Maspar is planning to incorporate smart textiles in its product line
Maspar is in the business of soft home fashion. The company is based out of Panipat and is in the export manufacturing business since 1969. They have a vertically integrated facility. Being private label manufactures for major international retailers. Abhinav Mahajan, Director – Retail, Maspar Industries, discusses the current trends in the home textile industry and shares Maspar’s future plans in this interview with Divya Shetty.
Kindly brief us about Maspar
In the year 2002 we launched our own brand name Maspar, with the first company own operated store. We further launched our shop in shop concert in the organised multi brand outlets like home-centre, home-stop. We then introduced our product line in the traditional speciality mom and pop stores in the general trade dealing specifically in the home furnishing sector. We started with our international presence in the year 2013 with retailers selling our products under our brand name.
What are the major challenges in the home textile industry, and what does Maspar do to overcome them?
The home textile industry faces several challenges, including intense competition and the need to adapt to rapidly changing consumer preferences. To overcome these challenges, Maspar focuses on agility and responsiveness. We continually invest in research and development to stay ahead of design trends and market demands. Our strong supply chain management helps us keep production efficient and costs competitive. Quality assurance remains a top priority, ensuring that our products meet or exceed customer expectations.
Could you elaborate on the growth opportunities you see in the Indian home textile market?
The Indian home textile market is brimming with growth opportunities. Factors such as increasing urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and a growing focus on home decor present a favourable landscape. Maspar is well-positioned to capitalise on these opportunities. We plan to expand our product range to cater to a broader customer base, reaching untapped markets. We also are leveraging e-commerce to reach a wider audience, making it convenient for customers to access our products.
What recent trends do you observe in the home textiles industry, both in terms of design and technology?
Home textile trends are ever-evolving. Some recent trends include a shift towards sustainability and eco-friendly materials. Maspar actively embraces this trend by using organic cotton, recycled fibre, and eco-friendly dyes in our production processes. We also embrace digital printing technologies, allowing for intricate and customisable designs. Smart textiles that enhance comfort and convenience are on our radar, and we are researching ways to incorporate these into our product lines.
Can you share any recent innovations or technological advancements Maspar has implemented in the production or design of home textiles? How do these innovations give your products a competitive edge in the market?
At Maspar, we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation. We have made significant investments in state-of-the-art digital printing technology. This technology allows us to offer a wide range of intricate and customisable designs, providing our customers with more options. Furthermore, we’ve integrated innovative materials like organic cotton and recycled fibre’s, showcasing our commitment to sustainability. These innovations not only align with environmental responsibility but also give our products a competitive edge in a market that increasingly values eco-conscious choices.
In what ways is the government providing support or incentives to the home textile industry in India?
The Indian government has initiated various schemes to support the textile industry, such as subsidies for technological upgradation, export incentives, and support for skill development. Maspar actively participates in these programs to enhance its competitiveness. We utilise these incentives to invest in technology and skill development, ensuring our products and processes are aligned with international standards and the evolving needs of our customers. Inspired by this, we have been using ‘Made in India, for The World’ tagline across our product line
What sustainable practices is your company adopting in the production of home textiles?
Sustainability is at the core of Maspar’s operations. We’ve adopted various sustainable practices, including water recycling to minimise waste and reduce our environmental footprint. We also use eco-friendly dyes and source materials like organic cotton and recycled fibre’s to promote environmental responsibility. Our commitment to these practices not only reflects our dedication to protecting the environment but also aligns with the preferences of modern consumers who increasingly seek eco-conscious products. We have a green building certification since the year 2014.
Could you outline your company’s strategies for market expansion, both within India and internationally, in the next 3-5 years?
In the next 3-5 years, Maspar has a comprehensive market expansion plan. Domestically, we plan to reach tier-2 and tier-3 cities, expanding our reach and making our products more accessible to a wider customer base. Internationally, we aim to tap into new markets by leveraging e-commerce platforms and forming partnerships with global retailers. As we expand, we’re also focused on product diversification to cater to a broader range of consumer needs and maintaining our reputation for quality and innovation.
