The Future of Textile is a popular book by Peter Edwards. It is subtitled “The textile Industry – The Engine of Growth” and it talks about the state of the industry, its growth prospects and its future direction. In fact, one can say that this book covers almost all the issues that are associated with the textile industry. Issues like high cost, high energy consumption, environmental pollution, the slowing down of the textile industry due to mechanization, the shortage of skilled manpower, the competition in the textile market, the impact of the digital revolution on the textile industry etc.
The author presents different scenarios and explores how the present can be turned into an optimistic future by exploring various opportunities. One such opportunity presented by this text book is the use of fibres in the textile industry. The fibre industry will be completely changed by the adoption of these fibres as they will replace silk and cotton fibres. According to the author, the penetration of fibres will dramatically change the textile industry in India as there is no textile facility existing in the Indian textile industry. However, due to the development in technology, the fiber sectors can be developed worldwide.
Fibres have been a popular replacement for silk and cotton textiles in the textile industry. As per the estimates, smart textiles are used in the manufacturing of around 80% of the garments sold in the global markets. The Indian textile industry is the biggest exporter of smart textiles. It has a competitive advantage in the textile industry over other countries due to the availability of textile fibres at a reasonable price. According to the estimates, around 13.5 million tons of textile fibres are utilized in the Indian domestic market. As compared to China, the domestic market of India is growing at a faster pace due to a variety of reasons.
This textiles sector is gradually growing due to the rise in the demand for comfortable and durable clothing items. Due to the price rise in raw materials and the rising industrialization of textile industry, the quality of textiles has been declining. However, with the globalization and liberalization, this industry has gained much needed exposure and recognition in the global market. In fact, the Indian textile industry is well on its way to reach new heights of growth. According to the latest survey reports, this industry is expecting positive performance year after year and this performance is attributed to the high level of employment opportunities in this sector.
As per the latest forecasts, the demand for textiles will continue to rise in the coming years. The textile industry has a vast area of potential. The area of textile production covers not only textiles but also includes cashmere, woollen items, leather products, jute and manmade fibers like polyester. The area of textile manufacturing is increasing in India because of the rising requirements of labour. These demands are provided by the rising number of job openings in the textile industry. The labour productivity is also increasing in the domestic market because of the rising textile industry.
The textile industry also provides employment to the skilled and semi-skilled workers in the cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi. The textile industry is also providing employment to the youth who have taken up studies in textile engineering. Due to the high rate of unemployment in the developed countries, the textile export activity has been picking up. This has helped the textile industry to develop their export base and also to improve their market value. This is helping the textile industry to overcome the challenges that were faced in the past.
Textile industries are also making use of modern technologies to increase their competitiveness. Due to the competition in this business, the market share of some textiles producers has come down but overall this industry has maintained its share in the global textile market. This is because of the cost advantages that they enjoy over others.
The future of textiles depends on the present market trends and also depends on the social and environmental changes. As a textile producer you need to be aware about these changes so that you can take preventive measures. You should also make sure that your business is environmentally and socially friendly. Your company should be able to meet the growing demands for textiles.