Bringing inventive solutions and intriguing conversations to the desk, India’s very first technical textile hackathon at the last Techtextil India led thrilling debates via a design thinking approach on what’s best for the sector on an Indian and Global scale.
Techtextil NEXT hackathon, as India’s very first hackathon in technical textiles targeted such issues and brainstormed considerable ideas for growth of the sector. The hackathon witnessed stirring debates between investors, textile associations, designers, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
With an intense flair for breakthroughs, the founders, investors and other leading professionals likeSaumil Shah (Co-Founder of Broadcast Wearables Pvt. Ltd), Rajiv Indimath (An Investor and Co-Founder of High Performance Sports Coaching in Stealth Mode), MohitRana (Managing Director- Raina Industries), NehaRao (Head of Product Innovation, Boheco), andDayal Mehta (Senior Marketing Manager of Nonwovens,Technical Textiles and Protective Textiles) steered discussions on introducing better standard of innovations.
On the other hand, discussing alternatives to promoting sustainability in technical textiles, were (Sustainable Development Goals) SDG promoters, textile associations and other major fields of the sector including Shrikar Dhole, (Founder and CEO- SDG Foundation), AnupRakshit (Executive Director- Indian Technical Textile Association), Mohapatra (Bombay Technical Textile Association) and NiharikaGautam (Advisor- United Nations SDG and Chairperson- All Ladies League).
As these experts led discussions on various challenges faced by the segment, the knowledge and collaboration gaps hampering a sustainable approach and thereby innovation were observed as the two most predominant areas that needed attention.
As an example to presenting a prime solution to sustainability, the experts factored the use of bio-degradable and recyclable materials as a worthy replacement for pollutive composites, also leading way to fair wages and proper working condition for workers. One of the notable applications mentioned in this space was as follows – The millions of tonnes of plastic dumped in the ocean every year; if used as a replaceable raw material in manufacture of various technical textiles could shrink the extensive use of synthetic composites, reducing the cost of procurement and eliminating excess pollution emitted in the process of their extraction.
On the domestic front, the comprehensive seminars and workshops headed by India’s Centre of Excellence institutions have proven to be a great knowledge platform for raising awareness about the fast-pacing sector, however a lack of collaboration still persists within the industry. To resolve this issue, the hackathon flagged integration as the answer. With the dispersed application areas of technical textiles strongly supporting each other through their individual resources and innovations, the sector could achieve exponential growth and garner massive attention towards its flourishing potential.
The Co-Founder of a start-up known as ‘High Performance Sports Coaching in Stealth Mode’, Mr Rajiv Indimath, shared his impression of hackathon at the end of an enthralling session: “The hackathon has been a great melting pot and a great platform for expanding horizons and mindset. The sharing of experiences and fresh radical ideas are what made the Techtextil NEXT hackathon so great.”
Generating unique takes from across the various streams of technical textiles, Techtextil NEXT hackathon witnessed a brilliant response throughout the session and will lead way to more dynamic discussions as the second Techtextil NEXT hackathon is set to occur during Techtextil India in 2021.
