RIL with R Elan fabrics forays into co branded apparel business

Reliance Industrial as an industry leader and a pioneer, its polyester division is always looking at ways to come up with value-added, easy-care, and more comfortable fabrics for the common man. RIL has created R|Elan a speciality fabrics after extensive research and development, and using its expertise in fibre re-engineering.

R|Elan enhances performance attributes in all apparel segments, such as active wear, denim, formal wear, casual, and ethnic wear. These fabrics have been created with active participation of Hub Excellence Program (HEP) partners, spread across various textile centres of India.

RIL has entered a partnership with the VF Corporation, US, owner of the Wrangler brand and the largest denim player globally. R|Elan, Kooltex is a performance fibre, capable of moisture management in apparel. It has found acceptance with the makers of Wrangler. VF will launch the Inficool denim range, made from Kooltex fabric, for Spring Summer 2018 in its Asian markets, namely China, India, Japan and Thailand. This range aims to encourage young men and women to wear ‘cool and dry’ performance denim during sultry summer months.

The R|Elan co-branding exercise will give RIL a foothold in the Rs 2,50,000 crore Indian apparel industry comprising almost a 50-50 share of menswear and womenswear.

R|Elan is an umbrella brand from the house of RIL, encompassing a range of new-age fabrics. It is a perfect blend of art and smart, with fabrics providing enhanced aesthetics, performance and comfort. Through R|Elan, RIL aims to cater to all consumers across all apparel segments – active wear, denim, formal wear and womenswear.

Along with the launch of the new brand, RIL is also creating robust fibre-to-fabric value chain to ensure that these innovations match the commercial expectations of fashion brands.

The R|Elan fabrics score over regular fabrics in a number of different ways, such as enhanced breathability, dry feel, and anti-odour. They come in vibrant colours, have excellent drape and hand feel, are among the most eco-friendly, and are easy care. All these properties are inherent and permanent, giving assured comfort and confidence to end consumers.

RIL has partnered with more than 25 textile players that are equipped to produce new-age fabrics using R|Elan technologies. RIL is providing the latest know-how, specifications and expert consultation support to these players to enhance and sustain the quality of textile. The pan-India network will reassure apparel brand owners and retailers about streamlined production, timelines and standard quality.

R|Elan products will provide consumers next generation fabrics which are in line with the latest fashion trends and fulfil lifestyle needs as well.
With increasing consumer demand for specific higher performance apparels, the opportunity for strong polyester adoption is on the rise. RIL is committed to provide one of the best solutions to the apparel manufacturers, keeping in mind the aspirations of end consumers.

In the total Rs 2,50,000 crore Indian apparel industry, active wear segment has a 10-15 per cent, or Rs 2,500 crore market share.