 6

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ’ s DESK …
Decoding innovation and sustainability
Anywhere one goes today , every company talks about two directions – innovation and sustainability … these two words have become so repetitive that sometimes it almost sounds like a slogan to promote the company .
Just how much does the industry really understand these two concepts is my concern . Are companies fooling themselves or are the directions backed by an honest intent to be different ?
Is innovation about replicating designs and concepts already in the market or is there any effort to create fresh ideas ? How different is innovation from product development and R & D … or is there a difference ?
Similarly , just how sustainable are the directions taken to be sustainable in the eyes of the buyer ? Can planting a few trees in the factory and giving workers ’ wages on time be considered as sustainable initiatives ?
After talking to many exporters , I have concluded that both these terms are loosly used and only few really delve into the meaning and long-term implications of these widely used terms .
How many companies can actually claim to be doing breakthrough innovations that are truly different … Some years ago , the product development head at one of the top export houses shared with me that product development in India is a farce , all we do is give variations to designs shown by the buyer .
After many years , something similar was again said to me … it got me thinking . Is the ability to turnaround a popular design with a new twist , innovation ? Look at the cold-shoulder trend which swept every market in the world … how different can one really be ?
There is a logic in turning around a popular design , print , technique , silhouette and it is the commercial aspect of doing any business . No one expects a company to be innovative in the dictionary sense , because innovation comes from the masters of the trade … the established designers and trendsetters … innovation for others is how well they can interpret and present a variation .
A variation that will bring in business and result in economic sustenance , which is the essence of the next misinterpreted concept - sustainability … how good would innovation be if it did not sell !
Sustainability is a huge concept and practically every company has given it an individual definition , a definition that can give the company an image which is acceptable to global business as being a ‘ concerned ’ company .
In my understanding , ‘ true sustainability ’ is when good practices that are environment and people-friendly are used to manufacture products that are again environment and people- friendly , and in the process the company is able to make profits !
Sustainability is not about spending money but investing in the future , the future of our generations and adding value to the lives of the people who walk together in this journey with us .
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR COPY EDITOR ASST . COPY EDITOR ASST . EDITOR-NEWS ASST . EDITOR - FASHION SUB EDITOR SR . CORRESPONDENT-FASHION SR . EXECUTIVE-ADVERTISING CREATIVE TEAM
PHOTO EDITOR OPERATION DIRECTOR PUBLISHER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
HEAD OFFICE
Apparel Resources Private Limited B-32 , South Extension-1 , New Delhi-110 049 ( India ) Phone : 91-11-47390000 , E-mail : editor @ apparelresources . com Web associate : www . apparelresources . com
PRINTING
Deepak Mohindra Ila Saxena Veereshwar Sobti Sahil Sehgal Dheeraj Tagra Anjori Grover Vasesi Priyanka Mishra Vishakha Somani D K Chugh
Raj Kumar Chahal Peeush Jauhari Satyapal Bisht
Gaurav Naroola Mayank Mohindra Renu Mohindra
TARA ART PRINTERS PVT . LTD . B-4 , Hans Bhawan , B . S . Zafar Marg , New Delhi-110002 Tel : 23378626 , 23379686
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
Yes , I wish to subscribe to Apparel Online
INR 2400.00
24 issues
* This rate is valid only for subscription in India
Subscription within India – Send Cheque / DD to Apparel Resources Pvt . Ltd . B-32 , South Extn . Part-1 , New Delhi-110049 , INDIA
International subscription ( in Dollar ) - Credit Card using www . apparelresources . com Telegraphic transfer to Bank Account No . 03192320003806 ( Swift No : HDFCINBB ) with HDFC Bank , D-9 , South Extn . Part-2 , New Delhi-110049 . INDIA
SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRY
82-62-880-880 subscribe @ apparelresources . com
ADVERTISEMENT ENQUIRY
+ 91-11-9811088666 rani @ apparelresources . com
GENERAL ENQUIRY
+ 91-11-47390000 contact @ apparelresources . com
6 Apparel Online India | SEPTEMBER 1-15 , 2018 | www . apparelresources . com