Indian Garment Research Articles

The influence of fintech and financial knowledge on sustainable business success: exploring the mediating effect of financial accessibility in Indian

PurposeThe present study aims to investigate the effects of sector 4.0 technologies, particularly Financial Technology (Fintech), on Sustainable Business Success (SBS) within the Indian garment sector. It aims to analyse the impact of Fintech Integration (IF) and Extent of Financial Knowledge (EFK) on sustainability performance, with a focus on understanding the mediating effect of Financial Accessibility (FA) in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) to analyse data collected from 683 enterprises in the Indian garment sector. The theoretical frameworks of Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT) and the Resource-Based View are employed to guide the research.FindingsThe investigation reveals that Fintech Integration (IF) and environmental friendliness knowledge significantly impact the promotion and maintenance of sustainability within the Indian garment sector. Moreover, the study highlights the moderating influence of financial Accessibility (FA) on the associations among fintech integration, Extent of Financial Knowledge, and sustainability attainment. Furthermore, sensitivity studies demonstrate that improved financial access positively affects a firm’s sustainability performance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by addressing significant knowledge gaps and offering practical insights for managers and policymakers in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) industry. It provides a comprehensive approach that integrates fintech and financial expertise to enhance credit accessibility and foster long-term viability for enterprises within the Indian garment sector. The originality lies in its holistic perspective, combining technological integration with the Extent of Financial Knowledge to drive sustainability in a specific industrial context, thus providing valuable guidance for industry stakeholders.

The challenges to circular economy in the Indian apparel industry: a qualitative study

Purpose In recent years, researchers and practitioners have paid a great deal of attention to the circular economy (CE) due to its potential social and environmental benefits. However, limited attention has been devoted in the literature to studying the barriers to CE implementation in the apparel retail industry in emerging and developing nations besides China. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the barriers to implementing CE in the Indian garment retail market. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study uses a comprehensive literature analysis to identify the micro-level impediments to CE adoption in India's garment retail industry. The study aims to identify these barriers using a Delphi process, consisting of three stages. The first stage involves literature reviews and expert opinions, while the second and third stages involve survey methods with 14 industry professionals and academics. The use of the two primary data sources allows for triangulation of the data, which improves the validity of the findings and enables broader conclusions to be drawn from the results. Findings This study indicates that the top three challenges to implementing CE principles in the Indian apparel retail industry are “standards and regulation barriers” (84%), “strategic barriers” (82%) and “supply chain management and technology barriers” (79%). Strategies for overcoming these obstacles include gaining top management support, coordinating supply chain components, training and employee motivation. Research limitations/implications This study considers only Indian apparel retail industry, and the practical implications could potentially limit the study to emerging Asian economies. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research of its type to explore CE obstacles at the organizational level in the Indian garment retail business. Thus, it contributes to a greater understanding of the topic and enables practitioners to develop effective policies and business strategies for CE and sustainability.

Psycho-physical representations of Sari among indian women in 2022

The history of the traditional uncut Indian garment, the Sari, can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which emerged during 2800-1800 BC in northwest India. Mention of the sari evolved from śāṭikā in Sanskrit, appearing in Hindu and Páli Buddhist literature during the 6th century BC as a female garment. The study relied on a random sample of 50 women, most of whom were working women, to assess their opinions on wearing a sari and to explore the various reasons that influence the purchase intention or frequency of use among Indian women. The study concluded that among women aged from less than 25 years old to 75 years old, most find pleasure in wearing the sari in various ways. The most important aspects are fabric purity and quality, while some women worried about movement/walking and repeated use. It is important to emphasize that the participants in this study appreciated the use of the sari and did not report significant problems regarding the way of wearing it in front of spectators. While 6% of women were unable to wear a sari, 96% said they would miss their sari if it went missing.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Indian Garment Industry

