15 Tech Gurus Reshaping Fashion with Cutting-Edge Solutions

In this bustling world where fashion meets technology, a new wave of innovators are reshaping the landscape with groundbreaking solutions. Meet the tech gurus – CTOs, CIOs, CDOs, Digital Leaders within fashion industry – who are not only driving digital transformation but also pioneering sustainable practices within the fashion industry. Team Apparel Resources has compiled a roster of standout tech leaders within the apparel retail and manufacturing sectors, spotlighting their exceptional strides in driving digital revolution within their respective domains.

In a career spanning over 30 years, Praveen has worked in CIO/CTO/CDO roles across media and cable television, IT services and retail, leading several technology transformation initiatives. In his past roles, he pioneered the launch of broadband internet in India on cable TV networks and managed the technology platforms supporting global outsourcing of business processes. In his current role over the last five years in ABFRL, he has led the digital transformation of a multi-brand, multi-format retailer encompassing the development of omnichannel digital commerce and engagement, modern data platform, modernisation of supply chain and retail technology and migration from on-premise systems to cloud.

Praveen believes fashion business is primed for digital disruption, led by new generation of digital-first consumers, which has resulted in the adoption of digital technologies in all areas of the value chain – from product creation to supply chain to customer experience and engagement. It has also led to evolution of new business models leveraging data extensively to sense fashion trends and align supply chains with direct-to-customer commerce fulfillment.

The tech team of the retailer, led by Praveen, has built a multi-brand web/ app channel enabling consumers to experience brands in an ‘online mall’ model, which provides unique brand experiences while simplifying the customer journey from discovery to checkout. It is distinct from a marketplace model that most retailers have launched. Praveen and his teams have also made the experience truly omnichannel, with seamless integration of product assortment, logistics and loyalty program across online and offline.

He has been an active speaker in various retail industry and technology forums and has also participated in retail advisory councils for some of his strategic partners in setting the technology development roadmap. He has also actively created an ecosystem of several start-up partners, who are working with him to co-create new solutions and experiences.

During his tenure of over five years in ABFRL that operates over 4000 stores, he has led a digital transformation agenda extending across all dimensions of the business, crafting an omnichannel customer experience by modernising core technology platforms for supply chain and retail, along with building new capabilities in e-commerce and digital customer engagement. A major enabler is the setting up of a modern data platform that supports rapid development and adoption of several AI/ ML/ Gen AI led solutions that are transforming business processes across product development, supply chain and commerce.

I am actively involved in ensuring regular cross-pollination of ideas between brand business teams and the central tech team, leading to faster development and adoption of digital customer experience for each brand.

Raghu has a keen understanding of how technology can revolutionise the fashion industry. With a wealth of experience in charting product and technology visions, Raghu has spearheaded several groundbreaking initiatives at Myntra aimed at enhancing the customer shopping experience.

Known for his innovative and strategic approach, Raghu has introduced several first-of-their-kind features at Myntra, including MyStylist, MyFashionGPT and Maya. These cutting-edge tools leverage cloud platforms and machine learning to provide personalised recommendations and styling advice, enriching customers’ interactions with the platform.

Raghu’s expertise extends across various technology focus areas, including cloud platforms and machine learning. His proficiency in agile methodologies and project management ensures the seamless execution of initiatives, from planning and requirements analysis to change control and risk management.

Furthermore, Raghu is known for his leadership skills, having built and led large, high-performing teams comprising over 800 professionals in product, UX and engineering. His knack for hiring and mentoring senior technical talent has been instrumental in driving innovation and achieving organisational goals.

Raghu’s way of working at Myntra is about making fashion accessible to everyone using technology. He took various internal and external inputs such as customer surveys to understand pain points, product analytics, competitive landscape, innovative ideas from tech and business teams as well as emerging technological trends and capabilities to define the product strategy for enhanced customer shopping experience.

He’s also known in the tech world for talking about Myntra’s work with AI and GenAI. He was recently part of a panel at the AI and Tech Summit by Business of Fashion in New York, talking about how new tech trends affect fashion.

With more than 25 years of experience working on products for big companies, Raghu brings a lot of know-how to his role. His ideas and way of looking at things have helped Myntra bring up new innovations that have made it a leader at the intersection of fashion and technology.

