Meeboo Styles | Customized Indian Fashion Online

Decoding Indian Fashion India holds a 4% share of the global trade in Textiles and Apparel. India is one of the largest producers of cotton and jute and 2nd largest producer of silk in the world. As per the “make in India” report, 95% of the world’s hand-woven fabric comes from India. Indian textile and apparel products have a history of fine craftsmanship across the entire value chain, starting from fibre, yarn, and fabric to apparel with high global appeal. Overall, about 25% of the volume of its garment production goes into export markets, leaving 75% for domestic consumption. The Indian textile and apparel industry is evolving and expected to grow further at 10% CAGR from 2019-20 to reach US$ 190 billion by 2025-26. The industry is one of the most significant contributors to the economy, with a 5% contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). It is also the second largest employer after agriculture, providing direct employment to 45 million people and 100 million people in the allied sector. Every year the industry absorbs a massive number of young professionals who studied Fashion or Textiles as a career option. But over the last few years, we have observed a changing pattern of industry recruitment for fashion or textile professionals. Let’s have a look at some of the emerging trends. Working in a collaborative space In the textile and apparel industry, the skills and competencies that employers are looking for in recruitment have changed drastically over the last few years. Apart from domain-specific knowledge and skills, employers continuously focus on managerial skills, data analytics, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Workforce diversity is getting popularity for collaboration, and the emphasis is given to an environment that is agile, adaptive, and encourages constant iterations. Millennials are showing interest to work for fashion companies that encourage innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking. They want to associate with companies that respect diverse opinions and have an unrelenting focus on data-driven decision-making. It has been observed that some of the good fashion or textile companies are adopting a collaborative approach with academia by offering an internship or live industry project before selecting students for placement. Many times, students are also getting sponsorship options for graduating projects, and the project outcome helps students qualify for a job. Such collaborative approaches help both students and the hiring company to have a better understanding of each other’s expectations. It helps students have a better orientation of the job role, an understanding of the company profile, and, finally, positively reflecting on job retention. Redefining hiring tactics The two years of the pandemic have recalibrated the power dynamics between employers and workers, and it has had a direct impact on the recruitment process. The talents now want to choose their workplace wisely. They are more conscious about whom they want to work for and where they want to invest their precious time. Millennials and Gen-Z especially are looking for a workplace where ‘what they do matters’. They want to grab opportunities where their time investment can add a positive contribution to the overall impact the company is aiming to create. Companies need to be on their best behaviour and cannot afford to have hiring strategies without transparency. non-inclusive policies or an outdated employee experience. Otherwise, they will lose the fight for hiring the best talents. Nowadays, young professionals are blessed with abundant job opportunities to start their careers in the fashion or textile industry. But at the same time, they have to face a very competitive market to prove their talent. Most of the good companies are approaching academia with a project brief where students have to perform on the spot for selection. These companies do not blindly depend on the CV, placement portfolio, degree, or diploma that students produce. To grab the best job opportunities, the students must show their competencies per the job descriptor. Academia as an Incubator for Fashion Industry Universities and design colleges are now assessing how best they can prepare students for meaningful and rewarding careers. With emerging markets’ current scenario, higher education students are demanding more than just academic degrees. They get exposure to entrepreneurial skills and business coaching as part of their curriculum. Young designers are interested in launching start-ups with innovative ideas and starting social movements that impact society. To support the entrepreneurial spirit, the educational institutes are focusing on creating an in-house incubation cell in collaboration with the industry. The incubators are now an integral and vital part of the higher education landscape. They promote tenets like ‘take risks’, ‘fail fast’, etc., for budding designers to pursue the entrepreneurial journey. They provide access to resources like mentorship, legal and administrative guidance and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. The government also provides various schemes to support early-stage start-ups to become more profitable and sustainable businesses. As part of the ‘Atmanirbhar 3.0 package’, a budget of Rs. 1.45 lakh crores was allotted to boost manufacturing sectors, including textiles. The setting up of integrated textile parks (SITP) is one of the major initiatives of the Ministry of Textiles to assist small and medium entrepreneurs in the textile industry. It is encouraging that India has jumped up to 79 positions on the ease of doing business ranking after the launch of various schemes under the "Make in India" campaign. Digital transformation, creating a new workspace and business models The textile manufacturing industry is at the early stage of its journey toward going digital. But this trend is no longer only about smart wearables; it is more about integrated and connected businesses. The emerging digital fashion trend demands new talents in the industry where digital acumen is getting top priority. The availability of big data and analytics will help fashion companies strategically to tailor consumer experience and to lead a consumer-centric business model. Nowadays, 3D fashion design is getting popularity with software like CLO3D, TG3D, etc. 3D fashion will continue to evolve; virtual try-on and immersive experiences in AR, VR, and mixed reality will bring significant disruption in the industry from design and production to selling. We can predict that the new technology and innovations will promote a new era of remote and hybrid workplaces where the distance or geographical location between employee and employer will be of little or no importance while hiring. The work performance will not be measured based on the number of hours the employee is logged in for but purely on the output they produce.