This research aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian garment industry. The research methodology involves a literature review of academic studies, government reports, and industry publications, along with survey research conducted through secondary data. The findings of this research suggest that the Indian garment industry has been significantly affected by the pandemic, with declining exports, production, and employment. The use of tables, charts, and graphs provides a clear and concise presentation of the data, highlighting the implications of the findings for the industry. The research highlights the need for policy interventions to support the industry's recovery, such as financial assistance, labor reforms, and digital transformation. Overall, this research provides insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Indian garment industry in the post-pandemic era. The findings of this research highlight the need for policymakers to support the Indian garment industry in its recovery from the pandemic. The industry requires policy interventions to address its financial, labor, and digital challenges. Financial assistance in the form of grants, loans, and tax breaks could help the industry overcome its liquidity constraints. Labor reforms could make the industry more flexible and competitive. Finally, investments in digital technologies, training, and infrastructure could help the industry improve its efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness. Overall, this research provides insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian garment industry, highlighting its challenges and opportunities. The use of tables, charts, and graphs helps to provide a clear and concise presentation of the data, while the literature review and survey provide a comprehensive understanding of the industry's situation. This research can inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academics interested in the Indian garment industry and its response to the pandemic.

Post-colonial structure of the Indian garment industry and its role in maintaining the precarity of women workers

ABSTRACT Neoliberal policies and decentralization of production activities in developing countries have been blamed for the ever-increasing precarity of labor in India since the late twentieth century. Precarious labor, however, had long been a characteristic feature of the Indian garment industry before it actively participated in neoliberal global garment trade in the 1970s and 1980s. This study examines policies that shaped the Indian garment industry in the post-colonial period from 1947 and their effects on production, employment patterns, and women’s work. It employs the Indian Government’s official industry censuses and employment survey reports. Accordingly, the policy of small-scale garment production was backed by benevolent aims of reviving traditional Indian crafts and maximizing employment. However, it yielded a fragmented industrial structure and a pool of precarious labor from a poverty-stricken population. Gender-based social stereotypes further enabled a socio-economically disempowered female workforce. The neoliberal policies that gained ground with the industry’s increasing export orientation exacerbated the precarious working conditions rooted in indigenous policy-making and social mindset. Locating labor precarity and women’s vulnerability within this complex mesh of local and global factors offers an improved framework for testing how neoliberal policies maneuver them to influence production and employment patterns in today’s garment industry.

When the Lewisian Dream Sours: Industrial Aspirations and Reverse Labour Migration

The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated processes of labour transition from industrial work to the informal economy, which have always characterized the life of the working poor. This paper explores this kind of reverse transition, that is, when the Lewisian dream of having an industrial job comes to an end, and workers are forced into a reverse migration. Specifically, the paper focuses on the post-industrial experiences of former Indian garment workers leaving the National Capital Region and moving back to Bihar. Emphasis is placed on workers’ reasons for leaving the industry and their current employment and reproductive strategies. Findings are based on a sample of 50 former workers, identified in urban industrial hamlets and traced back to their place of origin. Respondents’ experiences are analysed based on semi-quantitative questionnaires and life histories. Findings reveal that upon leaving the factory, workers find alternative informal employment through caste or social networks whilst using land as safety net. They suggest that farming and informal work are not alternative but rather complementary income and work strategies. By adopting a life-cycle approach to studying labour transitions across formal and informal employment domains, this analysis contributes to policy debates on decent work.

Quality of work life of employees working in the Indian garment industry

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the level of quality of work life (QWL) of employees working in the Garment industries using a validated scale.Design/methodology/approachSurvey methods were used for this study. A questionnaire was designed to collect the data and information, and it is validated through exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis.FindingsThe majority of employees are not satisfied with the present status of QWL in garment units. Followings are the predominant components, which influence the QWL of employees compensation and rewards; job security; grievance handling; work environment; training and development; job nature; satisfaction in job; facilities and relation and cooperation.Originality/valueThe study was conducted in 133 garment industries where sample responses were obtained from 851 workers working in Indian Garment industries. In the competitive business environment, retaining a talented workforce is one of the big challenges to the organization. An unsatisfied employee is the first enemy of the organization, it is the prime task of the employers to keep the workforce at a satisfying level, otherwise, it will lead to employee turnover, performance and productivity. This paper helps to identify and quantify the components of the quality of work-life of employees if employers address these components job satisfaction level of employees will increase; therefore, our results will help the HR managers and policymakers to take appropriate decisions to enhance QWL.