Our mission at Myntra is to democratise fashion leveraging technology. I took various internal and external inputs to define the product strategy for enhanced customer shopping experience.

Anand, serving as the Chief Technology and Product Officer of Reliance’s Fashion, Lifestyle and Beauty segments, including Ajio, Tirabeauty, Swadesh, Reliance Trends, and F&L Supply Chain, is deeply passionate about personalising customer journeys. He emphasises the importance of defining clear metrics for long-term influence rather than implementing multiple tactical interventions without strategic alignment. Anand’s approach revolves around leveraging extensive consumer research combined with AI-driven insights to personalise customer experiences effectively, aiming not merely to utilise AI but to achieve true personalisation and customer delight while maximising revenue.

Anand brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial, technological and marketing leadership experience, along with expertise in digital transformation, e-commerce, retail management and software development. Anand has also contributed to multiple publications and holds a US patent.

According to Anand, the fashion segment is propelled by trends, exploration and impulse or any combination thereof, distinguishing it from other retail domains where customer decisions are predominantly influenced by brand preferences and/or specific product choices. This dynamic nature makes it an ideal arena for technological innovation, where technology serves as a key differentiator across various aspects such as design, supply chain management, storefront operations and fulfillment processes. This has been Anand’s inspiration to go for technology implementation in the fashion industry. He cites an example: in the design phase, technology facilitates designers in forecasting upcoming fashion trends, a task distinctly different from inventory forecasting. Trend forecasting in fashion relies heavily on extracting insights from social media, Google searches and fashion shows.

Similarly, personalisation and search optimisation are paramount on the storefront, striking a delicate balance between exploration and exploitation, which is particularly challenging in the fashion realm. Moreover, the fulfillment process in the fashion industry often encounters a high rate of returns, making the utilisation of AI to facilitate customers in making informed choices from the outset an exciting and crucial challenge. Hence, the prospect of leveraging technology to revolutionise the fashion industry is immensely thrilling.

The fashion industry has long grappled with two major challenges, both of which Reliance has effectively addressed:

• Historically perceived as a high-burn, discount-oriented business with profitability elusive
• Smaller direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands often struggle to gain visibility amidst larger brands with more resources

To tackle the first challenge, Reliance implemented various technological interventions, including AI-based solutions to reduce returns, assist customers in making informed decisions and mitigate fraud. Additionally, a significant focus has been placed on enhancing search functionalities, leveraging AI to personalise search results and enhance both precision and recall, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates and improved return on investment (ROI). Addressing the second challenge, Reliance launched Ajiogram, a separate platform integrated within the Ajio ecosystem, providing D2C brands with access to Ajio’s traffic and enhancing their visibility, thereby reshaping the landscape for many such brands.

It’s a privilege managing both technology and product for Reliance F&L. As a leader of this segment, there are constant challenges of scale and the need to innovate continuously to stay ahead of competition. Excellence has to be maintained across the spectrum of ‘Design to Sale’.

Vikram Idnani’s experience spans across the retail segment, beginning with technology consulting roles for prominent names like Home Depot, Kmart, Borders and PepsiCo in the US. Transitioning to India, he assumed leadership positions in Technology at Trent, Reliance Retail and currently Landmark Group (India).

Throughout these assignments, there was one commonality that he observed – all these organisations were large, had multiple sales channels and dealt with complex product ranges, which made it more challenging to make sure that they planned well, strived to be the best at understanding their customers and put in a lot of effort and precision in execution to get the product in the hand of their customers.

This complexity of bringing together several diverse teams for end-to-end connected systems is what excites Vikram the most and hence he does a lot of work on digital transformation and shares his learnings with people who are looking to do it right first time.

With a career resembling an ultra-marathon in the retail-tech industry, Vikram has spearheaded digital transformations for major retail chains in India and provided consultancy services to leading global organisations in the US.

He emphasises the profound impact of transformation on organisations, highlighting the importance of alignment between business and technology teams for scalability, agility and rapid process automation.

Vikram champions a strategic approach for successful transformation: Plan long-term, Act short-term – a seemingly simple concept with complex execution. He welcomes deeper discussions on this strategy.

