Published 5 years ago on Aug 15, 2020
by Ramesh GunasekaranView: 3126
What is Wealth?
As the human life cycle progresses everyone are particular about leaving wealth for their next generations (children’s) in the form of house, land, jewels, savings, investments, money etc., which we believe is the key to their future. Is this what is wealth is all about? We all know that leaving a better environment suitable for future generations to live healthy & colorful life is the right definition. It can be described as “HEALTH IS WEALTH”.
People who belong to the apparel/textile industry play a crucial role in managing the environments colorfulness which they often miss out & would not be concerned much due to various valid reasons.
Color
Apparel industry is all about colors. Everyone gets attached & attracted by colors. Printed fabrics are very much in trend since quite a few years across all apparel categories. It is always in trend for women’s wear. As a category we can’t imagine the same without prints. With the technology support industry could come up with machineries which supports to make use of maximum colors in an apparel to make it lot more colorful.
Colors of life vs Colors of environment
In general, most of us know that the fabric wet processing, finishing & washing activities causes damage to environment. While we are happy to live a colorful life in a colorful world, what we not sure about is how our colors can spoil the environment colors.
Below grid is just to give an approximate idea about impact of colors on the environment colors, according to fabric type for 1 time to do the coloring of 1 shade.
(Thanks to Mr. Soundararajan of M/S. Premier mills for sharing relevant inputs pertaining to this)
If the number of colors is more than 1 in a garment/fabric, then the above impact must be multiplied by that many times to realize the impact of it. For example if the Number of colors involved is 5 then the impact should be seen as
“5 times x (X+%) according to fabric type”
To summarize we can frame the color statement as below
- more the colors maximum the environmental murder
- darker the shades deeper the environment damage
More the no of colors & darker the shades we choose more/higher the hazardous wastes it generates which is added to the environment in solid, liquid & vapor form in land, river & air. It affects the colorfulness of environment severely. Our colorful life will lead to drastic damage to environmental colors, with this our future generations are going to live in a challenging environment which is not as colorful as ours & it will affect their health in a big way.
Leaving materialistic things to our future generations like house, land, jewel, money etc., is of no use if we are leaving an environment with less colors which is not suitable for them to live a healthy life. Our intention & understanding of “HEALTH IS WEALTH” become meaningless in that case. It is evident that we are adding slow poison to this environment & spoiling the environment colors by wearing colorful apparels & living colorful life.
Please watch this short & inspiring video to understand the importance of “Choose our colors wisely”
Conclusion
So, is it possible to run the textile/apparel industry without colors? It lies in the battle between willingness vs wish. If we are really concerned about our next generation to live a wealthy life in a colorful environment, then the balanced solution could be “choose our colors wisely”.
Every function/stakeholder involved in the apparel/textile eco system should categorise their color requirement in to 2 very important levels.
- M to H (must to have)
- G to H (good to have)
What is must to have we can’t do anything on immediate basis as it’s a need of a business. If we start addressing the possibilities of minimizing the number of colors & depth of colors in the Good to Have category it can leave a colorful & great environment for future generations for longer duration.
Actionable points on Choose our colors wisely based on above
- Apparel/Brands should adopt “Choose our colors wisely” as part of their CSR initiative.
- Forecasting teams should build stories based on M to H & G & H classification, they should share fashion forecast of G &H categories with less & milder shades keeping the environmental impact in mind.
- Design team should work on the color selections responsibly while making their seasonal color palettes, print artworks & Yarn dyed cads keeping in mind & realizing the impacts created in adding more & deeper colors to it unless it can’t be avoided.
- Buying & planning team should start suggesting on depth of shades & number of colors for G TO H category while buying. By understanding the environmental impact, rejecting a merchandise, asking for a resubmit, color corrections, re wash of fabrics/garments rather taking a commercial call wisely.
- Sourcing team should come back with the recommendations of suggesting natural/rfd & white fabrics for pocketing, trim & lining requirements to maximum possible levels. Reducing the number of colors of print artwork, yarn dyed cads by combining similar colors & taking approvals from design & buying team.
- Merchandising team should build the cost in their working to accommodate the working with mills who are concerned for environment & had an infrastructure like zero discharge plants so that you are not compromised to work with those who are not having facilities.
- Mills/Vendors should declare openly & demand the additional costs to be paid due to the infrastructures like ETP plant which ensures the environment colors is not affected while working with them & paying the costs to it rather than following shortcuts to reduce the costs.
Let the change begin from people like us, I hope you all agree that color selection is very much in our hands, let’s choose our colors wisely to leave a colorful environment for upcoming generations so they can also live a colorful life in a colorful environment of “HEALTH IS WEALTH”.
RELATED TOPICS:#Sourcing,Apparel,Fashion,Supply Chain,clothing,sustainable,brands,fashion industry,Fashion Retail,Fashion Brands,supply chain strategy,apparel industry,Sourcing Strategy,category,supply,Colours,environment,safe,Ramesh Gunasekaran
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37 Comments
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Raihana FerdousAug 23, 2020 at 11:58 am
Very informative article. Thanks
Ramesh.GAug 23, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Raihana thanks for sharing your thoughts. Appreciated your efforts
Babu AAug 18, 2020 at 09:03 am
Many brands recently insist for EMS 2015 standards certification and demand sustainability initiatives from manufacturers. Manufacturer can help by doing proper Aspect impact analysis, and take continuous improvement action plan towards waste generation. This article really eye opener for brands what is in their hands to do. Some of colorist in brands ask to rework a entire 10000 meter fabric to correct with comments of need 5% duller. If a fabric with 5% brighter can be approved as it is, because it looks more appeal. But colorist want to give his comments based on spectro photo meter readings. This should be avoided. Good article, we should see how this article can be reached to as much as possible to big brands, designers and colorist.