The Role of Technology in Increasing Competitiveness: An Examination of the Indian Garment Clusters

In this article, we examine the Indian garment industry to examine the effect of clusters on the sales of this industry. The data has been collected through a primary survey in five garments clusters in India. The variable that is significant in explaining sales in most equations is technology proxied by imported machinery. It has been argued that inter-firm linkages and linkages between firms, service providers and institutions are crucial for competitiveness and this is best achieved through a cluster. Studies on clusters have shown that some clusters have been able to deepen their inter-firm division of labour, raise their competitiveness and break into international markets. The development of the cluster in India has followed the ‘top-down’ approach and the natural process through which linkages are developed are yet to occur in most clusters. JEL Codes: F14, L67, L23

Expectations, Wage Hikes and Worker Voice

Abstract Enabling worker voice could improve worker retention and effort by providing workers the chance to improve their situation or an outlet to express discontent. We provide a test of this hypothesis via a randomised controlled trial in Indian garment factories. Just after what proved to be a disappointing wage hike, workers were chosen at random to participate in an anonymous survey in which they were asked for feedback on job conditions, supervisor performance and overall job satisfaction. Enabling voice in this manner reduced turnover and absenteeism after the hike, particularly for the most disappointed workers.

Studija o mišićno-skeletnim poremećajima u industriji odeće

Indian Garment industry is one of the largest Asian industries. Studies show that occupational hazards can cause human, social, and economic losses. When the workers are made to work in ergonomically unacceptable workplaces, they become potent to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD). Preventing the MSDs can help reduce absenteeism, and early retirement, improve productivity, and promote safety at the workplace. In this study, the risk of MSDs in the sewing operators was analyzed. Initially, data on the operators were collected through physical observations, interviews, and video footage. Analyzing the videos and physical observation of the operators, critical postures of the operators are chosen for the assessment. A systematic scoring method called Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) was used to assess a group of 43 operators. The results of the study stated that, among the 43 operators, 38 are in a medium risk level and 7 are in a higher risk level. The reasons for the risk levels included both individual and external factors. The resulting conclusions helped in understanding the risk and conveying better ergonomic intervention that can contribute to reducing the MSD in operators.

Stage-wise responsiveness in supply chain: reference from the Indian garment industry

Stage-wise responsiveness in supply chain: reference from the Indian garment industry

Towards a feminist political economy of time: labour circulation, social reproduction & the ‘afterlife’ of cheap labour

This article explores ‘time’ as a crucial category of analysis shaping and shaped by the dynamics of exploitation and social reproduction across the global assembly line. Focusing on the Indian garment industry, the article develops a feminist political economy of time stressing the productive and reproductive temporalities of exploitation, which give rise to multiple forms of labour circulation, including early exit from industrial work. Then, the study places this early exit under the microscope, and analyses the ‘afterlife’ available to women workers outside the factory, which often involves a transition back to informal occupations. The narrative draws both on extensive knowledge of India’s garment sweatshops, and on the detailed analysis of twenty life histories of women former factory workers in Bengaluru. The investigation of the feminist political economy of time of the global assembly line developed here suggests the presence of a revolving door between industrial and informal work in the lives of the working classes. It disproves linear global industrial development narratives constructing industrial work as ‘better work’ and contributes to feminist IPE debates by illustrating how social reproduction – its rhythms, temporalities, and everyday necessities – concretely co-constitutes the world of work across the global economy.

