Page 59 - February-March-2019
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Value Creation  TEXtalks: What is the corporate philosophy of   educate them how to brand and how to produce it
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                                                              consistently. So iTextiles® provide a complete
            iTextiles®?
 an opportunity for Pakistan’s   Mujeeb Ullah Khan: iTextiles® is driven around   solution from raw material to technology to marketing
            innovation and growth followed by ethics,
                                                              and to branding story.
            compliance and equal opportunity. So, we
            continuously seek to introduce/develop something
                                                              TEXtalks: What new innovative developments, iTextiles
 Textile Industry  that is innovative and new for the market based on   has brought to the military uniforms?
                                                              Mujeeb Ullah Khan: We have an MOU with NTU where
            future consumer insights.
                                                              we are jointly doing research to develop light weight
 Mujeeb Ullah Khan  TEXtalks: What products is iTextiles® dealing with?  and comfortable Bullet proof vests, helmets and
                                                              boots for domestic and international markets.
            Mujeeb Ullah Khan: Our portfolio can be divided in 3
            major segments: Fashion, Military & workwear and
            Home textiles. In these segments we offer everything
            required for Protection, Durability, Comfort and   TEXtalks: How was the response for the newly
                                                              developed Military uniform at IDEAS 2018?
            Sustainability.                                   Mujeeb Ullah Khan: iTextiles® & NTU jointly received
            Fashion: I would say our flagship product is LYCRA   an excellent response and many leads form IDEAS
            which provides stretch. In last 5-7 years the demand   2018. We already had follow-up meetings with major
            for stretch in bottom weight apparel is around 90%.   stakeholders. I think it’s the right time to announce
            Another very important concept in performance     the collaboration of NTU and iTextiles®. Now
            textiles is of Moisture Management and we have a   customers also understand what we are trying to do
            big portfolio around quick dry and moisture control.   and what they actually want. If you have noticed in
            Military: we have a complete portfolio including   fashion, athletic wear and leisure wear are merging
            uniform, vest, carrier vest, helmets, ballistics, bullet   so there is an athleisure concept.  In workwear,
            proof jackets and bullet proof shoes.             performance and comfort are merging. Similarly, in
            Home Textiles: We offer products for soil release,   military they understand that they need a product
            anti-microbials and moisture management plus we   which provides protection with minimum fatigue.
            also focus on the hand-feel. iTextiles® have the   iTextiles® have the required knowledge, technology
            knowledge and technology to make existing products   and expertise and hopefully will develop a solution
            better in terms of softness and comfort.          addressing all their concerns.

            TEXtalks: Which iTextiles Fibers have the highest   TEXtalks: Any suggestion for the Pakistan textile
            demand in Pakistan Market?                        industry in terms of growth and value addition?
            Mujeeb Ullah Khan: Currently in apparels market   Mujeeb Ullah Khan: There is a strong desire for value
            highest demand is of LYCRA because of its unique   added products but unfortunately this desire is driven
            stretch performance. Furthermore, we also have T400   by market forces where profits in commodities are
            which is in demand as it provides very less growth   not present. However, value creating has to be done
 Mujeeb Ullah Khan . CEO . iTextiles Pvt. Ltd.  and high stretch when combined with another fiber   not because technical textile is more profitable but it
 TEXtalks: What is the concept behind iTextiles®?  selling products through aggressive pull marketing.   from our portfolio “Danufil”.   is the future of textiles. Since technical textile is
 Mujeeb Ullah Khan: iTextiles® was established in   We conceive an innovative concept and develop   mainly non cotton which is itself high in price, so we
 2006 by a group of professionals from Dupont and is   finished product based on consumer insights and   TEXtalks: How do you see the scope of value-added   need to develop a competitive environment where
 still flourishing in Pakistan textile industry. The main   then source the material globally, making it available   fibers in Pakistan Market?  these products can be produced at the right market
 concept behind iTextiles® is to bring innovation,   for manufacturing of these customer centric   Mujeeb Ullah Khan: Rather than value adding we   value. Secondly, we need to understand how
 imagination and intelligence in textiles that’s what the   products.   should call it value creating. For example, cotton   technical textile will look like in next 10 years and
 “i” in “iTextiles” also represents. Everything that   worth  40 cents is sold for a 40 dollars pair of jeans,   develop accordingly rather than just trying to get
 iTextiles does revolves around the concept of   Today, iTextiles® is fully capable of and committed to   the more you move towards the right, the better value   business at a better price. Today, Pakistan’s textile
 innovation, value selling and marketing for the   creating value for partners in all aspects of the supply   you get. But from fabric or garment to be closer to 40   industry has an opportunity to flourish in technical
 customers. Briefly I can say iTextiles® is where   chain, working along side both manufacturing   dollars, you have to create value rather than add   textiles as this still only exists in Europe, where the
 innovation and value matter.   business and retail partners to provide integrated   value. In the modern day it’s not just about the   cost is very high. To a certain extent we have created
 solutions in market generation, sourcing, branding   product, you have to create value in the way how you   value in denim products by creating awareness for
 TEXtalks: Starting off as a trading concern for fibers in   and sales. we have complete portfolio of   brand it and how you tell the story of the product to   the customers regarding a right pair of jeans for
 2006, how far has iTextiles come and what are the   performance textiles across the board based on four   the consumer. That’s the service iTextiles® is   riding a motorcycle or for athletics or for a gym
 growth prospects?  key concepts which are Protection, Durability,   providing. It’s not about just providing raw material   workout.  Similarly, in technical textile we should not
 Mujeeb Ullah Khan: iTextiles® was never a trading   Comfort and Sustainability.  which will give them a better price for the final   just work to replace business from other countries,
 concern, we have always been a marketing company   product but it’s also teaching them how to present it   rather we need to develop something which is also
            to the consumer (primarily importer and retailer). We   appreciated by the customers globally.

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