Simplicity is key to any customer shopping experience. Hence, I listen to the customer to understand expectations and behaviour through various listening posts. This is the basis for developing a digital experience strategy.

History was made as Ruwanthi became the first CIO to implement SAP S/4 Hana Fashion in Sri Lanka, leading a groundbreaking project that successfully went live within just 18 months. Additionally, she drove the integration of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) with SAP on .NET and Android studio, offering a unique solution tailored to streamline plant floor operations. This innovative initiative earned recognition from SAP, with the prestigious SAP Dare to Dream Industry 4.0 award. Moreover, beyond digital transformation, Ruwanthi has been the driving force behind technology adoption, leveraging LEAN-based process improvements to underscore the importance of tech adoption for transformation journey’s success.

Ruwanthi spearheaded the creation of Hela Apparel Holdings’ Digital Core strategy, unifying disparate legacy systems into a single, connected platform. Her efforts extended beyond internal systems, seamlessly integrating external platforms such as banking systems into the digital core. Additionally, Ruwanthi led the implementation of a comprehensive HR360 program, empowering the workforce with digital tools and automating processes for enhanced efficiency.

Customer engagement lies at the heart of Ruwanthi’s tech-enablement initiatives. She ensures that customer requirements are swiftly incorporated into the systems, facilitating faster updates and upload of Bill of Materials (BOMs). Moreover, Ruwanthi champions the adoption of 3D modelling solutions, enhancing the customer experience with cutting-edge technology.

As a thought leader of the industry, Ruwanthi actively contributes her ideas to industry forums, publications and SAP councils. She is a driving force behind initiatives aimed at improving the fashion vertical on SAP, collaborating with solution experts to address critical industry challenges.

I’m actively collaborating with SAP as a steering committee member of the SAP Fashion – Manufacturing council. Our focus is on addressing critical issues that impact manufacturers on a broad scale.

Driven by a sincere commitment to sustainable practices, Madhava recognises the transformative potential for both businesses and the planet. With a profound understanding of the adverse social and environmental impacts inherent in fashion value chains, he co-founded TrusTrace with a vision to foster transparency, circularity and fairness throughout the industry. With over 23 years of experience in technology, Madhava brings a wealth of expertise to his role at TrusTrace. His dedication to solving real-world problems and implementing best-in-class technologies has earned him recognition as a leader in the field.

While there are many solutions in the market for mapping suppliers or gathering insights on supply chain networks, only a few can collect and validate primary data from the supply chain at scale. Many rely on secondary data, but cannot verify whether the data collected is true for a specific product or purchase order. Madhava and his team are at the forefront of solutions for newly implemented and upcoming laws and regulations and are piloting several innovation projects with global brands and standard bodies to define the best solutions for future regulatory and circularity requirements. Constantly at the forefront of innovation, TrusTrace leverages technology such as generative AI to optimise and facilitate the collection and validation of data.

In an era where consumers increasingly prioritise sustainability, TrusTrace plays a crucial role in rebuilding trust between brands and consumers. By offering a platform for product traceability and compliance, TrusTrace enables brands to substantiate their sustainability claims with detailed supply chain data, empowering consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Madhava’s thought leadership extends beyond TrusTrace’s platform, as evidenced by the publication of open-source playbooks like the Traceability Roadmap and Traceability Playbook. Under his leadership, TrusTrace also participates in industry-wide programs such as Trace4Value, creating scalable solutions for the European Commission’s upcoming Digital Product Passport, which incorporates defining the infrastructure for collecting the necessary data, including distributed data, sourcing logic and API-based data sharing from third parties. This participation in joint pilots with brands and various industry bodies such as GS1, works to improve traceability and increase seamless data sharing across all participants.

I’ve dedicated my work to solving the complex problem of supply chain traceability. Our services include supply chain mapping, sustainable supplier management, AI-enhanced evidence collection and validation and risk screening, which can be done from raw materials to finished products, at scale, and as it happens in real time.

Known for his strategic acumen, Amit Arora boasts a distinguished career spanning over two decades, during which he has orchestrated growth-driving strategies, optimised operations and elevated customer satisfaction. His visionary leadership transcends the realm of technology, evident in his transformative initiatives at SHR Lifestyles, which have propelled the company to new heights, boasting over 150 outlets worldwide.