Getting Their Hands Dirty: How Female Managers Motivate Female Worker Productivity Through Subordinate Scut Work

Using ethnographic, personnel, and experimental data from an Indian garment factory, this paper investigates whether and how manager gender affects female worker productivity. We find that female managers motivate greater female worker productivity than male managers by engaging in subordinate scut work, the practice of voluntarily getting one’s hands dirty to perform subordinates’ routine tasks, which increases subordinates’ engagement with their work. Our qualitative data help to generate hypotheses that we explore using personnel data on individual productivity and test causally using a laboratory-in-the-field experiment in which we randomly assign workers to supervisors and experimentally manipulate supervisors’ ability to perform subordinate scut work. This paper contributes to the literature on motivating worker productivity by drawing attention to the important role of manager gender and by studying a less-researched organization context—that of a female-dominated workplace. The paper also contributes to the literature on women in management by investigating their impact on worker performance, measured objectively, and uncovering subordinate scut work as a specific managerial practice that female managers can use to foster engagement with work and improve female worker productivity. This paper was accepted by Greta Hsu, organizations.

Work-Family Programs and Nonwork Networks: Within-Group Inequality, Network Activation, and Labor Market Attachment

Organizations increasingly offer work-family programs to assist employees with balancing the competing demands of work and family life. Existing scholarship indicates that the consequences of work-family programs are heterogeneous across different socio-demographic groups, but limited research examines when and why workers within the same group may benefit differently from such programs. Understanding these differences may illuminate important mechanisms driving the effectiveness of work-family policies. We theorize that one key driver of within-group variation in the effectiveness of work-family programs is the extent to which workers’ nonwork social networks activate resources to support them. Specifically, we argue that workers whose nonwork networks are less likely to activate supportive resources will benefit more from organizational programs. We further posit that the status characteristics of workers’ dependents may shape the activation of resources among nonwork networks. Drawing on novel data from an Indian garment factory and a quasi-experimental research design, we examine how a work-family program, employer-sponsored childcare, affects the daily work attendance of a socio-demographically homogenous group of working mothers. We find that women whose nonwork networks are less likely to activate informal childcare support—specifically, women with daughters—benefit more from employer-sponsored childcare. Supplemental interview data supports our theoretical claims. We conclude by discussing the contributions of our argument to scholarship on work-family policies and social networks.

The effects of labor regulation on firms and exports: Evidence from Indian apparel manufacturing

We examine the impact of labor regulations on firm outcomes and explore their differential effects on exporters. Building on a conceptual framework developed from standard theory and a detailed qualitative study of India's apparel industry, our econometric analysis exploits establishment-level data on formal Indian garment manufacturers between 2009-10 and 2013-14 and interstate variation in labor laws. We find a close fit between the implications of our conceptual framework, the qualitative evidence and the data. Apparel producers in states with pro-worker labor regulations tend to replace labor with capital. This choice of technique effect is smaller for exporting firms, which are more tightly bound to norms for organizing production in global supply chains. Pro-worker labor regulations also reduce output levels more for exporters than for non-exporters, consistent with exporters being bound to international pricing norms. Labor regulations thus have a particularly adverse impact on exporters. Our findings underscore the cost of poorly-designed and implemented labor regulations in a labor-abundant country wishing to spur exports, employment and industrial activity in labor-intensive industries.

Visual Illusions and Aesthetic Values in Employing Geometric Lines to Hide physical defects in women's fashion

In this way, the research aims to determine the effectiveness of the training program in providing students with the knowledge and skills associated with the field of fashion design, Indian garment design, and enriching its aesthetic aspect.

Automation and the Future of Garment Sector Jobs in India

Robotics has been redefining the production process across manufacturing industries, raising serious concern about the future of jobs, and the garment sector is not isolated. The recent innovations such as ‘Sewbot’ along with other computer numerical control machines have increased the risk of technology-induced displacement of labour in the garment sector. This paper examines the technical and economic feasibility of automation in the Indian garment sector and it's likely impact on jobs. Based on secondary data analysis and key informant interviews, the paper argues that though technically robotics can displace 80% labour employed in the Indian garment sector, the actual displacement is going to be much lower as, owing to the economic feasibility, automation is going to be restricted to a few garment production processes only. The paper further argues that despite the automation of the certain production processes, Indian garment sector will register healthy employment growth as expansion in domestic garment demand will be more than sufficient to offset the labour-saving effect of technology.