Decoding Indian Fashion

India holds a 4% share of the global trade in Textiles and Apparel. India is one of the largest producers of cotton and jute and 2nd largest producer of silk in the world. As per the “make in India” report, 95% of the world’s hand-woven fabric comes from India. Indian textile and apparel products have a history of fine craftsmanship across the entire value chain, starting from fibre, yarn, and fabric to apparel with high global appeal. Overall, about 25% of the volume of its garment production goes into export markets, leaving 75% for domestic consumption.

The Indian textile and apparel industry is evolving and expected to grow further at 10% CAGR from 2019-20 to reach US$ 190 billion by 2025-26. The industry is one of the most significant contributors to the economy, with a 5% contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). It is also the second largest employer after agriculture, providing direct employment to 45 million people and 100 million people in the allied sector. Every year the industry absorbs a massive number of young professionals who studied Fashion or Textiles as a career option. But over the last few years, we have observed a changing pattern of industry recruitment for fashion or textile professionals. Let’s have a look at some of the emerging trends.

Working in a collaborative space

In the textile and apparel industry, the skills and competencies that employers are looking for in recruitment have changed drastically over the last few years. Apart from domain-specific knowledge and skills, employers continuously focus on managerial skills, data analytics, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Workforce diversity is getting popularity for collaboration, and the emphasis is given to an environment that is agile, adaptive, and encourages constant iterations. Millennials are showing interest to work for fashion companies that encourage innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking. They want to associate with companies that respect diverse opinions and have an unrelenting focus on data-driven decision-making.

It has been observed that some of the good fashion or textile companies are adopting a collaborative approach with academia by offering an internship or live industry project before selecting students for placement. Many times, students are also getting sponsorship options for graduating projects, and the project outcome helps students qualify for a job. Such collaborative approaches help both students and the hiring company to have a better understanding of each other’s expectations. It helps students have a better orientation of the job role, an understanding of the company profile, and, finally, positively reflecting on job retention.

Redefining hiring tactics

The two years of the pandemic have recalibrated the power dynamics between employers and workers, and it has had a direct impact on the recruitment process. The talents now want to choose their workplace wisely. They are more conscious about whom they want to work for and where they want to invest their precious time. Millennials and Gen-Z especially are looking for a workplace where ‘what they do matters’. They want to grab opportunities where their time investment can add a positive contribution to the overall impact the company is aiming to create. Companies need to be on their best behaviour and cannot afford to have hiring strategies without transparency. non-inclusive policies or an outdated employee experience. Otherwise, they will lose the fight for hiring the best talents. Nowadays, young professionals are blessed with abundant job opportunities to start their careers in the fashion or textile industry. But at the same time, they have to face a very competitive market to prove their talent. Most of the good companies are approaching academia with a project brief where students have to perform on the spot for selection. These companies do not blindly depend on the CV, placement portfolio, degree, or diploma that students produce. To grab the best job opportunities, the students must show their competencies per the job descriptor.

Academia as an Incubator for Fashion Industry

Universities and design colleges are now assessing how best they can prepare students for meaningful and rewarding careers. With emerging markets’ current scenario, higher education students are demanding more than just academic degrees. They get exposure to entrepreneurial skills and business coaching as part of their curriculum. Young designers are interested in launching start-ups with innovative ideas and starting social movements that impact society. To support the entrepreneurial spirit, the educational institutes are focusing on creating an in-house incubation cell in collaboration with the industry. The incubators are now an integral and vital part of the higher education landscape. They promote tenets like ‘take risks’, ‘fail fast’, etc., for budding designers to pursue the entrepreneurial journey. They provide access to resources like mentorship, legal and administrative guidance and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners.

The government also provides various schemes to support early-stage start-ups to become more profitable and sustainable businesses. As part of the ‘Atmanirbhar 3.0 package’, a budget of Rs. 1.45 lakh crores was allotted to boost manufacturing sectors, including textiles. The setting up of integrated textile parks (SITP) is one of the major initiatives of the Ministry of Textiles to assist small and medium entrepreneurs in the textile industry. It is encouraging that India has jumped up to 79 positions on the ease of doing business ranking after the launch of various schemes under the "Make in India" campaign. Digital transformation, creating a new workspace and business models

The textile manufacturing industry is at the early stage of its journey toward going digital. But this trend is no longer only about smart wearables; it is more about integrated and connected businesses. The emerging digital fashion trend demands new talents in the industry where digital acumen is getting top priority. The availability of big data and analytics will help fashion companies strategically to tailor consumer experience and to lead a consumer-centric business model.

Nowadays, 3D fashion design is getting popularity with software like CLO3D, TG3D, etc. 3D fashion will continue to evolve; virtual try-on and immersive experiences in AR, VR, and mixed reality will bring significant disruption in the industry from design and production to selling.

We can predict that the new technology and innovations will promote a new era of remote and hybrid workplaces where the distance or geographical location between employee and employer will be of little or no importance while hiring. The work performance will not be measured based on the number of hours the employee is logged in for but purely on the output they produce.