As the CIO at SHR Lifestyles, Amit has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking projects, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion industry. One such endeavour is the integration of an AI-powered inventory management system, aimed at revolutionising supply chain logistics and addressing textile waste. Leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology, this ambitious project aims to achieve a substantial  20 per cent -30 per cent reduction in stock discrepancies and waste once fully implemented.

Amit’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident from his previous ventures, including co-founding and leading Virka Infotech Pvt. Ltd., scaling it into a million-dollar enterprise and pioneering AR Emporium Pvt. Ltd. His strategic foresight and leadership prowess were further showcased in prior roles at edogo dot com and Netcradle. An alumnus of IIM and a recognised thought leader, Amit’s insights have been prominently featured in prestigious publications, solidifying his influence in the retail tech landscape.

Amit’s approach to customer engagement is equally multifaceted, employing a range of strategies to foster long-term relationships. From loyalty programs to omnichannel integration, he leverages advanced analytics and AI technologies to deliver seamless, personalised experiences across all touchpoints, driving business growth while enhancing customer satisfaction.

In addition to his pioneering work in fashion technology, Amit is a thought leader and industry luminary, actively engaging in discussions and initiatives aimed at advancing understanding and driving innovation. Through conferences, speaking engagements and contributions to industry publications, he shares insights on topics such as digital transformation, AI-driven retail and omnichannel experiences, inspiring others and fostering collaboration within the industry.

I collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop personalised shopping experiences tailored to meet the evolving needs of our customers. This includes the integration of loyalty programs aimed at fostering long-term relationships with our clientele.

Prateek Gupte recognises fashion as one of the world’s largest industries, yet it often relies on outdated tools like excel sheets. Identifying the need for user-friendly software in the fashion realm, Prateek aims to provide solutions that seamlessly integrate into existing workflows without disrupting creativity. His venture, including the innovative products Relove and Caimera AI, target simplifying processes for fashion brands. With Relove facilitating reselling and Caimera AI empowering brands with impactful marketing visuals, Prateek’s focus is on democratising technology accessibility across diverse demographics within the fashion industry. Having collaborated with 50 fashion brands and spearheading initiatives for circular fashion, Prateek’s endeavours extend internationally, partnering with 35 global brands to revolutionise their visual content creation processes.

Through Relove and Caimera, Prateek has actively participated in industry discussions and shared insights via LinkedIn and blogs, garnering significant attention from fashion founders. The success of his ventures is evidenced by the adoption of revolutionary technologies by over 75 international fashion brands.

Prateek’s reputation as one of the top 100 engineering product managers in the country stems from his track record as a three-time tech founder. Notably, his leadership at Haptik – Jio culminated in the acquisition by Reliance Jio. With a keen eye for fashion and design, Prateek’s commitment to developing user-friendly and powerful fashion software sets him apart in the industry.

“We have been able to deploy absolutely revolutionary technologies in over 75 international fashion brands. Adoption is the biggest proof of the quality of tech we are producing. We have been able to identify a gap and build the technology in house in 1/10th the time any other company takes.”

Amidst the fast-paced world of fashion, Hariharan Iyer, CIO, finds inspiration in the pressing need for technology to drive success and growth in the industry. His expertise lies in pattern analysis using algorithms, hyperlocal computation and IoT automation at all levels. He believes in deeply understanding the customer’s pulse and integrating it seamlessly into every product and service experience to ensure technology enhances rather than obstructs. Hariharan advocates for sharing both successes and failures to inspire others and foster knowledge transparency, emphasising the importance of synergetic symbiosis in thought leadership. He firmly believes in walking the talk and immersing himself in technology, seeing fashion as intricately woven with technology. A hands-on technologist, speaker, writer and futurist, Hariharan helps disseminate future technology trends to assist individuals, forums, organisations and industries in strategic planning for the future.