A scale to measure organizational stress among women workers in the garment industry

PurposeStress has been a common phenomenon among the working professionals. The stress has been known to affect the job satisfaction level, health outcomes, affect burnout through the physiological, emotional, behavioral and cognitive processes resulting in to low performance. This study aims to identify the factors determining organizational stress among women workers in the garment industry in India and to develop and validate a contextual scale for organizational stress among women workers in the garment industry in India.Design/methodology/approachThis study consisted of women workers who were employed in garment manufacturing companies. The data has been collected through a structured questionnaire, which identifies the factors leading to stress. The respondents of the study included women workers employed in the garment manufacturing units in and around Bangalore. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted and the model fit was tested using confirmatory factor analysis.FindingsThe measurement scale for the organization stress of women workers in the garment industry was found to be highly reliable and valid for conducting the study in any Indian garment industry. The analysis identified the factors as follows: job-related factor, organization-related factor, social factor and personal factor.Research limitations/implicationsDue to limited access to the population, which is the women workers, the authors have not been able to collect a large sample data. The sample size is the limitation of the study.Practical implicationsOrganizational stress have has been shown to have a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of employees. Organizations need to step up their effort to integrate emotional well-being, conducive work environment, workloads and job responsibilities, social connectedness and job satisfaction with their efforts to support the physical health and mental health of the workers.Originality/valueThe study is one of its kind with a focus on women workers in the garment industry in India. The study highlights the factors that result in stress among women workers who have not been studied in past research studies. The strategies to cope with organizational stress in such a work requirement is different and very challenging, making it unique for practitioners.

Competency-based curriculum development in the informal sector: The case of sewing skills training in rural South India

Although India is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a large proportion of its people live in rural regions and is employed in the informal economy. Constituting a prominent role in the informal economy, the textile industry is one of the oldest and most labour-intensive in India, which is globally ranked fourth in leading garment sourcing destinations around the world. However, the Indian garment industry has a shortage of skilled labour. Vocational skills training is one of the best tools to help individuals participate in the labour market and boost productivity and working conditions, especially for disadvantaged people. However, recent economic trends and traditional curriculum methods tend to ignore the needs of these marginalised groups, and this impedes the growth and productivity of the informal sector. This article explores the extent to which a competency-based curriculum development approach can respond to the skills training needs of people (seeking to be) employed in the informal sector. The authors discuss the theoretical framework of competency-based curricula. Next, they describe the process of developing a curriculum for sewing skills training based on learners’ demands. This process was part of a study they carried out in rural South India, and the resulting curriculum was subsequently piloted in four villages in South India as an intervention strategy. The authors complement the analysis and discussion of their findings from the piloted curriculum with insights from expert interviews they conducted to explore curriculum framing and teaching–learning arrangements from a pedagogical perspective. They conclude that a competency-based curriculum approach works best in the informal sector if the targeted learners are directly involved in its planning and development.

Stage-wise Responsiveness in Supply Chain: Reference from Indian Garment Industry

This study aims at presenting a holistic view of supply chain responsiveness by simultaneously considering responsiveness at three stages, i.e., supplier responsiveness, downstream responsiveness, and logistics responsiveness. It applies structural equation modelling to study the impact of collaboration, visibility, resilience, sourcing flexibility and order fulfilment flexibility on stage-wise responsiveness in the supply chain. Findings reveal that only collaboration, sourcing flexibility, and order fulfilment flexibility significantly affect the logistics responsiveness. Resilience, sourcing flexibility, and order fulfilment flexibility significantly affect the downstream responsiveness. However, the relationship between determinants and supplier responsiveness is not significantly justified. It may be because of inadequate logistics infrastructure, limited information sharing and narrow collaborative format among Indian companies.