Sports event brings to the fore sportswear role

The conference served a platform for knowledge sharing and bringing together the key stakeholders to discuss latest trends, innovations, technologies, opportunities and challenges in sportech sector and serve as a bridge between manufacturers and stakeholders.

Organised by Times Group, Global Sport Business Show-2016(GSBS 2016), the first-ever sports event, witnessed an overwhelming response across the entire sports value chain. Suvin Advisors Pvt Ltd was the knowledge partner for the event.

Times organised Global Sports Textile Forum, a half day conference for entire sportech value chain on December 22, 2016. The conference served a platform for knowledge sharing and bringing together the key stakeholders to discuss latest trends, innovations, technologies, opportunities and challenges in sportech sector and serve as a bridge between manufacturers and stakeholders.

Honorable Textile Commissioner of India, Dr Kavita Gupta delivered a welcome addressed on sports textile industry in India. In her speech, she mentioned that currently India contributes a very minuscule amount of sports textile to entire globe production. She said, “We have a huge potential to capitalise this untapped opportunities. Indian manufacturers should consider sport textile as one of the investment opportunities.”

Avinash Mayekar, MD & CEO of Suvin Advisors Pvt Ltd, briefed on the current market size of sports industry, issues & challenges faced and strategy for the growth of sport textile industry.

Arvind Sinha, National President of the Textile Association of India (TAI), threw light on the current demand-supply gap and huge opportunities for sports textile in international and domestic markets. According to him, “Indian players need to invest in best technology and for larger volume.”

In the second session, Rajkumar Agarwal, Managing Director of SVG Fashions, discussed on various innovation in sportswear. He briefed on various requirements of sports sector and how the sport wear manufacturers are continuously innovating as per industries demand.

Dr Anup Rakshit, Executive Director of the Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), covered various performance parameters of fibres used in high-end sportech goods.

In the third session, E Sivakumar, Head of Technical Textile at Archroma India, discussed various innovative dyes and chemicals for sport textiles. He covered the various properties which make them suitable for sportswear. Edward Menezes, Director of Rossari Biotech Ltd, threw light on the role of specialised fabric finishes in sportswear. He mentioned that the sports sector is evolving and there is a huge demand in sportswear with properties like anti-odour, anti-sweat and many more. He covered various fabric finishes which help in enhancing the performance of sport textiles.

A panel discussion on “How to increase sport textile consumption in India” took place. Panelists were Arvind Sinha; Dr Mrunal Choudhari, Director of Wool Research Association; Rajkumar Agarwal; and Dr Rakshit. In the fourth session, Makarand Rege, Director of Suvin HR Solutions, discussed about learning of leadership skills through cricket.