With over 24 years of leadership experience, he has developed, owned and monetised more than 17 IPs in AI, ML, DL, IoT, AM and alternative energy propulsion and harvesting systems. Hariharan’s diverse experience spans from idea to industrialisation and he is recognised for his outdoor pursuits, including being an Everester, a licensed PPL pilot and a DIY tinkerer. In his spare time, he shares his expertise on movement science, mindfulness, meditation, primitive survival and sustainable life skills, embodying the essence of a non-conformist adventurer of life.

I walk the talk and breathe technology. If that doesn’t inspire, nothing will! Fashion is technology woven and donned on you.

The primary inspiration for Maleeq lies in the ability to influence a wide spectrum of the value chain; in fashion terms, ‘Design to Consume’. This includes impacting a range of stakeholders (i.e. from brands and product designers to supply chain teams, manufacturers, logistic teams and the final consumer).

A standout achievement for Maleeq is MAS’ innovative focus on product creation. While many organisations hesitated, MAS embarked on a journey towards Digital Product creation several years ago. Strategic investments in virtual prototyping technologies and talent upskilling have enabled the creation of ‘true-to-life’ Digital Twins. These are digital counter parts of what were previously entirely physical samples. Digital twins reduce the time required for sampling from weeks to mere days. This not only challenges traditional workflows but also fosters real-time collaboration with partners, enriching the product co-creation process. Moreover, digital product creation significantly enhances sustainability by minimising physical manufacturing during the sampling process. For brands, Digital Twins unlock diverse retail opportunities, from assortment reviews to virtual simulations, digital releases and B2B sales.

Being primarily a manufacturing set-up, MAS’ influence on the customer shopping experience remains limited. Understanding the underlying opportunities and problems in this space is crucial before implementing any technology. MAS emphasises on effective customer listening approaches such as voice of the customer (VoC), persona definition, customer journey mapping, and customer-centric decision-making to adapt to evolving customer needs. Investments to enhance customer experience should prioritise understanding customers’ self-perception rather than external assumptions.

At MAS, a ‘technology last’ mindset prevails, which means that digital investments must seek to address organisational opportunities and challenges rather than immediately succumbing to tech hype. Furthermore, recognising the role of people and change management in digital transformations, MAS emphasises upskilling and change adoption. This approach not only makes tech investments more sustainable but also positions MAS as a front runner in digital transformation within the fashion industry.

With over 17 years of experience across various roles within MAS, Maleeq currently serves as the Director – Digital Adoption in the Digital Excellence function. In this capacity, he oversees project deliverables related to Design & Development, Customer Interface, Supply Chain Management, HR and new organisation set-ups, ensuring both delivery and adoption of initiatives. Maleeq also leads the group’s Digital Product Creation team handling all matters related to digital product creation technology. His prior roles include Lead Digital Evangelist and contributions to setting up Finance Shared Services and introducing Robotics Process Automation (RPA) within MAS. Beginning his career as a SAP consultant, Maleeq has been instrumental in developing major SAP projects and upgrades, expanding into SAP Business Intelligence and analytics.

Driving the organisational mindset to identify opportunities and headwinds that impact the organisation as well as the apparel industry and then articulating what technology can do to augment these have allowed us to reap benefits in our digital investments. We do not merely get carried away by implementing technology due to hype.

Saurabh is driven by a twofold inspiration for spearheading digital transformation within the fashion industry: a strategic necessity and an innate passion for innovation. Recognising the multifaceted challenges inherent in the fashion sector, which include dynamic consumer preferences and an urgent need for sustainability, Saurabh perceives these challenges as ripe opportunities to harness technology’s transformative potential.

Under Saurabh’s astute leadership, PDS Ltd., has achieved several milestones in digital innovation. Notably, he has overseen the standardisation of SAP ERP systems across group entities, enhancing their data integrity and decision-making capabilities. Additionally his leadership led to the development of in-house applications like a cloud-based Costing Tool for more efficient procurement of fashion raw materials, an ERP-based Factoring Application to expedite working capital requests to banks leading to faster release of capital from banks and mobile and web application for Quality Audit and Compliance Audit which are designed to expedite audits and enhance the accuracy of audit report submissions. Additionally, they are creating a BI dashboard-based reporting system for real-time group MIS and other critical data points, a supplier collaboration platform featuring a reverse bidding mechanism and they are upgrading to industry-leading MES and production planning applications in the group owned factories constituting the manufacturing business. All these ongoing initiatives are set to significantly improve the company’s operational efficiencies, supplier relationships and manufacturing capabilities.

