There has been a steady evolution in the home textiles category in recent years, with an increased emphasis on sustainability and customer-centric approaches towards the category. There is higher usage of more sustainable fabrics in textile manufacturing, enabling greater anti-allergic attributes, quick-drying features, and of course, enhanced softness and absorption. There are more advanced materials that are being used by textile manufacturing companies in recent times, while also enhancing the overall quality of the same to ensure greater comfort and wellbeing simultaneously.
There is an even higher demand for anti-allergy textile design that incorporates advanced techniques for building a natural barrier to allergens along with ensuring a finish that is free from chemicals, thereby suiting sensitive skin. People are looking for more sustainable textile innovations like asthma-friendly and certified allergy-free textiles. For instance, Welspun Living offers these attributes in its products, which have earned certification from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America or AAFA.
The home textile industry is also witnessing rapid demand for sustainable textiles and eco-friendly fabrics. By doing so, people are more amenable to investing in products that are processed with fewer chemicals and other harmful elements like pesticides. At the same time, they also want products that are low-impact in their environmental quotient and not resource-intensive. From a lower impact on energy and water resources to overall sustainability, consumers now prefer fabrics and options that have these philosophies ingrained into the production processes.
Simultaneously, there is also increased interest throughout the home textiles segment in recycling and rejuvenation. This often encompasses the processing and collection of textiles that have been discarded, thereby lowering new material and fiber requirements and conserving resources considerably in the long run. It also reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills, while upcycling contributes greatly to transforming older textiles into newer offerings. Welspun Living, for instance, has adopted a novel approach of circularity throughout all its operations for maximum environmental benefits. This includes sourcing raw materials that are more sustainable to eventually shifting towards non-conventional energy sources and recycling and upcycling waste across the whole lifecycle of the product.
Being one of the leading brands in the textile industry, Welspun Living is playing a leading role in transitioning towards innovation and sustainability for textile design and production. It already has 37 such unique innovations under its belt along with more than 200 global patents, which represents the highest such volume across the industry. At the same time, the brand has achieved 42% of overall sales from its roster of innovative products while entering into worldwide collaborations for these products with a stellar lineup of universities, industry associations, and technology partners.
Many of these innovations promise to completely transform the home textiles industry and other associated segments. For example, the Hygro Cotton technology, patented by Welspun Living, has already scaled up $1 billion in business over a period of 17 years and is a key part of the home textile category. More sustainable products are already in the offering throughout the Indian and global textile markets, including recycled polyester, organic materials, BCI, and more innovations like wrinkle-resistant organic sheets developed by Welspun Living.
It has also come up with an Anti-Allergic Fabric called Nanocare which has patented Nano Core weaves for building natural allergen barriers as mentioned earlier. 100% cotton solutions for safeguarding users against allergies are also present along with more hygienic sleep systems. Welspun Living has also innovatively integrated charcoal into its textile lineup for enhanced hygiene, breathability, and softness. These fabrics also come with natural anti-odour attributes which keep them fresh for a longer period.
The textile industry, particularly the home textiles industry, is well on its way towards shifting to a more sustainable and innovative production mechanism. This is where industry leaders like Welspun Living have paved the way for a better future, with their pioneering innovations and new-age product lineups.