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:47 pm
dear babu, happy to have your views, yeah it be beneficial if this awareness reaches to maximum people across apparel/textile value chain. thanks for the feedback.
Nagendra kumarAug 17, 2020 at 22:41 pm
excellent ...
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:44 pm
thank you nagendar ji...
Pavan shettiAug 17, 2020 at 19:34 pm
Nice Informative article about the impact of colors in our lives
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:40 pm
thank you pavan ji..
Vadapalli MohanAug 17, 2020 at 18:07 pm
Very nice ?, Ramesh. Mills also should inform on the environment impact to Buyers. Vendors choose colour palette, based on consumer behaviour and trends. It will be very good if consumers are informed on the environment impact thro' some means, as people believe more colours means more beautiful.
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:42 pm
Yeah mohan your point is valid,before reaching to consumers the design to delivery segment should adapt this is my view. thanks for registering your valid views here.
VelmuruganAug 17, 2020 at 17:54 pm
Dear Ramesh Thought full & needed article towards sustainability All leading brands need to focus bit more towards natural dyes Look forward for more article Thanks Velg
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:39 pm
Dear Velmurugan, happy to have your feedback, thanks for your comments.
Santosh SegaranAug 17, 2020 at 15:00 pm
Nice Article ...very thoughtful.
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:38 pm
hey santosh thank you for your comments & efforts in sharing your feedback
ParmeshAug 17, 2020 at 14:48 pm
Hi Ramesh. Great initiative. If the textile giants and the corporates who just eye only money, turn their heads towards green environment, then nothing like that.
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:37 pm
Hi Paramesh, i believe time has come for that already, that's the reason we are hearing more & very often about this. sooner or later it will become a mandate to follow is what i believe.
BALAJI KMAug 17, 2020 at 14:07 pm
Well, before colors pollution pandemic reqchbita extreme , let us save mother earth keeping next generation in mind , we can understand with influence of this article and try to make up our minds for vegetable dyes too .. all the best mr.ramesh, if public asks brand will love to produce more
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:32 pm
yeah Balaji, this awareness should start from people like us before it reach consumers as they get influenced by what is being offered to them for making a choice. thanks for sharing your insights.
SivagurunathanAug 17, 2020 at 13:42 pm
Good one Ramesh !!!
Ramesh.gAug 18, 2020 at 15:30 pm
thank you sivaguru for your comments.
Viswa rajasekaran VAug 16, 2020 at 17:51 pm
Mr. Ramesh, One of the responsible and finest articles i have came across in recent times. Congratulations !
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 11:20 am
Dr. Viswa thanks for your feedback , happy to have your views about the article in this forum.
AnbazhaganAug 16, 2020 at 10:42 am
Mr.Ramesh , All your articles are like T20 - prompt to the challenges and solutions , this one enhance the clear view on sustainable material through out its life cycle. It is the colors on the material matters than the materials which are not being eco friendly, though many of us use cotton and other natural fibres.
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 11:29 am
Dear Anbu, that's the best compliment to have in your kitty, thanks for the same. yes colour is what decides the fate of the colour of the environment which is why i have touched upon this topic. thanks once again for your continued support in sharing your feedback about my articles.
NandagopalAug 16, 2020 at 10:38 am
Hi great idea.keep rocking
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 11:30 am
hey Nandu thanks dear.
Nirmhal KumarAug 16, 2020 at 10:14 am
Dear Ramesh it is an in depth analysis and clothing being a major industry its impact on environment should also be more. The better option is instead of leaving to the consumer it is better to controlled at the manufacturing place through restrictions if really the usage has to be brought down.
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Nirmal Hi, happy to have your views here. nice thoughts but the challenge here is most of the time manufacturers are the ones who make the products bases on buyers interest hence it has to start from brands/businesses to have complete control is my view here.
K S KarunakaranAug 16, 2020 at 09:38 am
Provoking most responsible article. Your advise is need of the hour. I feel the marketing can do a wonderful job . Most of the cases consumer never know what he wants ...The market only teaches them to choose. Let us change the marketing strategy with regard to colour and save the Earth for our next generation. Good job Ramesh. All the best.
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 12:31 pm
thank you Mr.karunakaran the sharing your views, yeah you are right. Marketing can do wonders. but before to that the entire back end team should align & work on this before we take this forward to consumers through marketing team. today sale is the outcome of what you offer to them as a merchandise. initial leaf is to work on the internal part of it before shifting our focus to consumers via sales& marketing teams.
LoghuAug 16, 2020 at 08:22 am
Dear Ramesh., I am keep on watching your articles which is very useful to the current scinario. Whereas this article emphasing the awareness to future too. Yes it's the right time to respect the nature & To protect our environment. Yes it's our duty too as an experts in Textile industry to propaganda about environment. Need really passion. Proud of you to choose this +ve thought. As u said real wealth (what we materialised) will be un worthy against sudden natural calamities. Your article sounds very genuinely by needling on banana. Keep rocking. All the best.
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Dear Loghu, Glad to know your interest & thanks for sharing continuous feedback on the articles published. As you are rightly said that health is the real wealth of our life.
Vijaya KrishnanAug 16, 2020 at 07:11 am
A Different insight Mr.Ramesh. Good thought considering nature and future of nature. But then T20 is what is now and going to be the trend. Expect colourfulness. Now it's high time for the dye manufacturers and dyes to use more sustainable stuff to less harm the mother nature.
Ramesh.gAug 17, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Hi Krishna, thanks for your feedback, i agree with your thoughts. what is happening is most of the recent developments of sustainable stuff from the dyes & chemical suppliers are with green washing not with 100% sustainability. Hope same will get changed soon.