Furthermore, Saurabh actively engages in crafting the B2B customer buying experience strategy, leveraging technology advancements to enhance interaction and streamline transactions. He focuses on integrating CRM systems tailored to the fashion industry nuances and deploying advanced analytics to anticipate customer needs and preferences, fostering strong and lasting relationships.

As a thought leader, Saurabh contributes to industry discussions through speaking engagements, workshops and publications, sharing insights on the intersection of technology and fashion.

With over 20 years of experience, Saurabh brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role at PDS Ltd. Prior to joining the company, he held various leadership positions at IBM, where he was instrumental in driving analytics, strategy and operational excellence. He holds an MBA in IT systems, strategy and marketing, as well as a B.E. in Computer Science Engineering.

I’m actively collaborating with SAP as a steering committee member of the SAP Fashion – Manufacturing council. Our focus is on addressing critical issues that impact manufacturers on a broad scale.

In his illustrious 20-year career, Zahid Ansari has honed skills tailored to support direct-to-consumer industries. Fashion, with its direct, fast-paced nature, offers ample opportunities for innovation and digitisation, traits that have completely revolutionised the industry. The heightened utilisation of modern tech innovations in fashion retail compared to other sectors serves as a constant source of inspiration and excitement for Zahid.

A pivotal project in Zahid’s career involved a comprehensive three-year transformation strategy, focusing on enhancing core applications, elevating customer experience and driving innovation in inventory management. This groundbreaking initiative, particularly significant in fashion retail, optimised sales operations and ensured seamless data synchronisation across various platforms, leading to enhanced omnichannel experiences and improved inventory utilisation.

Active involvement in key business strategies and meetings, especially in marketing, digital and customer strategies, allows Zahid to contribute insights and perspectives from his expertise. By seamlessly integrating technological advancements, he aims to enhance every aspect of the customer journey, from discovery to purchase and beyond.

Zahid’s engagement extends beyond the workplace as he actively participates in forums, industry conferences, panel discussions and publications, exchanging insights, best practices and emerging trends with industry peers.

With extensive experience spanning two decades and a proven track record of delivering innovative technological solutions that drive business growth, Zahid is regarded as a top leader in the fashion industry. His numerous accolades, including consecutive ‘Tech Icon of the Year’ awards, underscore his significant contributions and impact within the industry. Zahid’s relentless pursuit for excellence, coupled with his deep understanding of technology and business, enables him to drive digital transformation and shape the future of fashion retailing.

“My relentless pursuit of excellence, coupled with a deep understanding of both technology and business, enables me to drive digital transformation and shape the future of fashion retailing.”

Niraj Patel’s foray into the digital transformation of the fashion industry stemmed from his vision of amalgamating cutting-edge technology with traditional retail practices to enhance consumer experiences and industry efficiency. Recognising the untapped potential of technology in the fashion sector, Niraj aimed to innovate and redefine the creation, consumption and experience of fashion.

Under his leadership, Niraj spearheaded several groundbreaking initiatives that significantly influenced the fashion industry’s digital landscape. Notable amongst these are PickPayGo, a pioneering technology enabling customers to enjoy online pricing at offline multi-brand apparel stores and Website Performance Optimisation, which led to a remarkable improvement in website speed and efficiency, resulting in a 15 per cent increase in website conversion rates. Additionally, he introduced Personalised Videos for multi-brand retail stores, increasing brand visibility and strengthening retail partnerships.

Niraj’s approach to enhancing customer engagement revolves around leveraging technology to create immersive, personalised shopping experiences. He emphasises a customer-first strategy, spending time with actual users to gain rich contextual insights and fostering novel shopping experiences that blur the lines between online and offline retail. His commitment to promoting integrated tech solutions in retail is evident through his active
participation in industry panels, webinars and think tanks.

As a top tech leader of the fashion industry, Niraj’s visionary leadership, innovative contributions and tangible impact on the industry’s digital transformation are evident. His initiatives have not only driven significant business growth for DaMENSCH but have also set new standards in retail technology, customer engagement and industry collaboration.

