NanoTextile has helped many clothing and industrial textile companies in creating innovation since its establishment in 2015. Its humble beginning especially as a small and medium-sized enterprise back then was not easy especially when it hurdled through campaigns after campaigns, to build awareness and customer base.
Today, CEO, Dr Thomas Ong has led the company to a growth rate grossing 45% for consecutive years despite the pandemic. In fact, the company reported its last quarter (Q4) results for the financial year ended 31 December 2021 with year-on-year revenue growth of over 200%.
“If Grab is an e-hailing of taxi service that doesn’t own a taxi, then NanoTextile is textile and clothing functional technology provider that doesn’t own a textile mill“, Thomas said in the release. NanoTextile provides direct B2B customization of new technology offerings to businesses of all sizes, for value-added clothing range and textile products. Along with 5 new clothing segments explored this year, clients can now integrate NanoTextile’s technologies into their products and provide new offerings for their end customers. NanoTextile’s proprietary technologies unlock the opportunities to advance in the functional fibre and fabrics industry.
Championing Sustainability
‘Sustainability’, seems impossible to achieve and yes, it is true when people say, it takes life to sustain life. However, as long as we are taking efforts, we will be making progress.
In April 2021, NanoTextile participated amongst 21 companies worldwide to pitch, showcasing its role in the support of this movement, at the Fashion for Good South Asia Innovation Programme. Fashion for Good is a global initiative offering support and roadmaps by fostering sector-wide collaboration to enable the invention and adoption of good fashion practices. In line with the efforts to reduce carbon footprint, NanoTextile has expanded the practice of reusable shipping containers.
To expand the awareness worldwide, the Corporate Strategy and Communication (CSC) team of NanoTextile has been crafting complementary partnership models with selected international and local fashion, apparel, and business media partners such as Fibre2Fashion, Textile Value Chain, WargaBiz and etc.
Awards and Recognitions
In Malaysia, NanoTextile was one of more than 50 companies selected for the Coach and Growth Accelerator Program by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd x Proficeo Consultants Sdn Bhd. Having graduated in May 2022, NanoTextile has been awarded as one of the Top 3 Startups in the Future Tech category. This award has become an inspiring drive and the right testimony for NanoTextile at the right time.
In 2021, NanoTextile has been listed as the prominent global player in the nanotechnology and nanotextile market and one of the few in the APAC region in the recent Global Nanotechnology Clothing Market Report by Industry Research Place. This report provides insights on new trade regulations, market size, regional and segment market share, product/service launches, product pipeline analysis, the impact of Covid-19 on key regions, untapped markets, patent analysis, approvals, continuous innovations, and developments in the market.
Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) has been the world’s largest halal exhibition since 2004. MIHAS 2021 features Halal exhibitors from around the globe, ranging from F&B to Fashion, Islamic Finance to Muslim-Friendly Travel, and many more. In light of the first appearance of Modest Fashion as a new cluster in MIHAS 2019, Thomas was invited as one of the panellists to talk about functionality in fashion, alongside other well-known local and international fashion experts.
Our Business Themes in 2021 and Beyond
NanoTextile has now collaborated with notable companies in this industry such as FILA, Polo Haus, PONEY Kids Wear and well-known Muslimah fashion brands in this region. With no limitations to clothing, automotive, industrial, home and medical textile segments, NanoTextile is revamping its ways towards wider areas such as batik, reversible wear, plus size and sustainable processes.
Despite the pandemic, NanoTextile has stayed on cruising mode as usual. NanoTextile’s continued success will, Thomas believes, come down to the commercialisation of the technologies involved. “It’s crucial to ensure their adaptation in textile segments, creates a new value chain of demand and supply,” he says, explaining that NanoTextile is working hand-in-hand with local fashion brands to grow the awareness of technical textiles among consumers.
As some of the well-known, mature Muslimah brands have sought to innovate, 2021 is undeniably the year of modest fashion in NanoTextile. All evergreen products, such as inner scarves, scrunchies, shawls, and instant hijabs, have been functionalized with our Hygienic Series nanotechnology embedment; antibacterial, odour control and self-cleaning technologies. Muslimah prayer wear is a new collection that will be attempted using nanotechnology, with the goal of providing the consumer with more comfort and a sense of protection.
Recently, NanoTextile is proud to have the opportunity to support Volvo Car Malaysia’s sustainability movement. In this collaboration, local artisans combine the efforts of trained vocational graduates from GIATMARA Sdn. Bhd. and single mothers as the tailors. We support the “omtanke” journey in the processing stage by adding new value and quality to the fabrics. Link coverage by New Straits Times:
Click here to read the full article coverage
“In NanoTextile, we often mark our collaborations using themes. It is only via themes representation, partnership or success stories can be interestingly associated”, Thomas adds. We have established the themes ‘Sustainability through Art’, and ‘Beneath Hijab’, a sequel to our successful theme ‘When Fashion Meets Technology’ in 2020. ‘Beneath Hijab’ will highlight the concept of usefulness in the context of comfort for the innerscarf – Muslimah fashion segment.
Grand Conclusion of 2021
All in all, here is what NanoTextile’s team values, “Never stop learning”. We believe that product brands should invest in technology to grow the local fashion and textile industry. We will always strive to move our technology development road map from mainstream to emerging technology. We must first understand the impacts of innovation on our society significant first before implementing them. We do not yet know just how it will unfold. Still, one thing is clear: the response must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the global polity, from the public and private sectors to academia and society.
Discussion about this post