October 2019 Edition Apparel October 2019 issue | Page 90

NEW AVENUES
THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS UP
Digital transformation in the Indian apparel industry is key to boosting the
development of myriad sectors within it. Samir Alam demonstrates the hows and
whys of it.
The nature of Indian apparel and fashion has
changed in many ways. Gone are the days when
families would go to their local tailor weeks or
months in advance to have special clothing
made for festivals such as Diwali. Today, they
simply wait for an online sale and order it with
the option of express delivery. Digital trends
such as social media promotions and mobile
banking have become as common as local
marketplaces. This has led to unprecedented
discounts, reduced prices, greater access to
a wider range of choices, and more customer
satisfaction. All of this is the collective impact
digital technologies have had on producers and
consumers alike, across the globe. However,
closer home, this form of digitisation is only skin-
deep as businesses—big and small—are yet to
fully embrace digital transformation. Read on as
we discuss how manufacturers, retailers, and the
Government can leverage the growing potential
of digitisation in order truly enhance its apparel
trading potential.
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I APPAREL I
October 2019
APPAREL AND INDUSTRY 4.0
From the growing of cotton in fields and inventory
stocking to factory processes and now, even
e-commerce sales, apparel production is
fraught with complexity. The simple concept of
selling clothing and garments involves long and
complicated interactions between stakeholders
and circumstances. These complexities are made
all the more difficult when we consider the end-
consumer, who is prone to trends and fads, and
demands instant gratification. As a result, most
major apparel producers are now engaged in fast
fashion, churning out multiple cycles of collections
every year, while previously they were involved
in only about two to three cycles. This has led to
immense industry wastage, worker exploitation,
and the overall inefficiency of materials that is
plaguing the world in numerous ways.
Given all these challenges, many global
businesses have embraced digital transformation
in order to enhance their operations. The core
goal of digitally transformed apparel production