Niraj’s career trajectory, from Schlumberger to Bobble.ai and ShaadiSaga.com, showcases his unwavering commitment to leveraging technology for impactful user experiences. His journey exemplifies the transformative potential of technology in enriching human experiences and driving industry-wide innovation.

Our initiatives have not only driven significant business growth for DaMENSCH but have also set new standards in retail technology, customer engagement and industry collaboration.

Rajesh Verma, CTO at Indian Terrain, acknowledges the unique challenges of the fast-paced fashion industry. Transitioning from a different retail domain, he finds excitement in tackling these challenges and leveraging his expertise to drive solutions.

His journey in the digital transformation of fashion has seen the successful implementation of key technologies like Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), an AI-based dealer management system and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). These initiatives have notably enhanced operational efficiency and product innovation, yielding tangible benefits in productivity and cost savings while reinforcing a commitment to technology-driven growth.

With AI redefining the landscape, Rajesh explores its potential for personalised shopping experiences and augments it with AR for virtual try-ons. He actively engages in industry forums, contributing through speaking engagements in conferences, panel discussions
and webinars.

Throughout his 22-year career in retail, Rajesh has driven innovation and excellence in technology, leading teams to deliver projects improving customer satisfaction, internal processes and industry compliance. His leadership in digital initiatives has resulted in substantial enhancements across business processes, revenue growth and reduced time-to-market for new products.

Simply put, Rajesh’s blend of technical proficiency, leadership prowess and a proven track record of transformative endeavours positions him as a distinguished tech leader in the fashion industry.

Throughout my career, I have worked closely with retailers to achieve several milestones, such as implementing interactive touch tables, AI-based dealer app, PLM, contributing to data-driven decision-making and leading digital transformations that have revolutionised the consumer retail experience.

In Nitin Kapoor’s 20-year career, his pursuit for digital transformation within the fashion industry has been driven by a blend of factors. Initially, it was the shifting landscape of consumer preferences towards personalised and sustainable fashion solutions that caught his attention. Coupled with this was the realisation of technology’s pivotal role in driving innovation and efficiency across industries, fashion included. This dual realisation sparked his curiosity about leveraging technological advancements to revolutionise traditional manufacturing processes and elevate the overall customer experience in fashion.

Inspiration also stemmed from the principles of Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing, initially pioneered in the automobile industry. Drawing parallels between the agile production processes of automakers and the potential application in fast fashion, Nitin led initiatives to adopt JIT methodologies. This transformation, combined with digital technologies like TexTech (Textile Technology), facilitated a shift towards just-in-time manufacturing. By producing garments in direct response to customer orders, excessive inventory was eliminated,and
the risk of overproduction mitigated, akin to automakers optimising supply chains for efficient vehicle delivery.

Additionally, Nitin drove digital transformation initiatives, from advanced inventory management systems to AI-driven predictive analytics, optimising agility and responsiveness to market trends. Committed to sustainability, Nitin led initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting responsible practices. These ranged from sourcing eco-friendly materials to implementing recycling programs, fostering sustainability within the
fashion industry.

His contributions have garnered widespread recognition, including awards like the ‘Young Entrepreneur Of The Year’ and ‘Startup India Showcase’. Moreover, the JIT manufacturing process developed under his leadership is copyrighted, ensuring its authenticity.

Nitin’s involvement in shaping tech-enabled customer shopping experiences is characterised by strategic planning, technology adoption, a customer-centric approach, cross-functional collaboration and a commitment to continuous improvement. Leveraging emerging technologies like AR and VR, he aims to deliver exceptional shopping experiences that drive engagement and conversion rates.

As a thought leader, Nitin actively contributes insights and expertise to industry discussions through speaking engagements, content creation, networking and mentorship. His relentless pursuit for innovation and sustainability has positioned IBA Crafts as a beacon of technological advancement and sustainability in the fashion industry.

Delving into the fabric of the garment industry, I confronted pressing questions. Why does overproduction persist? Why are resources squandered on storage and distribution, driving up costs for consumers? And why does environmental degradation, akin to the oil industry, plague our planet due to garment production?

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