Gurudas Aras
Strategic Advisor & Independent Director
Gurudas Aras brings over four decades of experience in the textile industry. From his early days as a top-ranked textile engineering graduate to his leadership roles at A.T.E. Group and now as a Strategic Advisor and Independent Director, Aras has witnessed the evolution of the textile landscape. In a recent discussion with the TVC Media Team, Aras shared his insights on the current trends, challenges, and opportunities facing India’s textile machinery industry, with a particular focus on sustainability and the role of startups.
Key Trends: Sustainability, Automation, and Digitisation
Aras emphasised that the textile machinery industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need for sustainability, increased automation, and digitisation. “The focus is now on conserving resources like water, chemicals, and energy,” Aras noted. “New machines are designed to be more energy-efficient, while automation and digitisation provide a much easier operational experience for users.”
Sustainability Imperatives and Challenges
Aras highlighted the growing importance of sustainability, particularly with stringent regulations in the European Union (EU). “There will be no other option but to get into sustainable manufacturing,” he stated. “The EU is very strict about regulations for goods entering the European Union, demanding strict adherence to sustainability and end-product responsibility (EPR).”
However, Aras acknowledged the challenges for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in adopting sustainable practices due to cost implications. “The cost of sustainability is not less,” he cautioned. “A big question is how MSMEs will absorb the cost of sustainability regulations while remaining competitive.”
Surat: India’s Emerging MMF Export Hub
Aras’s recent keynote at the Textile Association of India’s South Gujarat seminar in Surat focused on the city’s vast potential to become the country’s leading MMF export hub. The event, attended by over 150 industry stakeholders, addressed “Opportunities in Exports in MMF Products” and drew participants from Surat, Vapi, Mumbai, and beyond.
In his presentation, Aras outlined several critical points:
- Global MMF Growth: MMF fibres now account for 67% of global fibre consumption, with polyester making up 85% of that share.
- Trade Trends: The highest growth in global MMF trade is in knitted garments and bedsheets, followed by woven garments.
- India’s Share: India’s global share in textiles and apparel has stagnated at about 5%, largely because its export basket is still dominated by cotton, while global trade is shifting toward MMF products.
- Competitive Landscape: China leads with a 40–60% share in top MMF product categories. However, the US-China trade war and reciprocal tariffs have opened new opportunities for India, especially as 28% of India’s textile exports already go to the US.
- Action Points for Surat: Aras urged the industry to focus on capacity building in MMF raw materials, reduce MMF prices (which are 15% higher in India), strengthen MMF-based apparel manufacturing, and remove regulatory hurdles to allow cheaper imports for value-added exports.
- Export Readiness: He stressed the need for a cultural shift toward exports, with investments in technology, sustainable manufacturing, quality, shop floor hygiene, worker training, and product development.
- Product Focus: Surat should target high-potential MMF segments such as activewear, sportswear, performance fabrics, hygiene products, home textiles, and technical textiles.
- Success Stories: He cited Indian successes in MMF bedsheets and blankets (Panipat), FIBC (jumbo bags), kids’ garments, and home textiles as models for Surat to emulate.
Aras’s presentation concluded with an engaging Q&A, reflecting the industry’s keen interest in leveraging these opportunities.
Recycling: A Bright Spot
Despite the challenges, Aras pointed out that India is making strides in textile recycling, particularly in Panipat, which has emerged as a major recycling centre. “Nearly 54% of textile waste is getting recycled in India,” he noted. “India is far ahead in recycling, and this trend will continue to grow.”
Aras also highlighted the significance of EPR, where manufacturers are responsible for the entire product life cycle, from raw materials to end-of-life disposal. He urged Indian manufacturers and exporters to gear up for these changes.
Tirupur: A Model for Sustainable Clusters
Aras lauded the Tirupur cluster for setting a “wonderful example” of sustainability compliance. With 11 centralised effluent treatment plants (CETPs), renewable energy sources, extensive tree planting, and water surplus, Tirupur serves as a benchmark for other clusters to follow.
Domestic Machinery Manufacturing: Untapped Potential
Aras identified a gap in the domestic manufacturing of recycling machinery and other specialised equipment. “Unfortunately, there are not many sophisticated recycling machinery manufacturers in India,” he observed. “Most of the machinery gets imported.” He attributed this to the relatively small volumes currently, but anticipates that as recycling technologies develop and volumes increase, domestic manufacturing will follow.
Aras also noted that fabric-to-fabric recycling is more challenging than PET bottle recycling due to the difficulty in separating blended fibres.
Startups: A Promising Avenue, Especially in Technical Textiles
Aras is optimistic about the role of startups, particularly in the technical textiles sector. He highlighted government initiatives, such as grants of up to 50 lakhs for startups in technical textiles, and emphasised the potential for innovation in this area.
“The government and textile ministry are very keen to develop an ecosystem for startups, mainly in technical textiles,” Aras stated. “I believe there is a lot of scope for startups in technical textiles. As a philanthropic endeavour, I help some startups, and I believe these youngsters are quite clear about what they want to do.”
Charting the Future
Gurudas Aras’s insights provide a comprehensive overview of the trends, challenges, and opportunities facing India’s textile machinery industry. His emphasis on sustainability, technological innovation, and the role of startups offers a roadmap for navigating the evolving landscape and achieving long-term success. As India continues to strengthen its position in the global textile market, the guidance of experienced leaders like Gurudas Aras will be invaluable in steering the industry towards a more sustainable and innovative future.