Maspar’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and strategic expansion ensures that we stay at the forefront of the home textile industry in India, catering to evolving consumer needs while contributing to the industry’s growth.
Manjushree Technopack & Ganesha Ecosphere partner for recycled packaging
India’s largest rigid plastics packaging solution provider, backed by Advent International, has entered into a collaboration agreement with the bottle-to-bottle grade recycling division of Ganesha Ecosphere Group (Ganesha, India’s largest plastic bottle recycler) to co-develop and supply food and non-food grade packaging products made of recycled plastics.
The collaboration is the first of its kind in the country and will provide a one stop solution to brands for their rigid plastic packaging needs, in compliance with the impending Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 (PWM Rules). The partnership is aimed at providing best-in-class plastic packaging products with upto 100 per cent dosage of recycled plastic. The products will be developed and tested jointly by MTL and Ganesha, with requisite approvals from FSSAI, US FDA and European Food Safety Authority. The partnership will serve the brands in complying with the new PWM rules while also supporting Indian government’s ambitious target of replacing up to 60 per cent of virgin plastic with recycled plastic by FY29. The partnership will help create circular economy and accelerate the adoption of 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles.
At present, use of recycled plastic for packing is in its emerging stages in the country and there are no integrated players engaged in end-to-end operations i.e. from collection of plastic waste to manufacturing of certified food grade packaging products. Brands that aspire to replace virgin plastics with recycled plastics in their packaging products must run numerous tests and trials with recyclers and manufacturers separately and yet struggle to get the right quality. As a one stop solution provider, this collaboration is set to solve this challenge and provide pre-tested and optimised packaging products at scale.
With over 40 years of packaging expertise in India, MTL caters to packaging requirements across FMCG, F&B, home care, personal care, agrochemicals, pharmaceutical and liquor industries. With its current manufacturing capacity of over 200,000 MT per annum across 20 plants spread pan India and annual turnover of around Rs 2,600 crore, MTL is India’s largest rigid plastics packaging company. MTL prioritises environmental care through sustainable practices and has aligned its ESG goals with that of the United Nations. Over the past two years it has successfully reduced its energy and water consumption per tonne of production, developed rainwater harvesting ability of over 60 million litres and sourced ~40 per cent of total energy consumption from renewable sources. Currently, MTL produces rigid plastic packaging products that are 100 per cent recyclable. All of this is reflected in its above industry average ESG rating, as assigned by Dun & Bradstreet.
Ganesha on the other hand is currently India’s largest post-consumer PET waste recycler with an installed capacity of 150,000 MT per annum of different rPET products across 6 locations. Ganesha already works with major global as well as domestic textile brands in providing rPET solutions to the textile Industry and now with its new brand “Go Rewise”, is set to bring circular economy solutions to the packaging Industry. Dedicated for the good of tomorrow, Go Rewise is committed to work towards a circular economy and delivering highest quality rPET products.
Commenting on the collaboration, Thimmaiah Napanda, MD and CEO of Manjushree Technopack, said, “We appreciate the Government of India’s resolve and passion towards building a circular economy and reducing use of virgin plastic in packaging. We intend to be the implementors of this transformation and our collaboration with Ganesha is a significant step in this direction. We are excited to be the country’s first source of end-to-end support and uninterrupted supply of recycled plastic packaging products that will be comparable to virgin grade in quality. With several decades of experience backing both MTL and Ganesha, we are confident of the benefits that will accrue to our end consumers and believe that the advantages of this partnership will scale up as the circular economy grows.”
“As part of our ‘Born Again’ initiative, we targeted and achieved collection of post-consumer plastic waste of up to 6,000 MT. We reprocessed and recycled this waste at our state of art facility into virgin equivalent post-consumer resin, which was then utilised to manufacture high-quality plastic products. We believe our tie up with Ganesha is a big stride in our ESG journey and gives us the ability to recycle and remould PET, the most prevalent polymer type used for food grade packaging. The collaboration is the coming together of two very complimentary forces that will leverage each other’s strengths and benefit the end consumer immensely,” Napanda added.
