Satish Panchani:  We plan to deepen our penetration in high-growth domestic markets

True Colors is a pioneering leader in India’s digital textile printing sector, founded in 2013. They offer a comprehensive ecosystem of services including advanced fabric printing, textile machinery, and sublimation paper. With a workforce of over 650 skilled professionals, True Colors delivers more than 75,000 metres of printed fabric daily, supported by state-of-the-art technology and sustainable practices. Their mission is to revolutionise textile printing by blending innovation, sustainability, and mass customisation, serving fashion designers, apparel brands, home décor businesses, and textile manufacturers both domestically and internationally. Satish Panchani, Co-founder & CEO of True Colors, discusses with Divya Shetty the expectations of domestic and international buyers and the latest trends in textile printing.

How would you describe the company’s current positioning in the Indian market, and what sets you apart from competitors?

True Colors is uniquely positioned as a one-stop solution provider in India’s digital textile printing space. Unlike many competitors, we offer a holistic ecosystem—covering fabrics, machinery, and sublimation paper, enabling end-to-end solutions for our clients. Our strengths lie in our cutting-edge printing technology that combines speed, precision, and eco-friendly processes. We are the first in India to pioneer sublimation textile printing at scale, supported by the country’s largest digital printing capacity. Additionally, our commitment to sustainability, mass customisation with rapid delivery, and a strong client partnership approach distinguishes us. We do not just supply products; we act as growth partners, empowering our clients to innovate and scale.

How would you assess the current state of the Indian textile printing industry, and what key challenges and opportunities do you see in the near term?

The Indian textile printing industry is on the cusp of a technological transformation driven by digital adoption. However, challenges remain, such as high entry costs, fragmented markets, and technical complexities like printer-ink-fabric alignment continue to affect scalability, especially for smaller players. Sustainability is another critical challenge; eco-friendly inks and processes are expensive and not yet widespread. Additionally, rapidly shifting design trends demand agility and innovation. Despite these hurdles, there are significant opportunities in mass customisation, faster turnaround times, and integrating automation. With increasing global demand for sustainable textiles and tech-driven solutions, companies like True Colors are well-positioned to lead the industry’s next growth phase.

From your interactions with domestic and international buyers, what are their top expectations today in terms of quality, turnaround time, and design innovation?

Buyers today demand uncompromising quality with vibrant, durable prints that remain consistent across production batches. Turnaround time is critical—clients expect fast, reliable delivery that aligns with rapidly evolving fashion and décor trends. They also seek innovative design capabilities, including mass customisation and the ability to experiment with new textures and finishes such as foil application. Domestic and international buyers value transparency, responsiveness, and sustainable production methods. Meeting these expectations requires integrated digital workflows, precise color matching, and seamless communication. Also, mastery in selecting, printing, and processing fabrics is equally essential and are the areas where True Colors excels.

What recent trends—whether in printing technology, design preferences or fabric innovation—are having the biggest impact on your business?

The shift towards digital printing technologies that allow for seamless, high-precision outputs with eco-friendly inks is transforming our business. Innovations like combining digital printing with foil application, fluorescent printing, double side printing etc. have set new benchmarks for luxury finishes. There is a growing preference for sustainable fabrics and fast fashion cycles, demanding shorter runs with high customisation. On the fabric front, lighter, performance-oriented materials and blends with natural fibres are gaining traction. Design-wise, consumers want vibrant, personalised patterns that reflect individual style. These trends push us to continuously innovate and enhance our technological capabilities while maintaining sustainability.

What eco-friendly materials, processes, or waste-reduction initiatives has True Colors implemented in its operations?

Sustainability is a core pillar for True Colors. We significantly reduce water usage through advanced digital printing methods compared to traditional processes. Our inks are eco-friendly and water-based, minimising harmful chemical waste. We have integrated energy-efficient practices across our manufacturing, including generating over 20 per cent of our power from solar energy, with plans to scale this to 40 per cent and beyond. Waste reduction is addressed through precision printing that minimises fabric scrap and optimised sublimation paper usage. These initiatives collectively lower our environmental footprint while delivering superior quality products.

How is True Colors adopting automation and digital printing technologies to improve efficiency?

True Colors leads the industry in embracing automation and smart digital printing technologies. Our machinery is equipped with advanced automation for color calibration, print alignment, and quality control, which reduces human error and speeds up production cycles. The integration of digital workflows enables seamless order processing, print sampling, and real-time tracking. This not only improves efficiency but also allows for mass customisation with shorter lead times. By combining automation with skilled engineering, we maintain high precision and reliability, strengthening our clients’ trust and satisfaction.

What are your short- and long-term plans for growth, both in terms of capacity and market expansion?

In the short term, we aim to optimise and scale our existing production capacity, leveraging the Rs 130.50 million raised through our recent funding round to enhance efficiency and resource utilisation. We are consolidating vertical integration through strategic acquisitions like True Colors Print to strengthen our fabric and sublimation paper manufacturing. Over the next 12 to 24 months, we plan to deepen our penetration in high-growth domestic markets and support our expanding international client base.

Long term, True Colors is preparing for an IPO to raise capital for global expansion, R&D, and investment in cutting-edge green technologies. Our vision is to become the go-to global partner for sustainable, customised digital textile printing solutions, expanding across new geographies and product verticals while driving innovation and environmental responsibility.