On the maiden Anniversary...

The maiden issue of TEXTILE REVIEW was released on 25th August 2006 during TEXCELLENCE 2006 held at the Ahmedabad Textile Industry Research Association Auditorium. The magazine has just completed its maiden year of existence. In terms of the span it is just twelve months but this period of infancy meant a lot to us. We at TEXTILE REVIEW when look back at the past feel reasonably satisfied as during such a short period we could carve a niche for this specialised publication. We also fondly remember the stresses and strains, the challenges and frustrations on many occasions and also a smile on our face having come through these anxieties. This would not have been possible of our own. Yes, it was a team work that carried us through but then it was lot more than that as we received unstinting support and encouragement from our readership and also the captains of the industry who willingly agreed to share their wisdom through an exclusive interview. If we look at the cover pages of the past issues, they carry the photographs of the personalities who are at the top in their own field of activity which was a focus subject for that particular issue. If we could carry the interviews from the most respected names in their own fields it was largely because they despite their very busy schedule and commitments agreed to find some time and interact with us. I am sure each one of them including our learned contributories can rightfully be described as the architects of TEXTILE REVIEW's success. It is therefore the occasion for us to say a big THANK YOU to all of them. We are also happy that it was decided right from day one to have an exclusive URL http//www.textilereview.com which has become increasingly popular to the referencers from acros the globe. We have continuously aimed at improving upon the quality of our web presence and I am sure the visitors frequenting this URL would endorse this statement. In a process, it is believed that though just a year old TEXTILE REVIEW has established its own presence and readership. We can only resolve to continue to learn and improve upon the content as well as coverage both in terms of expanse and quality. I am sure we will have the privilege of increasing support from our very fast expanding family of well-wishers and friends.

We debated a lot amongst ourselves and also with outside experts and industry friends before we decided about the theme for the maiden Anniversary Issue. It was not easy as there were many competing claims from different activity compartments of a highly diversed textile sector. Ultimately we zeroed upon the subject - Special and Technical Textiles for the simple reason that technical textiles are today recognised as one of the most dynamic and promising areas for the future. This is true globally. Having coined the concept over a period of last eight months we worked on the same contacting the renowned experts world over and requesting them to contribute a well researched paper or article for this compilation. Somewhere on the way we realised that despite the fact India has been comparatively a late comer to realise the potential of technical textiles which stormed the textile world in the developed countries the industry has been a high growth segment even in India now. This fact was substantiated by a well researched study by the Tata Economic Consultancy Services - a highly respected and premier consultancy organization in India - which estimated that the market size would grow from Rs.201.286 billion in 2003-04 to almost more than double touching Rs.420.06 billion by 2007-08. In his scholarly research Dr. V.K. Kothari, IIT, Delhi also predicted an impressive growth from 13971 Thousand tonnes in 1995 to 23774 Thousand tonnes by 2010 as per the details given below -

Forecast World Technical Textiles Consumption,1995-2010 (000 tons)

It was therefore not surprising to us when the most industrialised state in India - Gujarat came out with a special package of fiscal incentives to encourage setting up technical textile manufacturing facilities in the state. This simply endorses our belief that the technical textiles have arrived and India offers one of the best possible locations and the most conducive environment for their growth. However, let them not be complecent as the researchers world over are busy finding new applications and new products. Technology therefore is going to be a buz word. If I may quote Alvin and Heidi Toffler from their famous piece Revolutionary Wealth "It is a mistake to regard advances in science and technology as stand-alone events. The truly big intellectual - and financial - payoffs occur when two or more breakthroughs converge or are plugged together. We will see many such convergences in the years ahead.'' If we look back the concept of Smart Material since it was first defined in Japan in 1989 has since then be integrated with the researches in the field of textiles, electronics, information technology etc. giving us a truly hibrid, multiinputs products known as technical textiles and also smart textiles with variety of applications in diverse fields like construction, automobiles, agriculture, packaging, sports, medicine etc. etc. The subject therefore facinated us and thats how we decided to devote the first Anniversary Issue of TEXTILE REVIEW to theme of Technical and Smart Textiles. It is almost little over eight months hard work persuing the experts across the globe at our end and their sincere efforts in setting aside a time slot from their extremly busy schedule has culminated into the publication getting ready for the release. Whatever best you do there is always a scope for doing better than the best. We would still miss some eminent experts who despite their kindness and affection were constrained by the nonavailability of time because of their pressing engagements. We nonetheless appreciate their courtesy to regret their inability and hope to see them contributing to TEXTILE REVIEW in the near future.

At my end this effort has educated me reading through the articles received and also scaning through various sources of information. At the end I feel little more informed on the subject which in itself is like a vast ocean. I gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and efforts of all the learned experts and hope to maintain the interaction in the times to come.