As India’s $150 billion textile industry, expected to maintain a 10% CAGR growth rate until 2030, adapts to increasing consumer demands, smart finishes are revolutionizing functional textiles.
From flame retardant treatments for workwear to anti-odor finishes for sportswear and antimicrobial finishes for healthcare, these intelligent high-performance solutions provide durability, comfort, and sustainability.
Spurred by regulatory requirements and an increasingly health-aware market, smart finishes are in line with India’s National Green Mission, but prohibitively expensive and skill shortages deter adoption, especially by small players.
The need for functional fabrics is growing across industries. India’s USD 2 billion workwear industry needs flame-resistant and high-visibility finishes to ensure safety requirements, while the USD 1.8 billion sportswear industry, expanding at 15% a year, is focused on moisture-wicking and anti-odor functionality. Healthcare textiles, a USD 2 billion industry, require antimicrobial and water-repellent finishes for infection prevention.
Regulatory protocols such as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the EU’s REACH require low-VOC and non-toxic finishes, which affect India’s USD 40 billion textile export industry. Urban Indian consumers’ preferences, where 70% of urban Indians prefer sustainable and performance-based textiles according to a 2024 Nielsen survey, are fueling demand.
Flame-retardant treatments are essential for work clothing, especially for industries such as oil and gas, which have 1.2 million Indian employees. Phosphorus-based bio-finishes from plant extracts, which substitute halogenated chemicals, lower toxicity by 80%, according to a 2023 IIT Delhi report.
Arvind Limited’s flame-retardant cotton used in industrial uniforms last 50 washes without compromising on BIS safety requirements, lowering maintenance costs by 20%. Nanocellulose-infused finishes, created by startups such as TexGreen Solutions, enhance abrasion resistance by 25%, according to a 2024 CII report, to last longer in adverse conditions.
Anti-odor and moisture-wicking finishes in sportswear are revolutionizing performance. Chitosan-based coatings, derived from crustacean shells, eliminate odor-causing bacteria, with 99% elimination, according to a 2023 study.
Decathlon India’s running wear, treated with chitosan, remains fresh after 30 washes, enhancing customer satisfaction by 15%. Bio-based polyesters, derived from sugarcane, provide moisture-wicking properties, adopted by Reliance Retail’s Performax line, reducing drying times by 30%.
These finishes, free from synthetic microplastics, align with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and support India’s goal of reducing textile-related microplastics by 50% by 2030.
Healthcare textiles demand antimicrobial and fluid-repellent finishes. Silver-free, phyto-based antimicrobial finishes, utilizing neem and turmeric extracts, are applied to surgical drapes by Vardhman Textiles, reducing infection hazards by 20%, according to a 2024 study.
Bio-based silicone treatments, created by BASF, provide fluid repellency to medical gowns, breaking down without microplastics, decreasing hospital waste by 15%.
At a recent expo, Rossari Biotech unveiled enzyme-based finishes that increase 25% breathability, making PPE more comfortable. These meet the low-VOC standards of BIS and REACH, making them exportable to the EU that commands 25% of India’s medical textile sector.
Innovations are connecting performance and sustainability. Finishes made from lignin, derived from India’s 20 million-ton pulp sector, give UV protection to outdoor workwear, saving fabric life by 10 years, according to a 2024 IIT Madras report. Graphene additives improve thermal management in sportswear by 15%, perfectly suited for India’s tropical environment.
These green finishes save carbon footprints by 20%, aiding the National Green Mission goal of 45% industrial emissions reduction by 2030.
Government programs are also boosting adoption. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) program, with Rs. 50,000 crore being given to the National Research Foundation (NRF), encourages R&D in smart textiles. The Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program supports smaller companies, which account for 40% of textile production, in embracing sophisticated finishes. PM Gati Shakti enhances supply chain productivity for bio-based raw materials. The Skill India Digital Hub has certified 2 million workers in advanced manufacturing since 2023, although a mere 5% are qualified in smart finish applications, according to Nasscom.
There are problems. Smart finishes are 20-30% more expensive than traditional options, restricting MSME adoption to only 12%, according to a 2024 SIDBI report.
Performance shortcomings, such as decreased efficacy in wet environments, necessitate formulation adjustments.
Infrastructure problems, such as unreliable power supplies in Tier 2 towns, halt production, costing SMEs Rs. 1-2 lakh per month, as cited in industry forums. There is low awareness among smaller producers, being cost-driven versus functionality-driven, and patent approval delays by the government (4-6 years compared to China’s 2) hinder innovation. ASEAN countries with lower labor costs compound the pressure of global competition.
Experts propose solutions.
Subsidies under the Technology Upgradation Scheme can lower costs. Scaling Skill India’s training in bio-based finishes can resolve shortages of skills. Enhancing 5G connectivity and power stability, as envisioned under PM Gati Shakti, will enable production. Public-private partnerships with IITs can ramp up R&D. CII-organized campaigns can sensitize MSMEs and consumers, creating demand.
Smart finishes are revolutionizing India’s functional textiles, providing performance and sustainability for workwear, sportswear, and healthcare.
With a USD 3 billion textile finish market envisioned by 2030, these technologies are central to addressing regulatory and consumer demands.
By overcoming cost, skill, and infrastructure challenges, Indian industry can drive the global transition to high-performance, sustainable textiles, sewing a smarter, greener future.