India has a deep connect with textile and clothing. Since age immemorial the country has been home to some of the most unique and exquisite textiles and material. Be it the richness of the pashmina from Kahmir, the Kantha from the East, the playful Bandhani work from Gujrat & Rajasthan to intricate Kanjivaram from the South, India’s textile history is diverse and rich.
This age-old love for textile has manifested beautifully in the contemporary Indian apparel and textile industry in the country. India is one of the largest producers of textile and apparel; the industry contributes approximately two percent to the GDP per year. Indian textile is also in great demand overseas and it accounted for 11.4 percent of India’s total exports between the years 2020 and 2021. The industry is the second largest employer in the country and provides direct employment to 45 million people and 100 million people in allied industries.
We are one of the largest producers of cotton and jute across the world. India is also the second largest producer of silk in the world. 95 percent of the world’s total hand-woven fabric is sourced from India. As a consequence, the collective Indian textile industry is expected to reach $250 billion business size by 2025. This immense success has been achieved owing to various factors such as an in-depth cultural knowledge of textiles and supportive government policies. However, the most critical factor has been the hard-working and enterprising entrepreneurs and business leaders who have given a new dimension to the Indian textile and apparel industry. These leaders understand the trade well and are also sensitive to the needs of the modern Indian consumer.
For instance, take a look at Rachna Sarup, Co-Founder & CEO, B77 TECHSTYLES’ journey. She is an environmentally conscious entrepreneur who is augmenting her almost two decades of experience in the fashion industry to build sustainable yet stylish garments for men and women and striving to embrace the sustainable approach to make it a priority for the brands and the customers.
For over 20 years, Rachna has been driving Vibgyor Styles, as a manufacturer working with high-end fashion brands both internationally and in the domestic markets. Rachna is addressing the impact the fashion industry has made on the global environment by developing environmentally-conscious products and creating demand for sustainable fashion among customers.
While Rachna addressed an industry requirement, for Chaitra Sriramineni, the journey towards being an entrepreneur in the Indian textile industry began from her personal experiences. Chaitra Sriramineni started her career in the real estate market before shifting to the clothing industry and assuming the position of an entrepreneur by founding Chaitra's Epitome.
The inability to find the right fit in clothing companies motivated her to start my brand. She began making her own clothing over time. When friends and family realized how well her outfits fit and how well she could blend colors & designs, they began asking Chaitra to make their clothes as well. = Thus began her journey towards building Chaitra’s Epitome.
These women leaders encapsulate the essence of the Indian textile and apparel industry. Their talent, foresight and hard-work is a common thread that weaves the industry’s immense success with their personal success journey. Read their stories in-depth in the current edition of Women Entrepreneur India magazine where we bring to the Top Women Leaders from the Indian Textile and Clothing Industry.
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